It looks like the fight every fan has wanted is finally going to take place.
After years of fallouts and social media exchanges, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will reportedly fight where it counts the most: inside a boxing ring.
A deal was reportedly reached earlier this week between representatives of the fighters for a May 2 bought at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
While there has been no official announcement, Mayweather will reportedly receive 60 percent of the purse.
The boxing world buzzed on Jan. 27, when Mayweather and Pacquiao met courtside at a Miami Heat game. Both reportedly exchanged information during the brief encounter and met again later that night for two hours at a Miami-area hotel.
Negotiations looked as if they would take a significant blow as late as last Sunday when Mayweather, in an interview on TNT, said no contract had been signed. Mayweather was sitting courtside for the NBA All-Star Game.
A fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao would likely shatter any live gate and pay-per-view records. The biggest-selling non-heavyweight fight was the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather bout in 2007, with over 2.5 million buys.
Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) defeated Marcos Maidana, who trains in Oxnard, by unanimous decision in his last bout on Sept. 13. Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) defeated Chris Algieri by unanimous decision on Jan. 23.
GOLOVKIN INA CTION
Gennady Golovkin fights Martin Murray on Saturday at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The bout will be shown live on HBO, beginning at 2:45 p.m.
Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) has developed a cult following. Besides scoring sensational one-punch knockouts, the 32-year-old Kazakh fighter has become popular with fans for his humility and aggressive fighting style.
After Saturday, Golovkin could fight in the Los Angeles area sometime in May.
Murray (29-1-1, 12 KOs) has won his last four bouts since a close 12-round unanimous decision loss to longtime Oxnard resident Sergio Martinez.
RUIZ IN ACTION
Andrew Ruiz of Oxnard will make his long-awaited return to the ring Friday night when he takes on Evincii Dixon in a six-round bout at the Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook, just outside of New York City.
Ruiz (7-0, 4 KOs) has not fought in about a year and a half. He trains at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard. Garcia will be in Ruiz’s corner Friday night.
Dixon (4-4-1, 2 KOs) has lost three of his last six fights.
Francisco A. Salazar covers boxing for The Star. Salazar also covers boxing for RingTV, Boxingscene.com, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached on Twitter @FSalazarBoxing.
