Dubai: It is the most anticipated showdown in boxing history and it could be coming to a place near you.
Dubai has been touted as a likely venue for this summer's potential mega-fight between pound-for-pound kings Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Junior, according to the Filipino great's trainer Freddie Roach.
Roach says a suggested May 5 bout remains a possibility but that a later date in Dallas or Dubai would be a better option for the showdown that would be the richest fight ever, surpassing the $140 million (Dh514 million) purse when Mayweather fought Oscar de la Hoya five years ago.
"Dallas would be the best place to put on that fight in the US because you could get 100,000 people in Cowboys Stadium, but Dubai is the best money-wise," Roach told AFP.
He said an unnamed group was willing to put up the money so the fight could be staged in the UAE.
Twitter message
Unbeaten Mayweather set the ball rolling to make the on-and-off fight with Pacquiao happen in a Twitter message to his millions of followers.
Accompanied by a picture of him sitting next to his World Boxing Council welterweight championship belt, Mayweather tweeted: "I'm ready to put my belt up. What about you Manny Pacquiao? Let's make history... Step up Punk."
Pacquiao responded in an interview with GMA-7 TV in the Philippines, saying: "If he agrees to a 50-50 [share], then the fight will push through."
Purse sharing is still one of the sticking points that remain to be resolved between the pair, while another contentious issue is the venue of the fight.
Mayweather wants it at the MGM Grand which Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum feels is too small.
