Dubai: Record four-time undisputed heavyweight champion of the world Evander Holyfield has backed Dubai to host the much anticipated Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight ahead of Dallas — despite its time zone being well out of sync with the US prime time pay-per-view market.
Pacquaio's promoter Bob Arum has previously ruled out the emirate because starting the fight at 8pm prime time on the US East coast would make it 4am in Dubai. But, in an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Holyfield stresses the need to think outside the box.
Holyfield said of the proposed $150 million (Dh551 million) richest fight ever: "In all the US market is the biggest draw and you've got to have a perfect time to bring the major players in, but Dubai is the perfect place. It's known as the place to be and everybody wants a reason to get there. But, as for the timing, how would we do it?
"This could be the biggest fight that's ever been so I think it's big enough to steal an audience whatever time you stage it. It's big enough to draw that kind of attention and, with the anticipation and the amount of people who want to watch it, I'm sure it will move a lot of people off their spots. They just need to choose a day that doesn't compete with any other major event. "Boxing is just starting to get worldwide again. At one point in time all the champions were in America and it was almost as if world boxing was American. But now it's taken a whole other spin. The Philippines and Russia have made it a worldwide sport now. We've got to see it from a different angle and we've all got to find out what's best for the game.
"There's no sense in looking at the negatives, let's look at the positives. I've heard Mayweather wants to have the fight and Pacquiao will leave it all level. Let's just hope they get it on."
Holyfield, who famously had part of his ear bitten off during a fight with Mike Tyson in 1997, has confirmed his attendance in Dubai as chief guest for the World Championships for Arab Boxing, which is now slated for either February or March after the January plan fell through with Tyson's non-attendance.
But, short of sitting ringside, Holyfield, 49, says he wants to fight for one last world title in Dubai if the right opportunity arises:
"People there have never had the opportunity to see me fight personally and I think that would be a very big draw. I want to fight over there and show people that not only can I win another world title but also do it at 49 years of age. Age isn't nothing really but a number."
