Dubai: One half of the deal has been completed in the on-and-off mega-fight between pound-for-pound kings Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr, according to reports currently circulating on the internet.
There are no prizes for guessing which half of the deal it is.
According to The Telegraph, UK, the Filipino boxing icon has put pen to paper to seal his part of the contract which ensures that a major step towards ensuring that the richest sporting event in history becomes a reality, has been taken.
The newspaper declares that a source has said: “Manny has 100 per cent signed his side of the deal. It is now over to Mayweather to close the deal and announce the fight.”
The source, who is close to team Pacquiao, revealed that Mayweather is reported ‘set to sign’ his part of the deal soon and that both camps have agreed on a $250 million (Dh918 million) contract.
It is believed that Mayweather’s adviser, a former promoter of marquee pop stars including Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige, has clinched a 60 per cent cut of the purse for his boxer with Pacquiao having accepted a 40 per cent pay-off.
The fight is likely to take place on May 2 at the glitzy MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a venue that both fighters are acquainted with. Mayweather has fought his past 10 fights there, while five of Pacquiao’s past seven bouts have been held in the 16,800 capacity amphitheatre.
The arena is renowned for hosting some historic professional boxing super-fights, such as Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya vs Manny Pacquiao.
It is speculated that Mayweather is likey to confirm the super-fight officially at the 2015 NBA All-Star Game, featuring the top 12 players in each conference, which is scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
Mayweather, who turns 38 on February 24, is unbeaten in 47 fights with 26 knockouts. Pacquiao, 36, has won 57 of his 64 fights with five defeats and two draws.
