Pacquiao-Mayweather Bout Seems Likely

Sports News - December 2nd, 2009 - Written by John

It looks more and more like the blockbuster fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao is going to happen and all your favorite online sportsbooks are sure to have some great Boxing Betting Lines.

The biggest perceived obstacle was getting Mayweather to agree to the fight, which would put his unbeaten streak in jeopardy. But that obstacle has reportedly been cleared, according to ESPN. Mayweather has agreed to terns for the fight on Tuesday, which is proposed to be held on March 13 of 2010. The date may be moved to May 1st, because HBO Pay-Per-View already has that time set for a fight between Roy Jones, Jr. and Bernard Hopkins.

The glaring issue negotiators have been battling with that, according to ESPN, has been Pacquiao's desire to run for a congressional seat in his native Phillippines. Pacquiao has been adamant about becoming a part of the government, running a failing bid in 2007, and is trying again this year. But a clause in his candidacy is posing a problem. The election is being held on May 10, and rules prohibit Pacquiao from fighting on May 1 unless his race is unapposed.

Other details that need to be ironed out is location. The likely venue would be the MGM Grand, where Pacquiao resently dismantled Miguel Cotto earlier this month. But ESPN reports there is interest from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to have the fight in his new billion-dollar stadium, or it could be held at another Las Vegas arena.

The fight would be weighed at a maximum 147 pounds for the welterweight title, one of seven belts Pacquiao has won over his illustrious career. Fight promoters are now flying to Pacquiao's home in the Phillipines to tie up the loose ends on his side.

If the deal goes through, it would propose one of the biggest fights in recent memory, certainly the biggest this decade. Pacquiao is coming off the heels of the mauling of Cotto and beat Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya in his last three bouts. His Cotto fight shattered PPV records with 1.25 units sold.

But Mayweather hasn't lost in his 14-year career professional career, going 40-0 with 25 KOs. He has won titles in five different weight classes and hasn't even been challenged as of late. He retired for a moment earlier in the year, but returned in September to annihilate Juan Manuel Marquez, which brought in 1.05 million units sold by PPV.

Mayweather also knocked out Hatton in 2007.