Along with the MGM Grand, The Dallas Cowboys' Stadium still is in the running to play host to the March 13, welterweight (147 pounds) megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, Top Rank Promotions' CEO, Bob Arum, informed FanHouse a few moments ago.
"[Cowboys Stadium owner] Jerry Jones sent an offer to me and to [Golden Boy Promotions] Richard Schaefer in an e-mail," said Arum, who turned 78 on Tuesday, from his home in Las Vegas at about 10 p.m. West Coast time on Thursday night. "And so, it's now back on again between Dallas Cowboys' Stadium in Texas, and the MGM in Las Vegas."
The story was first reported by Philboxing's Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Arum said that he still is removed from the hands-on negotiations for the bout.
Arum has replaced himself with his son-in-law and Top Rank President, Todd duBoef, who is in charge of working for Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) with Golden Boy Promotions' Richard Schaefer, who is representing Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs).
Arum made that decision on Tuesday night, shortly after having being angered as he received a call from Schaefer abruptly canceling Wednesday's scheduled trip to Arlington, Texas, during which Schaefer, Arum and HBO Sports President, Ross Greenburg, were to fly to Arlington, Texas, and meet with Jones, touring the Cowboys' $1.2 million venue.
"I'm not in the negotiating, Todd is. He's better, because I was getting too emotional. So Todd has been on the phone with Schaefer, and they seem to be making some progress," said Arum.
"But I really have to compliment Jerry that he didn't get all ******-off, but he kept at it," said Arum. "Jerry Jones just kept at it, and he made a very, very good offer to us, and I really admire the man."
Eliminated as possible sites were the NFL's The New Orleans Saints' Superdome, the Atlanta Falcons' Georgia Dome, and two Las Vegas venues -- the Thomas & Mack Center, as well as a 30,000-seat outdoor stadium that is being constructed.
Arum said that a $20 million offer from The Staples' Center in Los Angeles "was never really considered" because, unlike Nevada and Texas, the ring earnings of Mayweather and Pacquiao would be heavily taxed in California.
Mayweather is a Las Vegas resident.
"That was essential from the get-go, and that's why the Staples' proposal was never even considered," said Arum. "Because of the California tax."
Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, said that he had considered calling Mayweather's manager, Leonard Ellerbe, when he felt that the Staples' Center was being seriously considered as a venue.
"There's no need to do that at this point in time, now. I think that we've expressed what we needed to express, and, as you just said, Dallas is back in," said Koncz.
"I have to look out for Manny. And having to pay out an 11, or, 13 percent tax is not in any way beneficial to Manny," said Koncz. "We weren't going to fight in Los Angeles -- a state where we would get taxed, unless there was some mechanism in place where there wasn't going to be any way of affecting the net amount to Manny."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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