MGM increases room rates on day of potential Pacquiao-Mayweather fight -- Las Vegas Sun

By Ray Brewer, John Katsilometes, Las Vegas Sun

Room rates are spiking at MGM Resorts properties on the Strip for Nov. 13, when the boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. could happen at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

As of Thursday afternoon, less than one day after word spread of the mega-fight inching closer to reality, a basic room at the MGM Grand for Nov. 13 skyrocketed to $260. It's $180 on both Nov. 6 and 20, the Saturdays before and after the proposed date.

The hotel has a 4,300 room capacity, and once full, would refer customers to the group's other properties on the Strip — such as Monte Carlo, Luxor and Mandalay Bay. The MGM also has another 2,500 rooms in its signature tower, which has the more high-end and expensive suites.

Rooms at Mandalay Bay are $229 on Nov. 13 and $129 the following Saturday. At the Luxor, rooms rates start at $160 for Nov. 13 and $105 for Nov. 20.

Increases in room rates for specific weekends months in advance are not uncommon, MGM Resorts Vice President of Public Affairs Gordon Absher said. Variables that boost room rates vary from hot concerts like Lady Gaga to popular annual events like the National Finals Rodeo.

But Absher also said the announced Nov. 13 date for the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout has led MGM Resorts officials to adjust room rates to meet a potential demand for a huge influx of fight fans on that weekend. This is true even without a signed contract to bring what doubtless will be an extraordinarily lucrative fight to the Grand Garden Arena.

"This is similar to airline rates rising and falling according to market conditions," Absher said. "Were there to be a major sporting event on any given date, people will most likely pay more for a room. In effect, we're protecting room rates on that date. We're protecting inventory."

Absher said MGM officials who set room rates were well-aware of recent coverage that the fight is likely to be held Nov. 13 in Las Vegas. But if it is held elsewhere, the rates will adjust accordingly.

"These variables influencing room rates change day-to-day, even hour-to-hour," Absher said.

Room rates at Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Tex., which was the host hotel for Pacquiao's March 13 fight with Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, are not any higher than a typical weekend. The base rate is $199 for Nov. 13, $199 for Nov. 20.

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said Wednesday that several negotiation hurdles that previously prevented the fight from happening have been cleared.

The two sides couldn't agree on drug-testing methods in the spring, with Mayweather agreeing to take the fight only if Pacquiao agreed to be tested through blood sample.

So, Pacquiao fought Clottey and Mayweather took on Shane Mosley on May 1 at the MGM Grand. Both were victorious.

Mayweather, whose Golden Boy Promotions has a policy against commenting on fight negotiations, said after the Mosley fight that he didn't want to fight again in 2010. He would have to ditch that stance for the mega-fight to occur in the fall.

Source: lasvegassun.com

Ryan Rhodes targets WBC clash with Margarito -- BBC Sport

BBC Sport

Ryan Rhodes believes he is closing in on a clash with Mexico's Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBC world light-middleweight title.

The 33-year-old from Sheffield will first have to defend his European light-middleweight belt against Lukas Konecny in Birmingham on 18 September.

"Margarito is number one with the WBC and I'm number two," said Rhodes.

"It is a dream fight for me and it appears like it can happen if I can beat Konecny on 18 September."

Part of promoter Frank Warren's 'The Magnificent Seven', the billing at the LG Arena in Birmingham will also feature Nathan Cleverly, Kell Brook, Michael Jennings, James DeGale, Enzo Maccarinelli and Derek Chisora.

Margarito made a winning return to the ring in May after his license was revoked for 12 months for attempting to fight Shane Mosley with an illegal plaster-like substance placed inside his hand wraps.

Rhodes added: "Margarito is an unbelievable fighter, though not as strong and aggressive as when he was at welterweight.

"I'd be too fast and too strong for him. I campaigned for seven or eight years at middleweight and more than held my own."

"Fighting him is a mouth-watering prospect and would be a dream fight for me.

"He hasn't reapplied for his license to fight in the United States but of course I'd go to Mexico to face him.

"There's a shadow over his win against Miguel Cotto because of his ban after the Mosley fight, but it was a lovely fight to watch but terrible to be involved in.

"By the end of this year I should be fighting for a world title, preferably against Margarito for the WBC belt."

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Arum: It's all up to Mayweather -- Philippine Star

By Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Floyd Mayweather Jr. has a couple of weeks to decide whether or not he wants to fight Manny Pacquiao.

Otherwise, Top Rank president Bob Arum said Pacquiao, the best boxer in the planet today, will start looking elsewhere, and move on to his scheduled return to the ring on Nov. 13.

In an article posted by BoxingScene.com yesterday, Arum hinted that everything’s been agreed upon between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, which represents Mayweather in the talks that have gone on and off for a few months now.

“There’s no actual date of a deadline, but it’s sometime in the middle of July,” Arum told Rick Reeno of the boxing website.

“If we haven’t gotten this thing locked up and done then we’re going ahead and taking another opponent. We’re not just going to sit there and blow our chances for a fight in November,” Arum was quoted as saying.

“We’re waiting on Floyd. Floyd has to decide whether or not he’s going to fight this year or next year or not at all. It’s up to him. He isn’t up to any obligation. We want the fight this year, and if he doesn’t take the fight this year, then we’ll fight somebody else.”

Mayweather has yet to clarify statements he made a month ago that he wants out of the sport for “a year or two,” and those who said he wasn’t serious when he said that are those who want the fight to happen.

But it’s Mayweather who has to make the final decision. Only this time, he’s been given a couple of weeks to do it.

Or Pacquiao, now a new congressman, might end up facing either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito in November, in Las Vegas, or take a break from boxing himself, and return to the ring early next year.

Now the burden is not on Pacquiao to make the fight happen. Two days ago, a day after he took his oath as congressman of Sarangani, the Pinoy icon went scuba-diving in a resort near his hometown.

He can fight either Cotto or Margarito and make as much as $15 million, more than enough to cover his personal expenses during the recent campaign.

It appears that both sides have agreed on the conditions regarding the random blood-testing, which could go on 14 days before or even closer to the fight, and the purse split, which may end up at fifty-fifty, and should leave everybody smiling.

There’s only one thing that may cause some concern regarding the talks, and it involves the defamation suit that was filed by Pacquiao against Mayweather, his dad, his uncle, and the Golden Boy top brass, including Oscar dela Hoya.

Pacquiao filed the case after the Mayweathers came out with allegations that Pacquiao is into performance-enhancing drugs, leading to the breakdown of the initial talks that should have made the fight happen last March.

Pacquiao said a few months ago that there’s no way they would drop the case, and that they had no intention of using it as a leverage or a bargaining chip for the fight that sees both fighters earning around $40 million apiece.

Reports said the details that have been given the stamp of approval by the negotiators are now with Mayweather, and now it’s up to the undefeated American and self-proclaimed pound-for-pound champ to decide on.

Source: philstar.com

Mundine considers Waters way to world title -- Sydney Morning Herald

By BRAD WALTER, The Sydney Morning Herald

ANTHONY MUNDINE will consider taking up a challenge from fellow light-middleweight Ryan Waters if the fight can help land a bout with the division's No.1 boxer, Miguel Cotto.

Waters crashed the ring immediately after Mundine's first fight in the 69.9-kilogram division against tough Argentinian Carlos Aden Jerez at Brisbane Entertainment Centre to call out the three-time world champion. With WBA and WBO top-10 rankings, Waters could be an avenue to another title shot for the former Dragons star.

''He's a world-ranked fighter, so maybe that could happen,'' Mundine said. ''He's rated in the top 10 by the WBA [7th] and in the top five by the WBO, so maybe that could be an eliminator for a world title.''

While Mundine acknowledged after the fight that he needed to work on his power and strength as a light-middleweight, his performance against the hardworking Jerez gave him confidence that he could become the first boxer to win world titles in three weight divisions in descending order.

To do so, the two-time WBA super-middleweight champion and former IBO middleweight titleholder is aiming to win either an interim title fight or an eliminator bout.

Already ranked the No.2 contender by the WBA, he then hopes to force Cotto into a mandatory title defence. Fights against Mexico's Antonio Margarito, the WBA's No.1 contender, and interim titleholder Nobuhiro Ishida of Japan are other options.

However, Margarito may be off the radar as he has been linked with a bout against Manny Pacquiao after negotiations for the Fillipino pound-for-pounder to fight Floyd Mayweather jnr again appear to have broken down.

Mundine eventually hopes to fight Mayweather and believes that the way to achieve that is by beating Cotto to claim the light-middleweight crown.

Before then, he has to honour an agreement to fight The Contender champion Garth Wood, possibly in December.

Mundine will look to fight again before then and Waters is now looming as a likely opponent. ''He's Australian so I am giving another Australian a pay day and a day to shine,'' Mundine said.

Source: smh.com.au

Floyd must decide soon – Arum -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum’s patience is getting thinner each passing day.

Arum said on Thursday that he is giving Floyd Mayweather, Jr. until mid-July to decide whether he’ll face Manny Pacquiao or not in a megabuck matchup booked for November 13 in Las Vegas.

Speaking to the on-line edition of Sports Illustrated, Arum said the unbeaten American has to make a decision because time is apparently running out.

“This really depends, as I see it, on whether Mayweather wants to fight (Pacquiao). By mid-July, he’s either in or out. We’re not going to wait forever. We’re going to have a fight on November 13 and we would love it to be Mayweather.”

Arum said he has two guys on standby: Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto and Mexican Antonio Margarito.

Although the 78-year-old Harvard-educated lawyer admits that the Mayweather fight is going to command more money and media mileage, Arum said he has no other choice but to look elsewhere.

Cotto looks like the first option in the event Mayweather decides to back off from a Pacquiao fight since Cotto holds a portion of the world super-welterweight crown even if he had been beaten by the Filipino last year.

Against Cotto, Pacquiao will be gunning for an eighth world title, making it an intriguing clash.

Arum, who has been promoting Pacquiao the past six years, said the other day that negotiations have ended between the two camps and that the ball is now in Mayweather’s court.

Source: mb.com.ph

Mayweather Has Mid-July Deadline to Accept Pacquiao Deal -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, has reached an agreement in principle to put his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt on the line against unbeaten six-time titlist, Floyd Mayweather, in a bout that would take place on November 13 likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Konz, told FanHouse on Wednesday night.

Koncz added that there are documents in the hands of the Mayweather camp, which, BoxingScene.com's Rick Reeno reports include corroboration between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions on Mayweather's demand for a random drug testing protocol, and a tentative agreement on a 50-50 split of the purse.

Koncz said that Mayweather's camp has two weeks --"whether it's July 13, or, July 15, it doesn't matter, but it's two weeks" -- within which to sign and return the documents indicating their acceptance of the terms.

If Mayweather does not indicate his acceptance of the terms by then, Pacquiao will begin negotiations with another opponent -- likely either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito.

"I'm not going to discuss the negotiations, but so far, though, there are no issues. We're just waiting on Floyd. Floyd has to decide whether or not he's going to fight this year or next year or not at all. It's up to him, man to decide whether or not he is up to any obligation," said Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Promotions, which handles Pacquiao's affairs.

"We want a fight this year, and if he doesn't take the fight this year, then we'll fight somebody else. As far as I'm concerned, there is no actual deadline date, but sometime in the middle of July," said Arum. "If we haven't gotten this thing locked up and done, then we're going ahead and taking another opponent. We're not just going to sit there and blow our chances for a fight in November."

Arum said the need to complete the deal has everything to do with promoting the fight.

"We want this fight period. This is the fight we want, period. But a lot of things that you want can't happen. Everything has to fall into place, and we need the time to start publicizing the fight during the month of August," said Arum. "We've got to get the tickets on sale, commercials done, etc. We have to begin gearing up and getting ready to go by the beginning of August -- whomever Manny is going to fight."

Arum had long reserved the date of Nov. 13 for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex., for the proposed mega fight, although it appears that the Las Vegas site is more likely.

Koncz said that Arum, Pacquiao, and himself have been involved in the negotiations for their side. FanHouse has learned that Mayweather, his advisers, Leonard Ellerbe and Al Haymon, and, HBO's Ross Greenburg also are believed to have been involved.

"I refuse to comment on the specifics and I'm not going to discuss any terms of the agreement that we want signed. And my recommendation to Manny and to Bob Arum is that once the agreement is signed, that the terms of the agreement remain confidential also," said Koncz.

"There's nothing to say. It's right and correct that we have an agreement, but there are no documents signed. And we will not sit here and jeopardize the November 13 fight date," said Koncz. "So if there are no documents signed within a two-week period of time, then I've been instructed to inform Mr. Arum that we're supposed to go ahead and find a new opponent."

Arum has expressed optimism that negotiations would end positively, even as he believed that a resolution should come "one way or the other" over the next two weeks.

Then again, six-time champion Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts) and seven-division king and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) titlist Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) appeared to be set to fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand before talks reached an impasse in December over random drug testing for both fighters to be conducted by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

The fighters had agreed on a 50-50 split of the revenue, as well as eight-ounce gloves and a clash at the welterweight (147 pounds) limit rather than a catch weight.

Since the original talks collapsed, a mutually agreed upon gag order has been in place for all parties involved in the negotiations until the talks are complete.

If Mayweather-Pacquiao doesn't happen, said Koncz, then Pacquiao will pursue a bout against either newly-crowned WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champ, Cotto, whom Pacquiao has already knocked out in the 12th round in their November bout, or ex-world titlist, Margarito, who also has knocked out Cotto but has, himself, been stopped in the 11th round by Shane Mosley.

"The opponents remain the same: Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. I don't put them in any specific order other than the fact that Mayweather is obviously the deal that we have been working on for some time," said Koncz.

"That's [Mayweather] the primary fight because that's what the public wants and that's what Manny wants to give the fans," said Koncz. "As far as Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, there is no particular order. It comes down to monetary factors, it's as simple as that."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Report: Pacquiao agrees to fight Mayweather in November -- New York Post

New York Post

Representatives for Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have agreed to a bout between the two fighters to be held Nov. 13, SI.com reports.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told SI.com on Wednesday that the deal still needs to be approved by Mayweather, with a deadline of mid-July.

"This really depends, as I see it, on whether Mayweather wants to fight [Pacquiao]" Arum said. "By mid-July, he's either in or out. We're not going to wait forever. We're going to have a fight on Nov. 13 and we would love it to be Mayweather."

Alternatives for Pacquiao are Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.

Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, told The Fan 590 radio in Toronto that if Mayweahter is the opponent, the fight will be in Las Vegas; if it''s someone else, it will be in Dallas.

"Well, we’re going to fight Nov. 13 against somebody and me and Manny both hope that it’s Mayweather. We’re trying to make every benefit we can to make that happen," Roach told the radio station, according to a transcript on SportsRadioInterviews.com.

"Again, we obviously want Mayweather. He has a big mouth and we’re going to shut him up."

Source: http://www.nypost.com/

Bob Arum: Only Floyd Mayweather's approval stands in way of fight with Manny Pacquiao -- Grand Rapids Press

By Josh Slagter, The Grand Rapids Press

With obstacles such as random blood testing and purse split, a potential megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao -- negotiations that already had failed once -- looked as if it'd never come to fruition.

It still may not happen, but, according to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, the two sides have agreed on all terms and only Mayweather's final approval is needed to finalize the Nov. 13 fight, which likely would be in Las Vegas.

Arum told Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole the ball is in Mayweather's court on whether or not he wants to fight again this year.

“The question is whether Mayweather is willing to go into the ring this year. It’s up to him," Arum said. "His people would love him to do it. He may not want to do it. If Mayweather wants to fight in November, I believe the fight will be made. To me it seems -- it seems, and say that, because I’m not Mayweather -- that the only issue is whether he wants to fight in November.”

Mayweather, who is coming off a dominating unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosley in May, has demanded random blood and urine testing for all future fights and even suggested he wouldn't accept a 50/50 purse split with Pacquiao, something the two sides agreed upon during the first negotiations.

Arum told Iole all of those issues have been resolved.

“It may be that Floyd wants to fight in May, in which case (Pacquiao will) fight (another opponent) in November and fight him in May," Arum said. "I am not going to talk about the specifics of the negotiations. You have my statement that there are no real issues that I can see, except whether he wants to fight now or later or not at all."

Arum reiterated that stance to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, saying the offer that's on the table now is good for next year, if needed.

"Nobody is under any obligation to fight this year," Arum said. "He may need more time. When he is ready, we are prepared to do the fight."

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who has represented the Mayweather camp in negotiations, cited an agreement the two sides had earlier this year to not speak about negotiations with the media after Iole apprised him of Arum's most recent comments.

“My reaction is no comment,” Schaefer said. “I really can’t say anything. I won’t comment in any way, shape or form. You know this and anybody who has called me knows this: The only two words I’m going to say when I’m asked about this are ‘No comment.’ That’s my comment. No comment.”

Arum told Mannix that Mayweather has until mid-July to accept the fight, otherwise he may move on to Antonio Margarito or a rematch with Miguel Cotto.

“As far as I’m concerned, we have two guys (Margarito and Cotto) in the wings who could make attractive fights for Manny, though they are certainly not as attractive as a Mayweather fight,” Arum said. “But I don’t want to talk about (Margarito and Cotto). I want to make sure there is no chance for this Mayweather fight to happen this year before I talk about any other fight."

Source: mlive.com

Pacquiao-Mayweather agree to terms on fight -- Sports Illustrated

By Chris Mannix, SI.com

Representatives for Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have agreed to terms on a megafight, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told SI.com on Wednesday. The deal still needs to be approved by Mayweather.

Arum did not disclose terms of the deal, which is expected to be a 50-50 split and include some form of drug testing. The fight is scheduled for Nov. 13 at a location to be determined. Las Vegas and Dallas are considered the favorites to land the fight.

Arum told SI.com that Mayweather has until mid-July to make a decision.

"This really depends, as I see it, on whether Mayweather wants to fight [Pacquiao]" Arum said. "By mid-July, he's either in or out. We're not going to wait forever. We're going to have a fight on Nov. 13 and we would love it to be Mayweather."

Arum said that if Mayweather passed on the fight, they could still make a deal under the negotiated terms next year.

"Nobody is under any obligation to fight this year," Arum said. "He may need more time. When he is ready, we are prepared to do the fight."

Possible alternative opponents for Pacquiao are Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.

Source: sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather may happen, but not in Dallas -- USA Today

USA Today

The one fight every boxing fan wants to see is Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Pacquiao's trainer says his camp will take one more stab at making it happen.

Freddie Roach told The Fan 590 in Toronto that Pacquiao is set to fight on Nov. 13. The ideal opponent would be Mayweather, he said, but if that can't be negotiated Pacquiao will settle for a rematch with Miguel Cotto or a bout against Antonio Margarito.

"I talked to Bob Arum yesterday and he told me that he will know within a week if the deal is going to be done or not," Roach said. "Again, we obviously want Mayweather. He has a big mouth and we're going to shut him up."

Roach said the obvious stumbling blocks -- how the money will be split, and how much drug-testing will be done via blood samples -- haven't been resolved. And if Mayweather does agree to fight, Roach said, the event will be held in Las Vegas instead of at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium.

"There are two sites etched in. The MGM in Vegas, or Dallas," Roach said. "The thing is, Mayweather will not fight in Texas. If we get Mayweather we'll go to Vegas, if it's Margarito or Cotto, it will go Dallas."

Source: content.usatoday.com