Las Vegas favored for Pacquiao-Mayweather bout

By NICK GIONGCO
December 17, 2009, 6:00pm

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — As Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) try to find the best venue to host the March 13, 2010 bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, a key Pacquiao adviser believes Las Vegas will end up edging Dallas as host of the super fight.

“With the casino and all the betting that’s going to take place, Las Vegas will eventually get the right to host the fight,” said lawyer Franklin Gacal on Thursday as he and a bevy of celebrities arrived here from Manila in time for Pacquiao’s 31st birthday bash.

The MGM Grand, which seats just over 16,000 is the frontrunner, while the 80,000-seat Cowboys Stadium, is aching to play host to what many consider as the richest fight ever with Texas billionaire Jerry Jones agreeing to cough up $25 million as site fee.

“Imagine the revenue that Vegas is going to miss out if Dallas ends up staging the fight,” said Gacal. “This fight is a sure hit so Vegas will not allow this to slip away.”

Luminaries from the world of politics, showbiz and sports are attending Pacquiao’s special day and some of them got here on board a private plane owned by former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson, who has been a familiar fixture in Pacquiao’s last few fights.

The plane, which seats 30, made a brief stopover on Mactan Island, picking up Cebu Mayor Tommy Osmeña, before proceeding to Gen. Santos International Airport.

Pacquio is planning to go on a vacation with his wife Jinkee and four kids during the holidays then fly to New York for a press conference in the first week of January. From the Big Apple Pacquiao will return to Manila en route to Baguio for the first half of training camp under Freddie Roach.

Source: mb.com.ph