Manny Pacquiao's Deal Improves; Georgia Dome Calls

12/08/2009 12:22 AM ET By Lem Satterfield

There are at least two new developments concerning the March 13 Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao megafight.

Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank's Bob Arum, will give his fighter a larger guaranteed purse than originally agreed upon, and Arum has been contacted by the Atlanta Falcons' Georgia Dome regarding the potential for being a site for the bout.

The Filipino icon's adviser, Michael Koncz, told FanHouse on Monday that Arum has sweetened the deal for Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts), who earned his unprecedented seventh world title in as many weight classes with his 12th-round, technical knockout victory over then-WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champ Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14.

"Arum presented a package to us, and we did some minor modifications to it. One of the points that we brought up was the guaranteed purse," said Koncz, referring to their interaction during a two-hour meeting involving Pacquiao, Arum and himself, late last week.

"Bob came to us with an offer, we countered it, and we got what we requested," said Koncz. "That [purse] was the major one, and there were some minor issues -- not so much revolving around money, but with other aspects of the fight."


Although there are reports that the combatants agreed to a 50-50 split, and that Pacquiao, at least, was originally guaranteed $20 million -- plus their shares of any upside to the pay per view revenue -- Koncz said that a gag order is in place for both sides and that, under the circumstances, it would be inappropriate to address any numbers.

There are also reports that Mayweather has been guaranteed at least $20 million, that his name will lead the promotion as "Mayweather-Pacquiao," and that the revenue could push each side's earnings toward the $45 million mark.

"The only ones who know the figures are Manny, myself, Bob Arum, [Golden Boy Promotions'] Richad Schaefer and Floyd Mayweather. So there are other figures floating around out there that may or not be accurate," said Koncz, referring to Schaefer, who is representing Mayweather's side.

"In relation to any figures, I will not substantiate them," said Koncz. "There are gag orders in place, and I don't think that it's appropriate that any deals or negotiations should be negotiated in the press."

During Pacquiao's Q&A with FanHouse last week, Koncz said that Pacquiao has not yet signed a contract, but that the fighter had agreed to the terms of a clash with Mayweather on March 13, with each fighter being able to choose his own brand of eight-ounce gloves, and at the welterweight (147-pound) category rather than at catchweight.

"I'm getting a number of calls from the media saying, 'Well, you guys didn't sign a contract, is the fight going to happen?' Of course it is going to happen," said Koncz.

"I think that I mentioned to you last week that we never sign a contract this early in the game," said Koncz. "As long as we have an agreement with Arum, it's always come through. The only thing that we have to worry about now is the location."

Upon Arum's return -- he was expected back on American soil on Sunday -- the promoter told FanHouse last week that he would relay the modified terms to Schaefer as early as Monday.

Sources familiar with the negotiations told FanHouse that the talks are, indeed, ongoing, and that the possibility exists that the deal could be announced as early as Tuesday -- the longtime promoter's 78th birthday.

Mayweather reportedly had agreed to terms early last week before Arum traveled to Manila for his meeting with Pacquiao and Koncz, who strongly believes that Mayweather will be on board.

"I don't see a problem with anything because [Golden Boy's] Richard Schaefer has been retained by Floyd to represent Mayweather throughout the negotiations, and the promotion, " said Koncz.

"The majority of the things that we discussed pertained only to our promoter -- not jointly to Top Rank and Golden Boy," said Koncz. "So that's why there are no concerns, and that's why we made agreements with Arum that we're happy with. I think probably the only thing that's left is the location."

Although Arum was contacted by the Georgia Dome on Monday, according to a source, Las Vegas still appears to be the leading candidate for hosting the fight, particularly with its MGM Grand, The Thomas & Mack Center, and a 30,000-seat outdoor stadium that is being constructed.

Another solid possibility is the Dallas Cowboys' stadium, whose owner, Jerry Jones, will meet with Arum, Schaefer and HBO's Ross Greenburg on Thursday, Koncz said. There is also the New Orleans Superdome.

According to Wikipedia, however, the Georgia Dome, completed in 1992 at a cost of $214 million, was the world's largest domed structure until 1999, when London's Millennium Dome was built.

The Georgia Dome seated a record 75,982 for the 2008 SEC football championship game. It holds an average of around 71,228 for Atlanta Falcons football games.

The Georgia Dome has housed about 75,000 and 53,000, respectively, for concerts and basketball games when it is fully open. When sectioned off, it has seated around 40,000 for events such as basketball and gymnastics.

In addition, the Georgia Dome regularly boasts eight Super Suites, 164 executive suites, a Penthouse Suite and 4,600 club seats, and features over 660 television monitors scattered about for fans who might not have the most favorable view of the fight.

If Mayweather-Pacquiao happens as expected, there would likely be a Jan. 11 press conference in New York to announce it, followed by another shortly thereafter in New York, according to a report in The Los Angeles Times.

The bout could be the richest ever, based on the pay per view numbers generated by the fighters' most recent performances, and their crossover appeal.

Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) has made appearances on Dancing With The Stars, defeated professional wrestler The Big Show, and will make an appearance Tuesday night on HBO's Joe Buck Live.

Pacquiao is running for congress in the Philippines, has been featured in The New York Times, graced the cover of Time Magazine, and made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where he displayed his sense of humor and singing talents.

Named the recipient of the Gusi Peace Prize for his efforts in disaster relief during two recent typhoons in the Philippines, Pacquiao is in the midst of filming a superhero movie, WaPak Man. The movie's shooting should be complete on Dec. 9, with a scheduled release on Christmas.

Mayweather's split-decision victory over De La Hoya in May 2007 sold a record 2.4 million, and his 10th-round knockout of Ricky Hatton generated 920,000 buys.

Pacquiao-Cotto generated 1.25 million buys according to Mark Taffet, HBO's senior vice president of pay per view.

With Mayweather's Sept. 19 unanimous decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, which resulted in 1.05 million buys, that marked the first time HBO pay per view recorded back-to-back fights exceeding a million buys.

Pacquiao-Cotto also marked the first time since 1999 that two pay per view boxing events surpassed a million purchases, joining Felix Trinidad's controversial decision over Oscar De La Hoya and Lennox Lewis' disputed draw with Evander Holyfield.

Pacquiao's knockout of Oscar De La Hoya also registered 1.25 in December of 2008, and his second-round KO of Hatton in May drew 830,000 buys.

Pacquiao injured his right eardrum and his right hand, but told FanHouse that each should be "healthy" enough to fight Mayweather.

Pacquiao also said that neither filming the movie, nor his congressional campaign will interfere with his preparation.

Mayweather won't be discussing fight negotiation details on Joe Buck Live, his adviser Leonard Ellerbe told The Grand Rapids Press, the hometown newspaper of Mayweather, now a Las Vegas resident.

Mayweather "is not going to be talking about any fights. There's nothing to talk about," said Ellerbe. "Let them do the talking. When the time comes for Mr. Mayweather to talk, he'll be talking loud and clear."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com