Mayweather vs. Pacquiao set for March 13 at MGM Grand!

Sources throughout the weekend have reported that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao will take place on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV.  "It's the MGM. It's definite," an article from Fanhouse.com quoted a source as saying. The decision to choose MGM Grand was based on the success of the previous events that have taken place there for both of the respective combatants, "Familiarity with the location as well as their past success there."

Choices for the venue were narrowed down to Staples Center in Los Angeles, the new state-of-the-art Dallas Cowboys Arena in Dallas, and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.  Staples Center was first to be eliminated from the list, when Pacquiao declared he did not want the fight to take place there.  Additionally, Staples Center bid the lowest amount of money at $20 million, an offer that was outbidded $5 million by Jerry Jones's offer of $25 million to host the fight at the Cowboys Stadium.  According to a report from the Philippine Star, the MGM Grand is capable of generating live gate sales of at least $28 million.

Practically everybody knew that this megafight would end up in Las Vegas, as there is no other tourist attraction in the country that could generate as much of a buzz for an extraveganza of this magnitude. Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is a huge event, a media phenomenon, that has even the most casual sports fans outside of inner boxing circles talking.  Therefore it makes perfect sense to stage this fight at the MGM Grand, not only for the fact that both fighters have fought their biggest fights there, but also because Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions and Bob Arum of Top Rank both have positive working relationships with that particular resort.  Why would Schaefer or Arum stage this fight anywhere else, at the risk of souring their relationships with the MGM Grand? 

Pacquiao and Mayweather have agreed to fight at the weight limit of 147lbs, for Pacquiao's WBO welterweight championship, using eight-ounce gloves of their choice, for a 50-50 purse split. As recently as last week, Team Mayweather additionally requested that Pacquiao undergo Olympic-style drug testing.  Therefore, both parties will be subjected to that level of testing. 

There will be a press conference in New York City on January 6, followed by a press conference in Los Angeles on January 8, to officially announce Mayweather vs. Pacquiao for March 13.  Ladies and gentlemen, boxing fans of all ages, this here is your early Christmas present!