Pacquiao signs the contract to face Mayweather!

Pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao has signed the dotted line on the contract to face undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr on March 13, according to AFP and ESPN's Dan Rafael.  Once Mayweather signs the contract, the fight will be signed, sealed, and delivered.  Both sides have agreed to a 50-50 purse split, which is reassuring given that both fighters were demanding 60-40, initally placing the finalization of this mega fight in serious jeopardy. 

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather will be contested at 147lbs for Pacquiao WBO welterweight title, which he won by way of 12th round TKO over Miguel Cotto last month.  Provisions in the contract stipulate that each fighter must wear eight-ounce gloves, but they are free to select the brand of gloves that they choose.  The promotional press conference for this event, in which Mayweather's name will be listed in front of Pacquiao's [eg: ['Mayweather vs. Pacquiao'], will kick off in New York  at some point in January. Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank will enjoy higher billing over Mayweather's co-promoter Golden Boy Promotions.

A venue still has yet to be selected, but the candidates include the Louisiana Super Dome in New Orleans, the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Texas, and two different sites in Las Vegas.