Megafight's collapse is muted by May 1 matchup at MGM.
When word came Friday that welterweight superstars Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley would fight May 1 at the MGM Grand, it was the kind of news that boxing in Las Vegas needed after a disappointing start to 2010.
Things weren't looking good after Mayweather was unable to come to terms with Manny Pacquiao for a proposed March 13 megafight at the Grand Garden, and then Mosley's fight against Andre Berto, which was to have been Saturday at Mandalay Bay, was canceled when Berto pulled out two weeks ago.
Perhaps it's small consolation, but Mayweather-Mosley will make up some of the lost revenue for the state and MGM Mirage. Richard Sturm, president of entertainment and sports for MGM Mirage, was happy to see something positive happen.
"We never wavered in the least," Sturm said. "Boxing is fantastic for the company, and even though losing a couple of fights was disappointing, we're excited about the coming months. I still think 2010 will be a big year for boxing in Las Vegas."
Mosley signed the contract Friday, and Mayweather's signature is imminent. Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's co-manager, said there are no issues that need to be worked out for the fight, which will be televised by HBO Pay Per View.
"Floyd's excited," Ellerbe said. "He's waited 10 years for this opportunity to fight Mosley."
Mayweather is also getting his wish for Olympic-style drug testing, including blood testing, which was the deal-breaker for Pacquiao. Mosley, who has tested positive for steroids and testified in the BALCO investigation, agreed to all testing, including a blood test on fight night. His only stipulation was that Mayweather submit to the same protocol; Mayweather agreed.
"Shane is fine with Olympic-style drug testing," said Richard Schaefer, Mosley's promoter and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "He welcomes more stringent testing. He has nothing to hide."
Mayweather-Mosley will be worth several hundred thousand dollars in tax revenue for the state. Mosley-Berto fight would've netted Nevada about $200,000, according to Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission.
"This definitely helps," Kizer said. "We had a tough start, but fights like this can get us back on track for a big year."
• MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO BETS -- The megafight is off for now, but if you're holding a betting ticket for Mayweather-Pacquio, your action is still alive, according to Art Manteris, Station Casinos vice president of race and sports.
"The date of the event for this wager is clearly anytime in 2010," he said. "This kind of wager has been done for boxing for many years. And the only way you can do it is by having it open-ended within a certain time frame."
Manteris said the Mayweather-Pacquiao bet remains available at Station books. Mayweather is a minus-120 favorite, with Pacquiao at even money. Pacquiao opened as a minus-160 favorite.
Source: lvrj.com
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