Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs. Manny Pacquiao Venue Agreed, Fight To Be Signed In A Week, Source Says

The fight has not been signed yet, but when the Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Vs. Manny Pacquiao megafight takes place — if it does — the venue where the two welterweight champions will clash is now known. In fact, according to sources speaking on anonymously to the media this week, most details of the agreement between the fighters have now been worked out — and a contract making the long-awaited fight a reality could be signed within seven to ten days.

As the Inquisitr reported last week, Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, reported “movement” in talks between the two camps.

This time, the Los Angeles Times newspaper quoted a secret source identified only as “a boxing official” delivering what, if accurate, would be the most encouraging news so far to come out of the seemingly endless negotiations for the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, which opened in 2009.

Back then, plans for the fight fell apart when Mayweather insinuated that the Filipino ring icon — who won his first world title in 1999 in the 112-pound weight class — achieved his startling success at weights up to 147 pounds with the aid of performance-enhancing drugs.

When Pacquiao would not agree to Mayweather’s demands for strict drug testing protocols, the planned megafight, which at the time would have featured both fighters at the height of their abilities, collapsed.

This time with Pacquiao at age 36, Mayweather at age 37, and both fighters closing in on the final curtain of their respective Hall of Fame careers, details of a drug testing program for the fight have been settled, the “boxing official” told the Times.

The fighters have also come to an agreement on where the fight will be held, and their decision comes as no surprise. If or when Mayweather and Pacquiao fight, they’ll lace on the gloves on the Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Mayweather, who also makes his home in Las Vegas, has fought his last 10 consecutive fights in that arena and hasn’t fought anywhere else since defeating Carlos Baldomir at another Las Vegas venue, the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in November of 2006.

But the fight will not simply be a “home game” for Mayweather. Manny Pacquiao has fought eight of his last 12 bouts at the same arena, and always attracts a sizable contingent of fans from the Phillippines and Filipino-Americans to the MGM Grand.

The Times also quoted the boxing official as saying that though the talks are “making progress,” time is of the essence and a contract is likely to be signed within a week to 10 days, to ensure that the Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao superfight can take place in May or June.