The super fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is gaining steam as reports indicated that a group of investors from United Arab Emirates are willing to put up more than $200 million as fight purse to make the bout happen.
Akbar Muhammad, former Top Rank Promotions Senior Vice President, revealed in an interview that UAE investors have already signified serious interest in offering tempting guaranteed purse to both fighters to arrange the super showdown in Dubai next year.
"The funding is in place, and because of this and the group's unique and distinctive make-up and backgrounds, it has emerged as the leading and most serious group striving to secure the bout," Muhammad said via Gulf News. "We want to be a part of Mr. Mayweather's historic march to 50-0, no matter where the fights may take place."
Roger Mayweather, Floyd's uncle, also said in an interview with Hustleboss that his nephew should strongly consider facing Pacquiao in 2015 before he retires from boxing.
Roger Mayweather said that Pacquiao proved that he deserves a shot against his nephew after the Filipino boxing icon scored a dominating decision win against Chris Algieri last month.
"Pacquiao deserves the fight," Roger Mayweather said. "Pacquiao's had good wins. That's one of the biggest fights that people talk about. I think that the fight should happen."
If the fight, which is expected to make boxing records, eventually happens next year, Roger Mayweather remained firm on his previous prediction that Floyd Jr. will dominate Pacquiao.
But as expected, trainer Freddie Roach disagreed. The Hall of Fame trainer said that the reigning pound-for-pound is the bigger draw, but Roach said that Pacquiao will dominate the unbeaten champion.
"I think it's good for us," Roach said via Tha Boxing Voice. "I've had my game plan for a while now. Manny's legs were really good in the fight and Floyd's weren't in his last fight. 3 years ago it's 50-50. I think now we have the advantage because Floyd's a little shot."
Roach also admitted that he told Pacquiao to call out Mayweather and "embarrass" him in public to put a lot of pressure on the Grand Rapids native's shoulder to accept Pacquiao's challenge.
"I told him, every time you get a chance, call him out," Roach said. "The nice guy routine didn't work, so he made the commercial making fun of Floyd. We need to force this guy into the fight somehow. I think Floyd's a little embarrassed so I honestly think it has a chance."
