The president and CEO of CBS Corporation, whose involvement was credited with helping Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao reach a deal to fight each other, saved the day a second time.
A dispute between Top Rank, Mayweather Promotions and the MGM Grand was putting the fight at risk. But a late morning conference call resolved all outstanding issues, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday.
The May 2 welterweight bout at the MGM Grand, which is expected to be the largest-grossing fight in history, is now officially on. There had been disputes over allocation of tickets, credentials and hotel rooms, among other things, and despite the fact that the fighters had signed to face each other in February, there hadn't been a contract between the promoters and the MGM.
Arum said he and Top Rank president Todd duBoef met with Moonves and Mayweather adviser Al Haymon and that nothing now stands in the way of the fight going forward.
"We resolved all of the issues and now we're waiting for the paperwork," Arum said. "I said on the call that if what we agreed upon is in the paperwork we receive, we will sign it and the tickets will be released."
There will be a small number of tickets made available to the public at a cost of $1,500, $2,500, $3,500, $5,000 and $7,500. It was not immediately clear at exactly what time the tickets will be on sale, but both Arum and duBoef said it should be mid-to-late afternoon Pacific time.
DuBoef said the written contract is expected to be at Top Rank by 1 p.m. Pacific time.
Yahoo Sports has reached out to Moonves and will update this story as developments warrant. Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe could not be reached for comment.
article courtesy of Yahoo