Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in popularity race with bouts on same night

By Gareth A. Davies - Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao will compete against each other on March 13, but not in a Las Vegas ring. The pair will go head to head in a commercial battle, and one of popularity, as they vie for pay-per-view buys on the same night in separate venues.

A proposed mega-fight between the world's top two fighters on March 13 collapsed last week after a dispute between the camps over proposed drug-testing protocol. What was expected to be the highest earning fight in history, worth around $200 million (£123.9 million), is off. For now.

Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter at Top Rank, revealed that his man would defend the World Boxing Organisation welterweight title against former holder Joshua Clottey – on March 13, at the NFL Cowboys Stadium, in Arlington, Texas.

That was confirmed by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on Monday, the billionaire American welcoming the opportunity to host world championship boxing at the new Stadium.

"I have wanted to bring a major boxing event to north Texas for many years, so why not bring in the biggest and the best?" Jones said. "Manny Pacquiao is boxing's number one pound-for-pound attraction and the world champion.

"Manny defending his title against Joshua Clottey is not just a great fight, it's a great event. We're going to promote this like it was the Super Bowl."

Meanwhile, not to be outdone, Richard Shaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy, Mayweather's promoters, insisted yesterday that their man would fight at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on the same night. The MGM Grand had been favourite to host the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight before talks collapsed.

Mayweather is looking at fighting the likes of Paulie Malignaggi, Nate Campbell, or Kermit Cintron. Schaefer ruled out rumours that it could be Matthew Hatton, the younger brother of former light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton.

"There is absolutely no truth to the rumours about Matthew Hatton. I can't tell you for sure who Floyd will fight, but I can tell you for sure it won't be Matthew Hatton," Schaefer said.

Source: telegraph.co.uk