rokko
02-08-2011, 10:51 PM
Cowboy Jerry Jones might round up Mayweather-Pacquiao for Dallas, NFL Network
February 8th, 2011 11:50 am ET.Do you like this Article?
The spring thaw came early for fight promoter Bob Arum and his former star client, Floyd Mayweather.
Instead of acting like the obnoxious “Money” Mayweather, the undefeated fighter flipped his usual script and turned into a gushing “Huggy Bear” when he encountered Arum and Top Rank president Todd duBoef in Jerry Jones' VIP guest box at the Super Bowl Sunday night in Arlington, Texas.
A day later, the 79 year old Arum was still all warm and tingly about the not by chance meeting when the Packers outplayed the Steelers for the Vince Lombardi Trophy emblematic of National Football League superiority.
“Warm...friendly...congenial....cordial” were among the adjectives pouring from Uncle Bob's mouth about the fighter who used to perform under the TR banner but bought his contractual freedom for $750,000 and who then sued the promoter on March 17, 2008, claiming he was cheated out of revenue when he fought Arturo Gatti and Zab Judah.
Arum lashed back at Mayweather then, saying that the fighter owed his company “millions” and promising counterclaims and cross-claims.
Now, Mayweather and Arum are social friends again. Arum is not big on social media but Mayweather is probably “friending” the pair on Facebook and adding them to his Uber Twitter page.
I'm reminded of a phrase Don King favors, one which says “today's enemy is tomorrow's friend in boxing.”
Now, that the Arctic glacial ice floe has been chopped up a bit, I'm convinced more than ever that Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao will happen this November.
And, early indications are that the “matchmaker” bringing these litigious camps together is none other than the Super host, the folksy but always aggressive in business Mr. Jones.
Jones wanted a Super Bowl in his $1.2 billion football playpen and, as the most influential owner in the NFL, he went out and got one.
Jones continues to want the Super Bowl of boxing, which is what Manny versus Floyd certainly is, and the “reunited and it feels so good” in the celebrity suites at the biggest sports event in this country was part of his plan.
I spoke with a man who is familiar with Jones' thinking and with his master plan.
“Yes, Jerry Jones is a legitimate fight fan. But, beyond that, Jerry is a big event guy, a make it happen mover and shaker who is trying to make his stadium the go-to venue for the biggest and the best events in entertainment and sports.
“Jerry would love to out duel the still struggling financially powers that be in La Vegas and land the big fight. I mean, he did not host two Pacman bouts last year so he could meet and greet Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito,” the insider said.
Jones' keen interest in being the catalyst who gets the adverse parties into a negotiation room and who winds up being the host of this historic event may be bad news not only for the casino interests but also for regular boxing prime cable network and PPV promoters, HBO and Showtime.
The insider, who prefers to remain unnamed, said Jones has more in mind than just being the man who provides the site for the fight.
“The NFL Network is still fighting for a bigger footprint, The NFL Network needs big events beyond football. The NFL Network might wind up getting the Mayweather-Pacquiao super fight because Jerry Jones and the uber wealthy NFL might not let themselves get outbid.”
A few years back, Tomasz Adamek promoter Kathy Duva had an ally at the NFL Network and she worked diligently on a plan to promote boxing on the football league's cable network but the deal fizzled out.
It was a good idea then and it may be a better idea now, particularly with the Fight of the Century as the first boxing event on the network.
You want to see whether Mayweather-Pacquiao gets made, where it winds up in terms of venue and also regarding who the broadcaster is, I say keep your eyes on one man.
When Uncle Jerry, the former star gridder at the University of Arkansas, gets the ball, he's a hard man to bring down.
And, as his business history tells us, Uncle Jerry rarely fumbles.
..
February 8th, 2011 11:50 am ET.Do you like this Article?
The spring thaw came early for fight promoter Bob Arum and his former star client, Floyd Mayweather.
Instead of acting like the obnoxious “Money” Mayweather, the undefeated fighter flipped his usual script and turned into a gushing “Huggy Bear” when he encountered Arum and Top Rank president Todd duBoef in Jerry Jones' VIP guest box at the Super Bowl Sunday night in Arlington, Texas.
A day later, the 79 year old Arum was still all warm and tingly about the not by chance meeting when the Packers outplayed the Steelers for the Vince Lombardi Trophy emblematic of National Football League superiority.
“Warm...friendly...congenial....cordial” were among the adjectives pouring from Uncle Bob's mouth about the fighter who used to perform under the TR banner but bought his contractual freedom for $750,000 and who then sued the promoter on March 17, 2008, claiming he was cheated out of revenue when he fought Arturo Gatti and Zab Judah.
Arum lashed back at Mayweather then, saying that the fighter owed his company “millions” and promising counterclaims and cross-claims.
Now, Mayweather and Arum are social friends again. Arum is not big on social media but Mayweather is probably “friending” the pair on Facebook and adding them to his Uber Twitter page.
I'm reminded of a phrase Don King favors, one which says “today's enemy is tomorrow's friend in boxing.”
Now, that the Arctic glacial ice floe has been chopped up a bit, I'm convinced more than ever that Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao will happen this November.
And, early indications are that the “matchmaker” bringing these litigious camps together is none other than the Super host, the folksy but always aggressive in business Mr. Jones.
Jones wanted a Super Bowl in his $1.2 billion football playpen and, as the most influential owner in the NFL, he went out and got one.
Jones continues to want the Super Bowl of boxing, which is what Manny versus Floyd certainly is, and the “reunited and it feels so good” in the celebrity suites at the biggest sports event in this country was part of his plan.
I spoke with a man who is familiar with Jones' thinking and with his master plan.
“Yes, Jerry Jones is a legitimate fight fan. But, beyond that, Jerry is a big event guy, a make it happen mover and shaker who is trying to make his stadium the go-to venue for the biggest and the best events in entertainment and sports.
“Jerry would love to out duel the still struggling financially powers that be in La Vegas and land the big fight. I mean, he did not host two Pacman bouts last year so he could meet and greet Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito,” the insider said.
Jones' keen interest in being the catalyst who gets the adverse parties into a negotiation room and who winds up being the host of this historic event may be bad news not only for the casino interests but also for regular boxing prime cable network and PPV promoters, HBO and Showtime.
The insider, who prefers to remain unnamed, said Jones has more in mind than just being the man who provides the site for the fight.
“The NFL Network is still fighting for a bigger footprint, The NFL Network needs big events beyond football. The NFL Network might wind up getting the Mayweather-Pacquiao super fight because Jerry Jones and the uber wealthy NFL might not let themselves get outbid.”
A few years back, Tomasz Adamek promoter Kathy Duva had an ally at the NFL Network and she worked diligently on a plan to promote boxing on the football league's cable network but the deal fizzled out.
It was a good idea then and it may be a better idea now, particularly with the Fight of the Century as the first boxing event on the network.
You want to see whether Mayweather-Pacquiao gets made, where it winds up in terms of venue and also regarding who the broadcaster is, I say keep your eyes on one man.
When Uncle Jerry, the former star gridder at the University of Arkansas, gets the ball, he's a hard man to bring down.
And, as his business history tells us, Uncle Jerry rarely fumbles.
..