Forget Dubai, Hatton-Pacquiao is heading back to Vegas

There was a report in the Las Vegas Review Journal this week that the Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao fight could be heading for Dubai. While the thought of heading off to the desert near the Arabian Gulf seems a pretty nice change - and a shorter flight - Hatton and his fans will be heading back to the same old desert location for the fifth time in 2-and-a-half years - Las Vegas.

It is not the first time that Dubai has been mentioned as a location for a Hatton fight. Ray Hatton, Ricky's father and manager, has had approaches from Dubai, Toronto and Dublin among others before. But what scuppers Dubai is the same thing that scuppered the bout taking place in front of a huge crowd in Britain - American pay-per-view television.

HBO, as they did before Joe Calzaghe's fight with Roy Jones Jr, have made it clear that if the bout is going to be on pay-per-view in America, they want it to be in the United States. And what HBO want, they normally get. Being in the US, ensures more column inches and spots on television. While that has not prevented them crossing the Atlantic for its regular shows, the investment in pay-per-view shows makes that difficult. With two overseas boxers - neither of whom is Hispanic - the bout has to find an audience in the US.

Those hoping to bring the fight to Dubai would not only have to replace the sizeable site fee from the Las Vegas resorts, the orgainsational costs, some of the US sponsors but the shortfall from US pay-per-view. Dubai Sports City is constructing a 10.000-capacity indoor arena to go next to its cricket ground and football stadium, but that is not open yet. A Dubai fight may be possible later in the year, but it would be a huge long shot if the Pacquiao bout ended up there.

So Vegas it is set to be, on May 2. However, before anyone books any flights, the fight, as far as I am aware has still not been signed, neither has a venue been confirmed. The favourite is the MGM Grand Garden Arena, although it could still be at the Thomas & Mack (where Hatton beat Castillo), if a bid to be "host resort" by the Wynn and Planet Hollywood is accepted.

Should all go to plan, the pair are expected to embark on a media tour across Britain at the US (no plan to visit the Philippines as far as I'm aware, although that would be fun) at the end of January and the start of February.

Comments

[Dave Amos]

I think it will be happening now Christopher. Even if Floyd Mayweather announced his comeback as I type this post the scheduled date for the fight is less than four months away. As far as I'm aware the fighters, location, press tour and money have pretty much been finalised. All that remains would seem to be the exact Las Vegas venue.

Bryn, I don't doubt you'd want to see Hatton-Margarito, but I'm not sure Ricky would. Margarito is a very big, tough man, and Hatton has never looked too comfortable out of his 140 pound home. The size difference is just too much I feel.

[bryn roberts]

hatton v margarito what a tear up that would be! i would love to see that fight.

[Christopher]

I have my doubts that the fight will happen at all. If Floyd Mayweather Jr comes out of retirement for Pacquaio, then it'll be Mayweather and Pacquaio before either are involved with Hatton. Ricky might have to wait and even have a fight or two before he gets his hands on either. Which is fair enough, Pacquiao should have the call as reward for beating De La Hoya. What would be nice to see is Antonio Margarito and Hatton...

[Dave]

So instead of 90,000 at Wembley or huge partisan crowds in another Thriller in Manilla its the same same same deal again. Even Dubai would be a dull dull choice. We have two massively popular fighters in their home countries; a fight on one of the two's home soil would capture imaginations far outside those who normally watch boxing. And what are the viewing figures and pay-per-view costs for HBO anyway? Sky charge up to £20 and a much higher percentage of Brits than Americans would tune in if the fight was at the right time so is the difference in revenues really that large?