De La Hoya, Mayweather clash in money-spinner
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Oscar De La Hoya is arguably the biggest name in boxing. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is widely regarded as the best boxer, pound-for-pound, in the world.
Not surprisingly, their highly-anticipated clash in Las Vegas on Saturday, for De La Hoya's World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight championship, is expected to be one of the highest-grossing fights of all time.
According to Richard Schaeffer, Chief Operating Officer of De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, which is promoting the bout, as many as 50,000 paying customers may see the fight live in Las Vegas alone -- 16,500 in person at the sold-out MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, and the rest at closed-circuit locations along the Las Vegas Strip.
Additionally, the fight will be televised in 176 countries.
Ticket sales alone have already generated more than $19 million. The sport's previous record for a live gate was just under $17 million for the 1999 heavyweight championship rematch between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield.
Tickets sold out within a few hours, although some ringside seats are being offered for resale on the Internet for more than $20,000 each.
For fight fans, part of the intrigue of the bout is not just the fame and accomplishments of the two boxers, both have whom have won multiple world titles during their stellar careers, but also that each man may be the best opponent the other has met.
Thirty-year-old Mayweather, 37-0 with 24 KOs, has rarely even been troubled in a fight, and has frequently overwhelmed his opponents with dazzling boxing skills and blistering hand speed.
"The only chance a fighter has against me is to not make a mistake," Mayweather told reporters on Wednesday. "And everybody makes mistakes. You know the biggest mistake they make? Getting in the ring with me."
But after a sizzling start to his career, in which he won his first world title-the WBC super featherweight championship--when aged just 21, Mayweather has in recent years faced criticism from fans.
They have accused him of not always facing the best available opponent, and of fighting more cautiously as he has moved up the weights.
Although De La Hoya, 38-4 (30 KOs) also began his professional career as a super featherweight, he is a naturally bigger man and has fought at super welterweight and middleweight since 2001. The 1992 Olympic gold medallist, who has won world title belts at six different weights, is also the most accomplished opponent Mayweather has ever faced.
De La Hoya's advantage is believed to lie in his size and experience, with Mayweather holding edges in speed and skill. But De La Hoya surprisingly suggested otherwise.
"Don't be surprised if I'm faster than Mayweather," he said. "I think a lot of people will be surprised to see that I'll match his speed, or even surpass it."
