The MGM Grand Resort in Las Vegas had been "pumping up" a Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao rematch with advertisers and investors prior to Saturday's fight, "but now that plan’s on hold," according to sources cited by Stephanie Smith of the N.Y. POST. The proposed rematch was "going to be timed to the opening" of the MGM Grand’s new $375M, 20,000-seat arena in May '16. The first big event at the venue "will be a concert by an unspecified artist, and the Mayweather-Pacquiao matchup would have come next." But sources said that the MGM is "backing away from the idea because the fight -- while pulling in unprecedented millions -- underwhelmed fans and was a logistical nightmare." One source said, "MGM had delusions of grandeur. Now they’re backing off, unless the purse would be $300 or $400 million.” An MGM rep said that execs were "'delighted' with the weekend’s success, but denied having talked up any rematch" (N.Y. POST, 5/5).
MORE MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS: YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole wrote Saturday's fight "was a money grab." But "no one would have complained had it been a great fight." It was an "amateurish and a colossal mistake" to not notify the Nevada Athletic Commission of Pacquiao's shoulder injury on the pre-fight questionnaire. Iole: "Have no doubt that there will be lawsuits filed by fans who paid extraordinarily inflated prices. ... They'll argue they didn't get what they paid for, and they have a point" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/4). In Miami, Greg Cote writes, "What should have been electrifying was closer to stultifying. What might have been worth the wait after five years of anticipation was a waste of money and time. What could have left us clamoring hungrily for a rematch instead leaves us thinking, 'Um, once was enough, thanks'" (MIAMI HERALD, 5/5). ESPN's Dan Le Batard said it was "hard for that fight to meet the hype and meet the expectations." Le Batard said of the fight being a dud: "What would you do to cash in on a rematch nobody wants to see after that fight?" ("Highly Questionable," ESPN, 5/4). In Sacramento, Victor Contreras wrote, "Instead of feeling as if we dipped in those magic waters that took us to the past, Saturday’s one-sided fight left us feeling punched in the stomach and robbed of 100 bucks" (SACBEE.com, 5/4).
