THE World Boxing Council (WBC) presented a gold and emerald encrusted title belt in Mexico City on Tuesday (April 21) ahead of the long awaited mega bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, which has been more than five years in the making.
The fight will take place in Las Vegas on May 2.
Former heavyweight boxing champ Larry Holmes, light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevensonand World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, presented the Mexican-made belt.
It was made by 12 Mexican artisans in a workshop located to the east of Mexico City. The belt is encrusted with 3,015 emeralds, which were glued by hand, surrounded by 800 grams of pure gold.
The buckle is surrounded by the flags of the 167 countries that take part in the council. The faces of late Jose Sulaiman, the honorary head of the World Boxing Council and boxing legendMuhammad Ali, also adorn the belt.
A duel between the defence-minded Mayweather and the aggressive Pacquiao, the biggest drawcards of their generation, has been savoured by boxing fans, if only to decide the mythical title of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.
Sulaiman, said the fight would be a great spectacle.
“I’m very happy to know that Manny Pacquiao and Mayweather, who both have a long trajectory of 17 years in the house of the world boxing council since they won their first championship, will be breaking all types of records on May 2. They will win this belt, which was made in Mexico,” he said.
However, both Mayweather, 37, and Pacquiao, 36, are in the twilight of their respective careers and most pundits say they have lost some of their skills in the ring.
Pacquiao lost much of his appeal after successive defeats to American Timothy Bradley and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012, prompting talk of his possible retirement, though he has since bounced back with three impressive wins.
Holmes said he expected Mayweather to win.
“I think Mayweather will win because he boxes, he moves, he doesn’t stand still but it’s going to be a great fight. I can’t wait to see it,” Holmes said.
The welterweight showdown in Vegas is projected to be the most lucrative ever in boxing with Mayweather expected to have a 60-40 split advantage on revenues, earning a minimum of $120 million and Pacquiao at least $80 million. (Reuters)
