By John F. McKenna (McJack): Former middleweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler believes that Dubai has a good chance to host what would be the biggest money fight of all time between World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s) and WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s).

Speaking from his home in Milan, Italy, Hagler joined former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in supporting Dubai’s bid to host the once in a lifetime fight. Hagler believes a fight of the magnitude of a Mayweather – Pacquiao fight would give the sport a shot in the arm and do for boxing what the Muhammad Ali – George Foreman fight in Zaire did in 1974.

Hagler was quoted in Gulf News saying:

“Boxing has been around for many years and has an established audience, but it’s always good to seek a new audience. This could help to reawaken the sport if it (Mayweather – Pacquiao) were hosted in new markets like Dubai.

“Boxing fans from all over the world remember ‘the Thrilla in Manila’ and the ‘Rumble in The Jungle’ because those fights shocked the world and gave boxing its place at the number one spot in sport at that moment in time.”

Hagler dispelled the notion that with Dubai being in a different time zone the fight would not match up with the big TV and network media markets in the United States, pointing out that both the “Thrilla in Manila” and the “Rumble in the Jungle” were in remote time zones but were huge successes.

Hagler also believes that whoever has the money to finance the Mega fight will be in the running. On that basis, Dubai most definitely qualifies to host the fight.

If the Mayweather – Pacquiao fight were held in Dubai another huge market would open up for boxing and the possible rewards could be staggering. If the promotion goes off successfully and brings in the millions of dollars anticipated boxing may enter into a new era where foreign investors play a huge role in future fights.

Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach recently revealed that investors from the Emirates are negotiating to bring the fight to Dubai and are currently competing with Dallas as to where the fight will be held. If negotiations are successful the fight will be held late this year.

Presumably if the Mayweather – Pacquiao fight cannot be made than another opponent will be found for Manny late in 2012. Pacquiao now enjoys global popularity as indicated by his numerous endorsement contracts both in the Philippines and abroad.