Pacquiao-Hatton.............in Dubai?

[Scott9945]

As long as they show it at a decent time for us here in the states, i can care less if they held it in the jungles of Cambodia.

If it is on PPV, you can be certain the starting time will be made to accomodate the US. Every other major PPV from a foreign country has done that, including Ali's fights against Foreman and Frazier (3rd fight).

[CasperUK]

Dubai's like a bubble waiting to burst. It keeps getting bigger and bigger and then BOOM!!!! one day it'll all come crashing down.

Yes and no.

It's been built on the 'credit bubble' and oil. However the Dubai government have also put into places other income-generating projects such as shopping, shopping, sports (to be completed), great leisure facilities, car racing and so on and on.

Also remember, many companies use Dubai as a way of escaping taxes (the UAE is tax and value added tax free too) that they would have to pay in other countries in the West. That will always attract companies and people looking to make money and hold on to it.

Like any sensible government (not like the UK or USA or indeed Western ones), the UAE government has many contingency plans in place.

[street bully]

There isn't a boxing culture in Dubai or even a sporting culture to be honest. It mainly caters for business, commerce, finance, tourism and shopping.

There isn't a venue to host the fight It couldn't even be built in time. Remember the fight is only 5 months away. Nobody can build a venue that quickly, even in Dubai.

There is also a major financial recession in Dubai right now; projects are being put on hold and because of the lack of sporting culture it would be a waste of time and money unless Dubai quickly developed a status for sporting culture (which it won't).

I've been there and trust me the place is quite strict. The police wouldn't tolerate 30,000 drunken English yobs (Hatton fans) roaming the steets at night, pissing in the street and being a major annoyance. They'll be arrested, detained and deported quicker than it takes you to read this paragraph.


The fight will happen in either the USA or England (unlikely). The Phillipenes don't have the capacity or the infastructure to host such a fight. This isn't the 1970's anymore remember. Travelling fans will want great hotels and 'modern' facilities to accomodate them. The Phillipenes is still very much a mud-hut society.

Bro you're nuts, I go to Dubai at least once a year since I am involved in a few projects over there, and all I can say is that it makes Las Vegas look like a city dump. Regarding the venues....they already have stadiums built there campatable to hold over 60 000 people. Not only is there a venue, but there is a "Dubai sports city" which is one of the largest if not the largest sports complexes in the world. Since we hold fights in the MGM grand all the time why not hold it here.....>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyqNExbQ0xE

[street bully]

Them Arabs know how to play.

[CasperUK]

I've been to Dubai myself bro and it truly is spectacular. However, I just don't think it has enough of a sporting culture to host an event. Vegas or England could bring more fans, enthusiasm and


I'm not ruling out Dubai for staging fights in the future but I don't think the interest is there just yet. It's too much of a 'culture shock' for boxing. The English fans would be in for a suprise too (esp Hatton fans). They can't behave the way they do in America in Dubai. No-way.

Is the Sports City already built? I didnt know that. I though it was due for completion in 2010?

[street bully]

It isn't 100% built yet, but the stadiums and such are complete, but they just haven't used them yet. Their hotels on the other hand have arenas that are a lot bigger than those of the MGM, but I know what you mean about the drunk Brits...them fools would have to behave or get beat up and possibly arrested by the police down there, they are really strickt about being intoxicated in public. On the other hand there is a large filipino population working in Dubai, and England isn't too far away and they can afford to fly over, so I am a hundred percent sure that the crowd would be 50/50. I know what you mean about the city being not too interested in sports, but no one was thinking that the Arabs would watch the fight anyways.

[CasperUK]

I'll tell you what though, if a prime Hamed was around today and Dubai's sporting venues were completed the entire Arab world would be tuned in watching him. Imagine the PPV's and purses he would be getting!!!!

[sparked_85]

Man; when I have a niche. I'm working in Dubai.

It is a fun desert.

You must never have sex on the beach there; however. Two British Holidaymakers are still in prison.

[street bully]

LOL im pretty sure that would be crazy, the oil baron princes, and billionares would fight over who would hold the fight in their country. I'm pretty sure that If Naseem was aroun today the Arabs would probably give him the biggest fight purse ever in boxing jistory somthing like 500 million....In all honesty the Arab "royalty" in the Guld consider that chump change.

[street bully]

Man; when I have a niche. I'm working in Dubai.

It is a fun desert.

You must never have sex on the beach there; however. Two British Holidaymakers are still in prison.

You're not allowed to **** in public there, thats just the way it is....The ***** was fat and ugly anyways, and from what I have heared their prisons aren't too shabby.