The comeback fight of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. against Juan Manuel Marquez will take place in Las Vegas while the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s UFC 103 will be held in Dallas.
“These guys think this is some kind of a war and we're trying to destroy boxing,” UFC President Dana White told Mike Chiappetta of Fanhouse.com. “I don't hate boxing, but these guys keep trying to go head-to-head with us.”
The Mayweather-Marquez showdown was originally slated on July 18 but it was rescheduled after Mayweather suffered a rib injury during training.
“I didn't plan on going head-to-head with them. They're weird like that. We had that date, and everyone asked them to go off that date but for some reason they like to fight with us," said White.
UFC 103 pits Rich “Ace” Franklin against Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort in the main event. It will air live on pay-per-view from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Mayweather’s comeback bout will also air live on pay-per-view from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I'm not going to back down on the Mayweather date,” stressed the UFC president.
“Listen, I don't think anyone's crazy about the September [Mayweather] fight,” he remarked. “But, people do want to see Pacquiao-Mayweather. I want to see that fight.”
‘Boxing is dying’
Ricky Hatton, Pacquiao’s vanquished opponent in their May 2 “Battle of the East and West,” also commented on the rivalry between boxing and UFC.
“I look at boxing from a different angle now and it is dying a death compared to the fashionable Ultimate Fighting Challenge,” Hatton told James Robson of ManchesterEveningNews.co.uk.
“I’m a fan of UFC because it is all action, proper fighting,” he shared. “They are going the right way about it to get people interested.”
Hatton’s remarks came as he lamented the cancellation of his younger brother’s fight. Matthew Hatton was supposed to go against former undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah. It was the second time that the fight was called off because of a new weight stipulation.
"It's no wonder boxing is dying. Boxing is now full of people who talk the talk, but don't back it up. If you go to UFC you are seeing proper fights."
“There is a concern in boxing that UFC is taking its place. People seem to get more value for money,” said the British boxing superstar who is at the helm of Hatton Promotions.
Hatton has yet to announce his next career move as a fighter.
When asked if he would move to UFC, he said: “UFC would be right up my street but I think I will stick to boxing.”
“I used to kick box so maybe I would be all right but boxing is brutal enough for me,” he reasoned.
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