Wow…a post actually dealing with fighting. Lance Pugmire at the LA Times updates the progress of the Mayweather v. Pacquiao deal:

That official announcement is being crafted as we speak, a promotional source told The Times on Monday, even if Pacquiao hasn’t signed his name on either a final contract or even a deal memo that his promoter Top Rank typically uses before working out smaller, but important, details.

“He hasn’t signed a napkin,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told The Times on Saturday, a point another source familiar with the negotiations but not authorized to speak publicly about the talks told The Times on Monday. Pacquiao might not officially sign until early January, the source said.

Still, that source said the verbal commitment by Pacquiao was so strong to Arum while the promoter visited the boxer in the Philippines last week that promoters are operating as if “it’s done.”

A Los Angeles news conference is being planned for sometime during the first two weeks of January, two days after the boxers first appear jointly in New York.

Already, there’s been verbal agreements on the guaranteed purse money, with each receiving in excess of $20 million, with pay-per-view “upside” making pay days greater than $40 million possible, those familiar with the negotiations say.

Additionally, at this hour, the fight will be promoted by Top Rank as “Mayweather-Pacquiao,” with each fighter allowed to choose their own brand of eight-ounce gloves before battling for the World Boxing Organization welterweight title that Pacquiao won Nov. 14 with a 12th-round technical knockout of Miguel Cotto.

Without discussing any specifics of negotiations, Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe gave The Times an indication of why the undefeated fighter’s name will be listed first in the promotion.

“Floyd’s the best fighter in the world, hands down,” Ellerbe said.

The debate about that opinion is this bout’s best selling point.

Lots of interesting topics covered, including the site and venue for the fight. Apparently, Arum is meeting with Jerry Jones to inspect the new Dallas Cowboys’ Stadium and there’s been some interest from Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. Personally, I don’t see Las Vegas letting a fight this big get away. My hunch is that the consideration of ‘other venues’ is a tactic to drive up the site/sponsorship fee they can command in the boxing capital of the world.

Promoters progressing as if Mayweather-Pacquiao is a done deal @ LA Times