DALLAS – Jerry Jones, the Texas billionaire, is hoping that this won’t be the first and last time he’d see Manny Pacquiao fight at the Cowboys Stadium.
In fact, word leaked out a few days ago that the 67-year-old owner of the NFL team and its $1.2 billion stadium had sealed a deal to host the next Pacquiao fight.
Whether it’s against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Antonio Margarito, Edwin Valero or anyone else.
But the billionaire who moves freely, with no bodyguards, and loves to drive on his own, would rather focus on Saturday’s fight between Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey, the challenger from Ghana.
“Should it ever work out as a great fight then we’d like to be right there to promote another one,” he said Tuesday as he graced Pacquiao’s open workout at the Convential Hall of the Gaylord Texan Hotel.
“Hopefully this is not the last time we’d host a Pacquiao fight,” he said, craning his neck just enough to get a good look at Pacquiao as he worked out in the ring, facing a pack of mediamen and a horde of fans.
Jones, who’s into the oil and gas exploration business, said it’s all about Pacquiao that he made a determined bid to host the Filipino icon’s fight against Clottey.
He offered $25 million and still fell short against Las Vegas to land the aborted Floyd Mayweather-Pacquiao super-fight.
“The main reason I wanted the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight was Manny. He is the draw. So, certainly when that didn’t work I still had the interest of getting him here at all cost. Whoever he decided to fight,” said Jones.
“Manny Pacquiao transcends everything, including himself, not only as a great athlete but as a great person,” he said with excitement.
“This is like the Super Bowl,” he added. – Abac Cordero