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In a nod to the past, Golden Boy Promotions announced Monday that Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s Sept. 19 comeback fight vs. Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas also will be shown live at 170 movie theaters nationwide.The entire undercard will be shown via closed-circuit in the theater settings, followed by the Mayweather-Marquez main event. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said theater ticket prices will range from $12.50-$15.00, with individual theaters determining pricing.
"A big fight deserves the big screen," said Schaefer, who wants to bring boxing to a younger demographic that cannot buy the fight on HBO pay-per-view or view it in a club or bar licensed to show the event via closed-circuit.
"I have been waiting for the right opportunity to bring movie [theaters] back into the picture for boxing," Schaefer said. "It's not only going to be an amazing experience for existing fight fans to enjoy a fight, but it will be a way to bring a different and younger audience into boxing."
Schaefer said the Mayweather-Marquez card will be advertised as a trailer on over 1,500 movie screens nationwide. Fathom Events and NationalCineMedia have 150 participating theaters so far (links to pdf file). Tickets may be purchased online in advance or at the participating theater box offices.
It's either a brilliant marketing plan designed to revisit the days of Muhammad Ali fights at the movies or Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Duran on the big screen, or an attempt to bolster sagging pre-fight sales for an event that will be competing for an audience the same night as UFC 103 in Dallas. Then again, it could be a little of both.
The Sept. 19 Mayweather-Marquez undercard at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas features Chris John's (42-0-2, 22 KOs) rematch against Rocky Juarez (28-4-1, 20 KOs) for the WBA featherweight title, as well as former welterweight champion Zab Judah (37-6, 25 KOs) battling Antonio Diaz (46-5-1, 29 KOs) in a 144-pound bout. Australian Michael Katsidis (25-2, 21 KOs) will fight former U.S. Olympian Vicente Escobedo (21-1, 13 KOs) in a lightweight bout.
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