It had all the pizzazz of Vegas fight as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took on a new challenge and host a championship fight at his new stadium. His introduction of "Mr. Jerrrrrrrrrrry Jones" echoed throughout the stadium as he took the stage.
"We will make it the fight to be remembered in this new stadium," Jones said to a small crowd attending the announcement.
On March 13th, Manny Pacquiao will face Joshua Clottey in a world welterweight championship fight. Their goal is sell 45-thousand seats, but more can't be opened up. The stadium will use a similar configuration that was used to host the first basketball game in the stadium back in December when Texas played North Carolina. It was considered a trial run for the final four.
"You got the greatest promoter in the world in Jerry Jones," says Lester Bedford of the Bedford Agency. "I know all these boxing promoters. I know Don King, I know Bob Arum, I know Oscar De La Hoya, and I've done work for all of them. None of them can match Jerry Jones. I'm telling you. He is the best promoter in the history of sport in this country. I never met PT Barnum, but jerry is a good one."
There are a lot of places where this fight could have been held, but it ended up in Arlington. Hall of fame promoter Bob Arum, who has been called the most powerful man in boxing, says Cowboys stadium will help sell this fight.
"It just blows you away," Arum says. "Forget the fact that Jerry is a wonderful showman, which he is, but this facility is incredible. Just incredible."
Arum should know since he promoted the Ali Norton fight at Yankee stadium in 1976. So far, Cowboys stadium has already had its share of concerts, Cowboys games, high school playoff games, college football games, a college basketball game, even soccer. Up next is the NBA All-Star game and boxing.
"I think it will sell, no matter what because I think you have enough boxing fans as the crowd here showed," says fight referee Lawrence Cole. "But I really think it's a spring board and it's right up Jerry's alley."
"Thank you Jerry Jones for giving us the opportunity to fight here," Pacquiao told Jones.
So what's next for Cowboys Stadium? "Well we're very excited about our bull riding competition," Jones says.
In case you're wondering, that's coming in February.
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