As reported by the Tax Professor, Manny Pacquiao's chief adviser insisted that Manny's preference is for his next bout to take place away from Las Vegas, with the off-shore Chinese gambling resort of Macau emerging as the "favorite." Bob Arum [Manny's Promoter] anticipates the next fight to be vs. Juan Manuel Marquez [Pacquiao-Marquez V] to be bigger than a Floyd Mayweather fight.
Michael Koncz told Yahoo! Sports that the 39.6 percent tax rate Pacquiao would face if he were to fight again in the U.S. makes a fall bout in Las Vegas "a no go." Promoter Bob Arum is hopeful of arranging a fifth match between Pacquiao and Marquez in the fall, potentially on Sept. 14. Arum's preference is for the fight to be at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, which is his company's home base. But Arum and Koncz say Pacquiao is balking at the additional money he'd lose to the government if the fight were held in Las Vegas. Arum said Pacquiao would not have to pay taxes if the fight takes place in casinos in either Singapore or Macau.
"Manny can go back to Las Vegas and make $25 million, but how much of it will he end up with – $15 million?" Arum said. "If he goes to Macau, perhaps his purse will only be $20 million, but he will get to keep it all, so he will be better off."
Assuming all else is the same, we can definitely follow that logic. But is it the same? United States and European sports enthusiasts would have to accept China as a viable place for boxing. Although Duva laid the groundwork, developing a strong Amateur boxing team in China, there still seems to be concern from the boxing enthusiasts.
I noticed an updated definition of boxing in Wikipedia as being "... is a martial art and combat sport in which two people engage in a contest of strength, reflexes, and endurance by throwing punches with gloved hands." This seems to set the stage of merging of the full spectrum of martial arts and acceptance of China as a possible place for boxing.
One thing for sure, we understand the tax issue. I'm just not sure if I would actually go all the way to China to see the fight. But to the MGM? Definitely would go.
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