May 01--REPORTING FROM LAS VEGAS -- Not everyone is buying the hype about the size and importance of Saturday's megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
Dana White, the outspoken president of the mixed martial arts organization Ultimate Fighting Championship, says the bout won't live up to expectations.
"This is not the fight of the century," he told a group of journalists Thursday night. "Maybe six years ago it was."
The more interesting fight, White predicted, will come after the bout when the promoters and TV networks begin arguing over their take of the cut.
"On Saturday night, not only will it break the pay-per-view record, it will break the lawsuit record," White said. "Every one of those guys is going to start suing each other. I guarantee it. Mark my words."
Despite the pessimistic outlook, however, White said he has tremendous respect for Al Haymon, who promotes Mayweather along with several other fighters.
"Al Haymon has put $100 million into boxing," White said. "Putting it on TV, it's pulling good ratings. The guy actually put his hand in his pocket with his investors and is spending money on the sport.
"Guys are getting paid, guys are fighting, guys are pulling good ratings on TV. The first guy I've seen in I don't know how many years that's actually, really investing in the sport. Other than HBO."
