I don't know anything about this for a fact and I don't know about Vegas being fully booked or whatever. However it must be connected to Leonard's Olympic medal which he won at Montreal in 1976. Theres sure to be a marketing angle based around that. On a personal level Duran was Leonard's first real superfight and no doubt he wanted to beat Duran on the same hallowed ground where he won his gold medal. There may have been indirect financal reasons. The Montreal Olympics in 1976 were a massive loss for Canada and the Montreal Stadium was a real white elephant. Leonard Duran was a huge money maker in its day and its still probably the biggest event that the stadium ever saw. On the business side perhaps the fight was intended to legitimise the stadiums potential and give something back to the Canadian economy. I'm just guessing of course...
Here's a blurb from Four Kings by George Kimball (p.67): The Quebec Olympic Installation Board, still smarting from the cost overruns of the Olympics four years earlier, ponied up a $3.5 million guarantee (all of which went to Leonard) against the live gate, banking on the allure on the biggest fight of the year, and Leonard's residual popularity from the 1976 games. Other notes: -The fight was promoted by BADK Inc. Who? Bob Arum and Don King. A one off promo.
^ ooooh... I swear Montre held a massive wwf wrestlemania during that period or maybe quite after..hogan vs warrior..so that place had to make some money money back!
Montreal should be thought of separately than Canada. It's a beautiful city, that would be one of the most popular city if it were in America. Reminds me of Chicago, with a much more relaxed vibe
Because SRL was America's darling and we just wanted to share him with the world, starting with Canada.
