TOP HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES POUR IN FOR BIG FIGHT AS TIGER WOODS AND JAY-Z ROUND OFF HUGE STAR-STUDDED WEEKEND
Even by Las Vegas standards it doesn’t get much bigger than this and a clash of champions will take place both inside and out of the ring!
It all starts tonight (FRI) with record-mogul and newlywed superstar singer Jay-Z throwing open the doors of his 40/40 Club at the newly opened Palazzo for a 1940’s themed party and everybody’s buzzing it could be the official introduction by the hip-hop rapper of his new bride, Beyoncé!
Since their wedding two weeks ago she has been turning up at his concerts and displaying “a heavy chunk of bling bling diamond rock” on her wedding finger—even though the twosome still haven’t officially confirmed the New York nuptials. Maybe this is the weekend we can get Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Carter to spill the secret!
Late tomorrow afternoon (SAT) a star-studded crowd from Hollywood is set to pour into the Thomas & Mack Center for the Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe light-heavyweight spectacle—and once again it’s a showdown between America and Britain (in December our hometown hero Floyd Mayweather won on decision against previously unbeaten Ricky Hatton from England).
Now the Brits are back pinning their hopes on undefeated world super-middleweight “The Pride of Wales” Calzaghe (44-0) beating Hopkins (48-4-1). Ironically Bernard “The Executioner” who learned boxing skills while inside jail at age 17, knocked out Oscar De La Hoya back in September 2004 and this weekend’s fight is promoted by Oscar’s very own Golden Boy Promotions! It’s a fight of veterans with 40 world title defenses between them but Hopkins at 43 is seven-years-old than his Welsh opponent.
Says a snarling southpaw Calzaghe: “I hope he doesn’t run because if he comes toe-to-toe it will be war and a hell of a treat for fight fans. He’ll need a facelift. I’m younger, faster, stronger and at my peak. His time is past and I’m the one to push him out of the sport and retire him earlier than he plans to the Hall of Fame.” Bernard, born in Philadelphia angrily fired back: “I respect what he’s accomplished but he’s stepping into a different realm. I’m not a “has been” or never was and he is going to find that out the hard way why the others failed to beat me and so will he. He’ll need to have pre-paid for the box to ship him back home in.”
Planet Hollywood Resort tycoon Robert Earl is promoting his first-ever big-fight in Vegas and told Luxe Life: “This rare contest is the first of our fights. It’s a match sports fans worldwide have been waiting for years to see. It’s the logical super fight. Between them they have 43 world championship wins so that’s a great way for us to make our debut mark with the sport. We hope to be able to announce at least two other huge name Vegas battles for later this year. We are the new contender on the Strip and emerging as a powerful force in the world’s entertainment capital.”
A slew of star-studded fight fans are hopping in from Hollywood. Led by Sylvestor Stallone and Bruce Willis the VIP roster also includes Jeremy Piven along with many of his Entourage cast mates. I’ll be ringside with them for our Monday photo report. Many star fighters including Floyd Mayweather and promoter Oscar De La Hoya will also be attending.
Tomorrow night’s official after party with the stars and the fighters will be held at the new Privé nightclub in Planet Hollywood Resort.
Then just as the big fight finishes a brave and courageous Tiger Woods—four-days after knee surgery—will juggle crutches and a cane to ensure he’s on stage at his 11th annual Tiger Jam fundraiser in Mandalay Bay to introduce mega rock stars Van Halen.
The benefit concert for the Tiger Woods Foundation will star David Lee Roth at the helm of Eddie Van Halen’s family of Alex and Wolfgang!
Tiger Jam was originally created by Tiger and his father Earl back in 1996 and has raised more than $10 million to support local Vegas children’s charities and empowerment programs. Our Luxe Life photographer Scott Doctor has a VIP pass to the party and we’ll have his coverage also here on Monday.
If rock ain’t your thing and hip-hop royalty is then the king and queen, Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige bring their Heart of the City tour to the MGM Grand. She records for Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records. Jay-Z is not only celebrating his less than month-old marriage to Beyoncé but also—just like Mötley Crüe in our next story—an incredible new multi-million dollar Live Nation deal for future tours, records and merchandizing a new fashion line.
Tomorrow night Mary J. Blige will hold her after party at Tao in The Venetian and its expected Jay-Z will drop by too, before going onto his own 40/40 Club at The Palazzo next door.
For tangled traffic beware the intersection of the Strip where MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay almost intersect because add in the exit of fight fans 100-yards further east and you’ve got one mighty mess for motorists! We’ll weave our way through to ensure Monday’s Luxe Life has all the secret stories of the star-studded platinum-packed power punch weekend.