Muhammad Ali sells rights to his "greatest" boxing image for $50 million.
Siegfried & Roy's longtime manager, Bernie Yuman, has bounced back with a heavyweight deal for Muhammad Ali.
Yuman, Ali's manager since 2000, has negotiated a deal worth more than $50 million, the richest payday ever for the boxing icon.
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In return, a New York entrepreneur who controls the rights to Elvis Presley's name and "American Idol" has gained an 80 percent stake in Ali's name, image and likeness.
Reached on the East Coast, Yuman confirmed he negotiated the deal with Robert F.X. Sillerman, founder of the music and sports promotion company SFX Entertainment.
The deal is Sillerman's latest move to have iconic brand names under his control.
Last year, Sillerman acquired 85 percent of the assets of Elvis Presley Enterprises for $100 million. He plans a major Elvis presence in Las Vegas, and earlier this month was part of an ownership group that wants to purchase the Riviera.
Yuman called Sillerman "a brilliant visionary" and described the deal as "a phenomenal opportunity" for Ali and his wife, Lonnie.
Ali's company, Greatest of All Time (GOAT), retained a 20 percent stake and can force Sillerman's latest corporate incarnation, CKX, to buy that share at a fair market value after five years.
Sillerman told The New York Times that the 64-year-old Ali, who has Parkinson's disease, will not be involved "in any way personally."
After briefly retiring in 1979, Ali returned to the ring and fought Larry Holmes for the World Boxing Council (WBC) title in Las Vegas in 1980 for a guaranteed purse of $8 million.
Ali lost when he failed to answer the bell for the 11th round. A year later, and a month shy of his 40th birthday, he ended his career with a loss to Trevor Berbick. Ali finished with 56 wins in 61 fights.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Illusionist Criss Angel has another outdoor stunt going on today outside the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood. He will attempt a record-breaking motorcycle jump -- with a magical twist -- at 7 p.m. at the corner of Harmon Avenue and Audrie Street. Trigger Gumm, the motorcycle jump world record-holder, will be part of the stunt. ...
Local producer Mike Merrick is taking his musical play "Almost Like Being in Love" to the Theatre Royal Plymouth in England next year. UNLV presented it last year. After a tour, Merrick plans to take it to London's West End and then around the United States.
SIGHTINGS
Steve Schirripa of "The Sopranos," having lunch with two gentlemen at Weiss Deli, formerly Samuel's Deli, in Green Valley on Friday. ... Tiger Woods, puffing on cigars while partying at Light (Bellagio) Thursday with a group of chick-magnet college buddies from Stanford. He's in town for some golf. Also at Light: the Rev. Al Sharpton and pals. At another booth: Late-arriving Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who flew in after the Mavs' 117-104 loss at Phoenix. ... Teri Hatcher of "Desperate Housewives," spotted Friday with kids at the Shark Reef inside Mandalay Bay. Hatcher, her daughter and an assistant took in "Mamma Mia!" (Mandalay Bay) after dinner at 3950 restaurant. Hatcher was spotted winning some prizes for her daughter, Emerson Rose, 8, at Excalibur's midway. ... "Saturday Night Live" cast member Jason Sudeikis, a former member of "The Second City" cast at the Flamingo Las Vegas, on NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" on Friday. ... Miss Hawaiian Tropic entries, dining at Stack (The Mirage) on Thursday. ... Members of Better Than Ezra partying at Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce (Mandalay Bay) after their show at the House of Blues.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Child protective services paid a visit to Britney (Spears) and Kevin Federline's home this weekend after Britney took Sean to the hospital with a skull fracture. The L.A.Times says the baby fell out of his high chair while reaching for his chewing tobacco." -- Jimmy Kimmel
