Musk says proposed Zuckerberg cage fight to be held at ‘epic location’ in Italy

Elon Musk is discussing with the government of Italy the possibility of organizing his planned fighting event with Mark Zuckerberg at a significant location in the country. However, it has been confirmed that the Colosseum will not be considered as a suitable place for the event.

The individual who owns X Corp and serves as the CEO of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, initially proposed the concept of engaging in a personal confrontation through various social media posts in June. This proposition arose when Zuckerberg was getting ready to introduce Threads, a competing microblogging platform, as an alternative to Musk's newly renamed Twitter platform.

Gennaro Sangiuliano, the Minister of Culture in Italy, expressed that he was in talks to organize the event with utmost regard for the locations where it could possibly take place. However, Rome will not be chosen as the venue.

"He mentioned that I had a lengthy and amicable telephone chat with Elon Musk," he shared. "Our discussion revolved around our shared interest in the captivating history of ancient Rome. We are currently exploring ways to arrange a marvelous charity event that showcases historical reenactments while ensuring utmost respect for the venues. However, it will take place somewhere other than Rome."

This week, Dana White, the president of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), revealed that he had engaged in discussions with the ministry of culture regarding organizing a showdown between the two extremely wealthy individuals within the iconic Colosseum.

Musk fueled the rumors on Friday when he shared on Twitter, which he now calls X, that the dispute would be broadcasted live on his and Zuckerberg's online platforms. Musk mentioned, "The entire scene captured on camera will resemble ancient Rome, with no modern elements whatsoever."

He mentioned having a conversation with Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, as well as the Minister of Culture, where they collectively decided on an extraordinary venue. Prior to this, Musk had shared the term "gladiators" accompanied by two crossed-sword emojis.

My and Zuck's organizations will be in charge of overseeing the battle, rather than the UFC.

The livestream will be available on both this platform and Meta. The entire camera view will showcase ancient Rome, with absolutely no modern elements whatsoever.

I had a conversation with the Prime Minister of Italy and the Minister of Culture. They have reached a consensus regarding an extraordinary locale.

Nevertheless, Sangiuliano subsequently released a declaration dismissing the possibility of Rome. Throughout the entire length of Italy; from its most northern point to its southernmost, lie numerous historical landmarks that date back to the ancient Roman and Greek civilizations. For instance, one can find the majestic Capua amphitheatre and the remains of the tragedy-stricken city of Pompeii, located in close proximity to Naples. Additionally, there are the ancient Greek temples in Agrigento, situated in Sicily, as well as the arena in Verona, which was finalized in AD30 and continues to host opera performances, concerts, and various other events.

Musk shared on X that he and Zuckerberg's generous contributions would handle the battle instead of UFC, and all profits would be directed towards organizations supporting military veterans. In his official declaration, Sangiuliano expressed that the agreement regarding the venue would incorporate a substantial donation valued at "numerous millions of euros" towards two Italian pediatric hospitals.

Nevertheless, Musk also mentioned that a confrontation was not about to happen soon. He shared on X platform that he had an issue with his shoulder that necessitated a simple surgical procedure and a recuperation period lasting for "several months."

In his recent post on Sunday, Zuckerberg expressed his skepticism about the proposed fight and mentioned that he didn't have high hopes for it. Additionally, he suggested a specific date of 26 August for the match. However, considering Musk's recent post regarding his surgery, it appears highly improbable now.

Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, raised doubts about the sincerity of Musk and Zuckerberg's intentions, suggesting that their dialogue about a potential fight could simply be light-hearted banter between the two. In a playful manner, she even mentioned that this scuffle could turn into an excellent opportunity for brand endorsement.