Unanimous decision: Chris Brown vs. Soulja Boy KO’d
The Kats! Bureau at this writing is Bootlegger Bistro, where I’ve just had lunch with a restaurateur who’s turning 100 on Monday.
What I learned: A shot of Crown Royal in a cup of coffee is not such a bad way to start the day. Maria Perry has started her day that way for 80 years. Read more about Mama Maria in a few days.
For now, we update the VegasVille scene:
BOUT? OUT
The purported exhibition bout between Soulja Boy and Chris Brown, which has blazed across social media since January, is officially off. Event promoters informed Mike Tyson’s camp that Brown is not interested in following through with the three-round fight.
Tyson’s wife, Kiki Tyson, confirmed reports of the cancellation Monday.
Brown and Soulja Boy announced on Instagram their intention to square off in a bout originally to have been backed by Floyd Mayweather’s promotions company. Late in the process, Fred “Frenchy” Madzimba’s company took over negotiations. The bout likely would have been staged in Las Vegas, with Tyson training Brown and Evander Holyfield working with Soulja Boy.
The two recording stars butted heads after Soulja Boy posted heart-eyed emojis on an Instagram post by Brown’s ex-girlfriend Karreuche Tran. Brown called Soulja Boy personally, and called him out on Instagram, challenging him to an exhibition bout with the winner taking $1 million.
Brown then connected with Tyson, while Soulja Boy eventually recruited Holyfield, but the entire spectacle unraveled about two weeks ago, Kiki Tyson said. What might have played into this series of events is Brown’s recent legal dust-up. According to the celeb website TMZ, the oft-troubled hip-hop star is due to face Tran in court on Thursday an ongoing restraining-order dispute.
BROS TOUR CROPPED
The highly anticipated and energetically hyped reunion tour of Matt and Luke Goss’ late-’80s pop combo Bros, has been unexpectedly axed. Reports out of the U.K. are that dates in Glasgow, Nottingham, Newcastle and Birmingham have all been scrubbed. Their August dates at O2 Arena and Manchester Arena are still on.
Speculation from the region was that soft ticket sales led to the spiked shows — a common reason many arena tour dates get cancelled. But the only for-the-record comment from the duo is: “Due to logistical circumstances beyond their control, it is with sincere regret that Bros have been forced to cancel four dates on their forthcoming UK tour. Matt and Luke Goss apologize to their fans for any disappointment.”
Goss closed his 6 1/2-year run at Caesars Palace in September, and since has been in talks with multiple casino company executives about resuming his residency on the Strip. One he has identified: MGM Resorts. He has also ruled out a return to Caesars Palace’s Cleopatra’s Barge (formerly the Gossy Room). There has been no formal word on whether he still has plans to invest in the room as a business partner when (or, if) the room is developed as a branded music club.
IT’S A LITTLE BIT FUNNY …
Terry Fator is adding Sir Elton John — the puppet, not the person — to his show at the Mirage as he celebrates his eighth anniversary March 13. The Sir Elton puppet is the highlight of a revamped show, which will still feature familiar characters Winston the Impersonating Turtle, Elvis impersonator Maynard Tompkins, Vikki the Cougar, Fernando V. Francisco, Emma Taylor, and President Donald Trump.
THE BROWN BOMBER, BEAR BRYANT, AND OSCAR
Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman says he is “very excited” about his April 6 dinner series talk at the Plaza’s Oscar’s Beef Booze & Broads. The topic is delicious: What “The Brown Bomber,” Joe Louis; college football coaching legend Paul “Bear” Bryant; renowned director Francis Ford Coppola; Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Al Gunderson; and famed mob overlord and Stardust operator Lefty Rosenthal have in common. The dinner is set for 6:30 p.m. and costs $150 per guest; call (702) 386-7227 or e-mail RSVP@playLV.com for information.
‘PHANTOM’ OR NO PHANTOM?
Former “Phantom — Las Vegas Spectacular” co-lead Brent Barrett is among the cast celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Smith Center on Tuesday night. Barrett toggled the Phantom role with Anthony Crivello in the early stages of the production, which opened at Venetian Theater in 2006.
The Smith Center show is tilted to Broadway numbers, but Barrett will not perform any songs from “Phantom.” As he says, “Somebody might sing a song from ‘Phantom,’ but it won’t be me.”
WHO WAS WHERE
The great singer and ukulele player Grace VanderWaal attended “Love” at the Mirage on Saturday. It was her first Cirque show, at least as an audience member. She performed in “One Night For One Drop” a night earlier, which is where I learned about her ukulele acumen … The Gonzaga hoops team, swinging the sticks Sunday at Topgolf at MGM Grand … Rapper and Terror Squad Entertainment founder Fat Joe on Sunday at Sugar Factory at Fashion Show mall.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
