13-8-2023 (WASHINGTON) The reverberating clash between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg has taken an unexpected twist, with the stage now set in Italy for a potentially epic face-off. Reports are ablaze as Musk, the visionary entrepreneur, announced on Friday (Aug 11) that the much-discussed cage confrontation with his tech counterpart will transpire on Italian soil, all in the name of a noble cause. Italian authorities have enthusiastically endorsed the notion of hosting this impending “great charity event”.
Although the impending showdown between these two towering figures of the tech realm is yet to be formally acknowledged, Musk took to his X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, to divulge that significant strides have been made in the coordination of this event. “I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture,” Musk articulated, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as the recipient of his conversations. “They have agreed on an epic location.”
Zuckerberg, the helm of Meta, fired back on his Threads social network with a remarkable image: a shirtless Zuckerberg pinning an adversary in his “backyard octagon”. As an aficionado of martial arts and a contender in jiujitsu competitions, Zuckerberg stated, “I love this sport and I’ve been ready to fight since the day Elon challenged me. If he ever agrees on an actual date, you’ll hear it from me. Until then, please assume anything he says has not been agreed on.”
Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano corroborated that he engaged in dialogue with Musk regarding the intricacies of orchestrating a “great charity event evoking history”. However, Sangiuliano clarified that the anticipated match “will not be held in Rome”.
Musk, evidently enamored with the prospect, envisions the contest occurring within the hallowed Colosseum, a UNESCO World Heritage site, an idea he floated in late June. A statement from Sangiuliano elucidated that a rendezvous with Musk at the center stage would result in a substantial monetary influx, “a huge sum, many millions of euros, (that) will be donated to two important Italian pediatric hospitals”. He further opined that this event would serve as a vehicle to spotlight the rich historical, artistic, and cultural heritage of Italy on a global spectrum.
Musk, aligned with this sentiment, reassured that every facet of this event will pay homage to Italy’s storied past and vibrant present. Proceeds, he affirmed, will find their way to supporting veterans. He went on to elucidate that the management of this anticipated cage match would fall under the auspices of foundations led by both himself and Zuckerberg, distinct from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the renowned Las Vegas-based purveyor of mixed martial arts.
Dana White, the prominent figure behind UFC, who is actively vying to have a role in the event, postulated on Mike Tyson’s podcast earlier in the week that the face-off could generate an astounding revenue of US$1 billion. In response, Zuckerberg articulated in his Threads post that he aspired to collaborate with a seasoned organization such as UFC, aiming to curate a line-up that showcases the zenith of athletic prowess within the sport.
These two formidable tech magnates, known for their intermittent sparring from a distance, morphed into direct competitors with the advent of Meta’s Twitter-esque Threads platform in the initial days of July.
As an aside tinged with whimsy, Musk, later on Friday, penned a Latin phrase that translates to “it is delightful to play the fool occasionally”.
Amidst these developments, Musk refrained from disclosing a specific date for this impending spectacle, although he did intimate the possibility of “minor surgery” to rectify a “problem with my right shoulder blade rubbing against my ribs”. He reassured his supporters that recuperation would be a matter of mere months, noting that his existing titanium plate holding vertebrae in place was, at present, a non-issue.
