Las Vegas---Years of debate and months of hype will reach a climax Saturday when Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather step into the ring in Las Vegas for the most eagerly anticipated boxing match in recent memory.
The long-awaited bout, which has been more than five years in the making, has transcended the traditional boxing scene, catapulting the sport back into the public consciousness and promising to rewrite the record books as the most lucrative fight of all time.
"Sin City" was buzzing ahead of the welterweight world title showdown and the money men were rubbing their hands: total revenue for the bout could reach an eye-watering $400 million, fueled by as many as three million pay-per-view purchases.
The breathtaking figures -- a possible $200 million payday for the unbeaten American and an estimated $100 million bonanza for Philippine icon Pacquiao -- have intensified the spotlight on a fight between two of the greatest pugilists of their generation.
As a taster for the main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, a raucous crowd of 11,500 turned out for Friday's weigh-in, as Pacquiao and Mayweather went nose-to-nose.
The few tickets that did go on sale for the bout itself were reportedly snapped up in one minute, with A-listers and high-rollers making up the vast majority of a 16,800 sell-out crowd, making the fight more akin to a nightout at the Oscars than two men attempting to pound the other to the canvas.
With just hours to go, dozens of tickets were still available on the resale website StubHub, ranging in price from $2,690 to $37,442 apiece.
In Las Vegas, tourism officials said occupancy for the city's 150,000 hotel rooms would approach 100 percent. Casinos were advertising red-carpet events hosted by hip-hop stars such as Puff Daddy and Snoop Dogg and pop star Justin Bieber -- a Mayweather fan and friend.
AFP
