It’s finally happening.
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are set to fight after years of speculation, and months of negotiation, in a one-off bout that could be the highest grossing single sporting event in history.
The world’s two most high profile boxers, and best of their generation, will finally face off on May 2 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Arena.
The bout between 37 year old Mayweather and 39 year old Pacquiao will be a unification fight for their respective welterweight titles, and the event will be a joint pay-per-view promotion between HBO and Showtime.
Mayweather made the announcement earlier this evening, posting the fight contract on his social media app.
Here is an actual contract for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Signed and everything: http://t.co/x1Im5GMDy0 pic.twitter.com/brCgrsHdcm
— SB Nation (@SBNation) February 20, 2015
According to ESPN boxing writer Dan Rafael, the fight will be a 60/40 purse split, expected to be potentially $250 million, with Mayweather expected to take the lions share.
The weight limit is 147, there is no rematch clause, each man wears their usual brand of gloves, 60-40 split. #MayweatherPacquiao
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) February 20, 2015
Pacquiao has a record of 57 wins in 64 fights, 38 by KO, while Mayweather is unbeaten in 47 fights with 26 KOs.
In a statement Mayweather said: ‘I am the best ever, TBE, and this fight will be another opportunity to showcase my skills and do what I do best, which is win. Manny is going to try to do what 47 before him failed to do, but he won’t be successful. He will be number 48’.
While Ken Hershman, president of HBO Sports, said: ‘Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have been the two most prominent fighters in the sport of boxing for the past decade, and fight fans around the world have been clamouring for them to face each other’.
“And now, on May 2nd, in what everyone believes will be the biggest boxing event of all-time, fight fans have been granted their wish. May 2nd will be a signature moment for the sport of boxing and HBO Sports is thrilled to be a part of this spectacular event’.
Mayweather is the early favourite, with some bookmakers placing the American as short as 1/3 on and most seeing Pacquiao unlikely to cause an upset.
It may be a couple of years too late, but better late than never. We can’t wait.
Hat-tip Bleacher Report & the Guardian.
