Las Vegas, NV (SportsNetwork.com) – The blockbuster fight years in making is
finally on, with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao officially scheduled
to meet May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The welterweight bout between boxing’s two biggest draws of this era will
almost certainly be the richest in the sport’s history as well. The Associated
Press reported that Mayweather is expected to gross in the neighborhood of
$120 million, with Pacquiao likely to receive a sum of approximately $80
million.
Mayweather posted a picture of a signed contract Friday on the social media
platform Shots, having negotiated with Pacquiao’s promotion, Top Rank, for the
rights to be the first to announce the mega-fight.
“What the world has been waiting for has arrived,” Mayweather wrote.
“Mayweather vs. Pacquiao on May 2, 2015, is a done deal. I promised the fans
we would get this done, and we did. We will make history on May 2nd. Don’t
miss it!”
Both fighters will put 147-pound titles on the line, with the still unbeaten
Mayweather holding the WBC welterweight belt and Pacquiao owning the WBO
welterweight crown.
The much-anticipated matchup had been in the works for five years, but
disagreements between the two camps over compensation and several other issues
prevented it from coming together.
Mayweather (47-0, 26 KO), coming off a unanimous decision in a rematch with
Marcos Maidana in September, will turn 38 on Feb. 24. Pacquiao (57-5-2) is two
years younger, but also considered the more battle-worn of the two.
Pacquiao, the only boxer to capture world titles in eight different weight
divisions, went through a career downturn after suffering consecutive losses
in 2012, including a knockout defeat to Juan Manuel Marquez. The popular
Filipino has since gotten back on track with wins in three straight bouts.
Mayweather has won world titles in five separate classes over the course of
his illustrious career.
