The so-called fight of a generation is nearly upon us – kicking off at 1:30 PM AEST.
It’s Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, nerds, and it’s happening so. Freaking. Soon.
To set the scene before it goes down, Sportsbet currently has $1.55 on Mayweather, and $2.55 on Pacquiao. In celebrity-terms, that divides punters into two types of people – saying so very much about each side:
MANNY PACQUIAO Without a Doubt the single Bravest, and most EXCITING fighter to ever lace on gloves… No one comes close . SEEN them ALL!
— Sylvester Stallone (@TheSlyStallone) April 20, 2015
Make sure to get PPV and support the champ @floydmayweather this Saturday! http://t.co/jmVnjDVkCd https://t.co/SPL3MMKmw6
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) April 29, 2015
Revenue for the fight is expected to soar in the United States and around the world, with the fight being labelled one of the most lucrative sporting events in history. Mayweather, noted for his history of domestic violence, is already the richest sportsman in the world and will walk home with $200 million regardless of the fight’s outcome tonight. How to be a jerk and still be rolling in it, 101.
Seeing as extremely limited public tickets (as in, a few hundred among 16,000) sold out in under two minutes, and any remaining suites in Vegas are now reportedly fetching over $50,000, the viewing method of choice in the US is via pay-per-view broadcast, which is estimated to rake in up to half a billion dollars alone. Throw in sky high punting and broadcast licensing, ‘murica’s finest night of excess is spewing.
The least satisfying red carpet of all time is now being trodden upon by “celebrities”, including Jean Ralphio alongside our very own Josh Lawson, who has wisely forgone the Logies red carpet (tonight, RIP in advance), for the world’s most anticipated smackdown. Proud, I guess?
In all seriousness tho, the squad that is the front row is looking on fucking point. It includes: Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Michael J. Fox, Jerry Bruckheimer, Justin Bieber, 50 Cent, Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington and Rhianna.
In Pacquiao’s native Philippines, the fight has taken on such gargantuan proportions that a national holiday has been declared in the boxer’s honour. A national energy provider has even gone as far to advise viewers in the Philippines to turn off all unnecessary electricity while watching the fight, in order to curb a potential overloading of the grid. It’s that freaking big.
In other news, two of America’s most respected female sports reporters, who have both previously reported on Mayweather’s sordid history of domestic violence, Rachel Nichols of CNN and Michelle Beadle of ESPN, were reportedly “banned” from the fight and denied access to the arena despite having media credentials. While Nichols’ and Beadle’s access was reinstated following the public spat, things weren’t looking so flattering for a widely-condemned Mayweather.
No fight for me or @MichelleDBeadle. Mayweather’s team told my producer the camp was blocking my credential. https://t.co/JTjjXadPp8
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 2, 2015
T-one hour till crunch time. Prepare your snacks accordingly.
