Pacquiao-Mayweather puts boxing back in the spotlight

LOS ANGELES — It all seemed so surreal. After years of on-and-off talks, false leads, near deals and the highest hopes of boxing fans getting raised and dashed, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao stood nose to nose, squaring off in a publicity pose for what promises to be boxing's biggest-money event.

Nearly a decade after the welterweight duo emerged as the sweet science's two biggest drawing cards, Mayweather, the WBC and WBA welterweight and super welterweight champ and Ring Magazine's No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter, will finally meet Pacquiao, the WBO welterweight champ ranked No. 3 pound for pound by Ring, in the squared ring.

Six hundred credentialed media showed up at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles for Wednesday's press conference, which was broadcast live on ESPN, for the formal announcement of the May 2 bout at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena.

"It's great to be part of an event that so elevates the sport of boxing," said Pacquiao's promter, Bob Arum. "When we compare it to other events, major events like the Super Bowl, even the Olympics, we get worldwide attention to those events. It's been rare that worldwide attention focuses on a boxing match."

The event is all but a license to print money.

The cheapest ticket at the MGM Grand is $1,500, and the pricing works its way up to $7,500 for ringside. This scales the gate at about $40 million, which would double the Nevada record of $20 million set by Mayweather's win over Saul "Canelo" Alvarez last September in Las Vegas.

If you can find a hotel room in Vegas, expect to pay 10 times what you'd normally pay for a weekend in Sin City.

The pay-per-view is expected to be priced at $99.95. The buy rate could top boxing's record of 2.4 million homes set by Mayweather's 2007 win over Oscar de la Hoya.

If boxing is dead, as detractors have so long attempted to claim, then the casket must be made of gold.

The fight is such a cash grab, in fact, that boxing's oft-warring tribes had to figure out a way to work together. The fight is a joint production between the sport's corporate blood rivals, HBO and Showtime.

HBO's Pacquiao is represented by Arum's Top Rank Promotions and trainer Freddie Roach. Showtime's Mayweather, who worked with Arum earlier in his career before an acrimonious split, handles his promotions in-house and is trained by his father, former super welterweight standout Floyd Mayweather Sr.

There was simply too much money on the table not to get the job done. But with all the various parties assembled under one roof, the biggest point of interest at the press conference was watching each fighter's handlers strut like roosters and take little pecks at their opposition.

"Everyone has known for at least five years that Floyd has wanted this fight very badly," Showtime sports president Stephen Espinoza said.

"Stephen, everyone has their opinions," Arum retorted.

In the end, the guys who have to step in the ring and do the actual fighting were the only ones on stage displaying a semblance of humility.

The controversial and oft-bombastic Mayweather, who takes such pride in his undefeated record that Vegas freeways feature billboards adorned with his face and his 47-0 record, seemed near tears when he took the podium in what appeared to be reverent regard for the fight's magnitude.

"I've never wanted to win a fight this bad in my life," Mayweather said. "It's about the best fighting the best and Pacquiao is one of the best of his era. May 2 is when the world stops for the biggest fight in boxing history."

Pacquiao (57-5), meanwhile, is the only eight-division champion in the sport's history since his debut as a flyweight in 1995. After losing a train robbery of a decision to Tim Bradley in 2012, followed by a knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao has rallied for three straight wins, including a rematch over Bradley.

"I will be ready for my date with destiny on May 2," Pacquiao said. "I am very happy that Floyd Mayweather and I can give the fans the fight they have wanted for so many years." —Reuters