Mayweather-Pacquiao tickets to cost Shs23m

Boxing.

Los Angeles.

Tickets for Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao’s long-awaited superfight will cost between $1,500 (Shs4.6m) and $7,500 (Shs23m), organizers said, but it is unclear how many will go on sale to the public.

Seats at the May 2 bout in Las Vegas promise to be one of the hottest tickets of the sporting decade, with the MGM Grand capacity limited to 16,800 people.

Many tickets are expected to be distributed to high-rollers and A-list celebrities desperate to be seen at a fight billed hyperbolically on Wednesday as the biggest bout in boxing history.

The clamor for tickets makes it likely that the number actually going on general sale is relatively small compared to other fights held at the venue.

Interest in May’s bout was reflected in the 600 media who attended Wednesday’s Los Angeles press conference between the two boxers, the only press event scheduled before the week of the fight.

Pay Per View records
The fight is also likely to smash pay-per-view records, with cable networks expected to charge around $100 per household for access to the bout.

“It transcends boxing for sure and will probably transcend sport,” said television executive Ken Hershman of HBO Sports, describing it as the “single largest boxing event of all time.”
Veteran fight promoter Bob Arum said the showdown would be a rare chance for boxing to shine on a global stage.

“Major events like the Super Bowl or even the Olympics get worldwide attention,” Arum said.
“It’s been rare that worldwide attention focuses on a boxing match. Believe me, the entire world will be watching this great event unfold.”
Arum last month said he expected the fight to be the most lucrative in history.

“I would say that Joe Frazier is turning over in his grave,” Arum said in an interview. “And Muhammad Ali is looking on in disbelief.”
There are no shortage of contentious storylines in this matchup. Roach has exchanged words with Mayweather’s father and trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., while fight promoter Bob Arum used to work with Mayweather instead of Pacquiao before a falling out split the pair.

What Mayweather and Pacquiao said

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs)
‘I’d like to thank God for providing us a wonderful day and giving us strength. I want to thank Showtime and HBO for helping to make this fight happen and also Mayweather promotions, Top Rank promotions and Team Pacquiao.

‘For the fans of boxing, I believe, this is what you are waiting for since five years ago. The fight is on and I know you are very excited. Both of us are going to undergo hard training for this fight and we will do our best on May 2 to make you (the fans) happy.

‘The most important thing is the name of the Lord - that the name of the Lord will be glorified.

‘I want to let the people know that God can raise someone from nothing in to something - and that is me. I came from nothing in to something and I owe everything to God. He gave me this blessing so it all credit to the Lord.

‘I want to thank all the Flippino fans who are always supporting me, some are watching at home and some are here. I want to thank Freddie Roach for being very nice to us, Team Pacquiao, nice to me and Bob Arum. We have loyalty between us because we have been working together since 2001 until now 2015 and we are the longest teamwork in boxing history as a trainer and boxer. And also to Bob Arum, my loyalty is to them. Thank you for trusting me and God bless you.’

Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs)
‘First off, I have to thank my father. Unbelievable trainer, unbelievable person. I want to thank Showtime, MGM Grand, so many different social media outlets, the fans, Team Pacquiao, Top Rank. ‘It has been a long road but we are here now. Al Haymon - remarkable guy. If it wasnt for Al Haymon, my father, Lenoard, I wouldn’t be where I am today so I want to say thank you.

‘May 2 - the fight of the century. It is all about the best fighting the best and Pacquiao is one of the best fighters of this era. And everything is about timing and we couldn’t choose a better time.

‘Our game plan is to be smart and take one fight at a time - like all 47 fights. ‘This is a fight the world can’t miss, it is an unbelievable match-up. Action packed fight. I’m in the gym working right now, dedicating myself to the sport, pushing myself to the limit, because I’ve never wanted to win a fight so much in my life. ‘And I’m sure he is pushing himself to the limit because he wants to win just same way I want to win. ‘But one thing I do know about any sport, when you lose it is in your mind. If you’ve lost once it is in your mind. If you’ve lost twice, it is in your mind. From day one I’ve was always taught to be a winner. No matter what be a winner. Push yourself to the limit, stay focused and be the best you can be.

‘Stephen Ezpinoza I want to thank you, Richard Stern I want to thank you, Bob Arum, Team Pacquiao because without everyone together we couldn’t make this fight happen so I have to be thankful for us coming together as one so that we can give the world what they want to see: Mayweather-Pacquiao.

‘To all the people tuning in I want to say thank you. I’m pretty sure you are going to see hashtags on Twitter, Instagram, Shots. May 2 that is when the world stops, I want everyone to tune in, Mayweather-Pacquiao. Thank you.’