By: William Holmes
The following is the Boxing Insider special edition notebook for the upcoming Mayweather vs. Pacquiao super bout, set for May 2nd in Las Vegas, Nevada. This notebook covers most of the news and notes that have been emerging from their respective camps as we lead into fight week.
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Young Stars Fill Out Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Undercard
A full lineup of present and future boxing stars is set to entertain the MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd in pay-per-view and non-televised action before the history-making welterweight showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao on Saturday, May 2.
WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz (29-0-1) will face Jose Cayetano (17-3) in one supporting bout and WBO Featherweight World Champion Vasyl Lomachenko (3-1) will take on Gamalier Rodriguez (25-2-3).
The pay-per-view telecast will begain at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Non televised bouts will feature Chris Pearson (11-0) taking on Said El Harrak (12-2) in a
middleweight bout and Jesse Hart (16-0) taking on Mike Jimenez (17-0) for the NABO, USBA, and NABF Super Middleweight titles.
Andrew Tabiti (9-0) will also be featured in action as he takes on Anthony Caputo Smith (15-4) in a cruiserweight bout.
Brad Solomon (24-0) will be opposed by Adrien Rene Granados (13-3) in the opening bout of the night in the super middleweight division.
“Mayweather Promotions is looking forward to bringing some of boxing’s most exciting current and future stars to the fans on the biggest night in our sport’s history,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Whether you are watching on pay-per-view or in the arena, you are in store for an electric night of fights.”
“Each undercard match could be a main event on another card,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank. “Fans can watch the exciting action as a warm-up to the most anticipated fight in decades.”
Las Vegas Medical Centers Prepare for Pacquiao vs. Mayweather
When big events come to major cities the health care industry in that city has to prepare for a rush of individuals in need of medical attention.
Hospital’s in Las Vegas are making preparations that will be similar to the level of service that they expect on two of Las Vegas’ biggest days of the year, New Years Eve and Super Bowl Sunday. The fight is expected to draw an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 visitors over the weekend.
The MGM Grand Garden Arena will have two ambulances on hand and if one ambulance is used to transport a fighter to the hospital another ambulance will take it’s place.
UK Fans:
The fight will be broadcast on Sky Sports Box Office for UK viewers. The fight will cost £19.95 to purchase on Box Office, and will cost an additional £2 booking fee for those who book on the day.
Floyd Mayweather’s Grand Arrival
Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s grand arrival is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. PT at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Dough E. Fresh will be hosting the grand arrival, and the show is expected to begin at 2:00 p.m. while Floyd Mayweather is expected to arrive at 3:00 p.m.
Standup comedian Ricky Smiley and world famous The Southern University “Human Jukebox” Marchind Band will be performing. The event is free and open to the public.
Manny Pacquiao’s Grand Arrival
Manny Pacquiao’s team has decided to skip the usual grand arrival that Pacquiao has traditionally done at the MGM Grand when he fights in Las Vegas. However, there will be a Manny Pacquiao Las Vegas Fan Rally on Tuesday, April 28th at 11:00 A.M. PT at the Mandalay Bay’ South Convention Center in Bayside C.
Manny Pacquiao will be in attendance, as well as Freddie Roach, Bob Arum, Michael Koncz, Buboy Fernandez, and Pacquiao’s Jack Russell Terrier.
Jamie Foxx will Sing National Anthem
TMZ was the first to report that Jamie Foxx has been tapped to sing the national anthem for the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao bout. Foxx is a big boxing fan and is starring as Mike Tyson in an upcoming biopic and also starred in Ali. He previously sang “America the Beautiful” before the Pacquiao vs. Mosley fight in 2011.
Fight Gear in Vegas:
There is an official MayPac Pop up store that is open now throug May 2 in downtown on Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street. T-shirts, baseball caps and event gloves, plus you can also try out a cool fight simulation experience.
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Promotions Sponsors “ITSAKNOCKOUT” in Kentucky Derby
The Mayweather-Pacquiao promotion has signed an exclusive sponsorship deal with Starlight Racing’s “Itsaknockout” in the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby will be held a few hours before Pacquiao and Mayweather are set to meet in the ring.
“The opportunity to sponsor a horse running in the Kentucky Derby appropriately named ‘ItsaKnockout’ is a fantastic fit for the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight and the magnitude of the promotion on all levels,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO Mayweather Promotions. “It’s going to be a knockout of a sports weekend with both events the same day and we wish this champion horse well, hoping his name comes true with a victory in the Derby.”
“From Gate to Finish, beginning with the Kentucky Derby and ending with Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, Saturday, May 2 will be the most exciting day in sports,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank. “Itsaknockout may be the horse we are sponsoring but it also describes the historic day fans will be talking about for years to come.”
Mexico to Get Mayweather vs. Pacquiao for Free
American fight fans have to pay $100 to watch the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight on pay-per-view, or at the very least have to pay a cover charge to watch the fight at a bar. But fight fans who live in Mexico will get to watch the fight for free. Two Mexican TV networks, Televisa and Azteca, have agreed to air the fight for free for their subscribers.
Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Fight Week Streams
The Mayweather vs. Pacquiao final press conference can be viewed on Wednesday, April 29th at 4pm ET/1pm PT at https://youtu.be/VUywAG7NlMg
The Mayweather vs. Pacquiao weigh-in can be viewed live on Friday May 1st at 6pm ET/3pm PT at https://youtu.be/GoaWZ5UwQeY
The countdown to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao can be viewed live on Saturday, May 2nd at 8pm ET/5pm PT at https://youtu.be/7Pw3pGgXGrk
50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather Still Friends
50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather Jr. used to be the best of friends and 50 Cent used to be a part of the original money team, but their friendship broke up when Floyd Mayweather Jr. didn’t join 50 Cent’s Promotional team.
They had exchanged insults several times, with 50 Cent doing most of the insults on social media. 50 Cent recently informed MTV News that the two are on good terms again and the two are reunited.
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao to have a Media Frenzy that Matches the Superbowl
Skysports recently reported that the upcoming Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight will look to have a media frenzy that can only be compared to the superbowl. At the fight announcement alone there were more than 700 credentialed media, and big platforms such as ESPN have applied for more than 250 media credentials.
Fight organizers stated they have received nearly 2,000 applications for media credentials, and these include requests from worldwide outlets such as Sky Sports, the BBC, and outlets from Asia and the Middle East.
Tickets for Mayweather-Pacquiao Weigh-In Sell Out Fast
12,000 eats were put on sale for $10 a pop for fight fans to view the weigh ins between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. and those eats sold out in just under an hour.
The weigh ins aren’t the only thing that sold out quickly. Tickets to actually see the fight, and not the weigh in, sold out in a flash and virtually all of the 50,000 close circuit tickets at MGM properties were sold within a day. Tickets to watch a closed circuit fight are going at a minimum of $150.
At least the money that was generated from the weigh-in ticket sales will be donated to charity. It will be split between the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Mayweather’s charity of choice, and the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Pacquiao’s charity of choice.
Officials are citing security as the main reason for selling tickets. The MGM and promoters don’t want an incident where fans who can’t get into the weigh in are upset and cause problems at the casino.
Juan Manuel Marquez says Floyd Wins
Manny Pacquiao Breaks Camp
Freddie Roach: “Our long international boxing nightmare will soon be over,” declared Hall of Fame trainer World-Famous Freddie Roach. “Boxing has been held hostage by Floyd Mayweather and his antics long enough. Manny is going to stand up to Floyd on May 2 and put a bully in his place. On paper – and in the sports books – Manny shouldn’t stand a chance. But neither did David against Goliath. Just remember, Manny has always come out on top when he was the underdog and you don’t have to look any further than his victories over Ledwaba, Barrera and De La Hoya. As Manny said earlier, ‘It is time for Floyd to lose.’ Manny is on a mission. This fight is his crusade. The fans of the world are rooting for Manny to win just like they willed this fight to happen. He is their champion. This will be their victory.”
Behind the Scenes of the Mayweather-Pacquiao Photo Shoot
HBO Boxing photographer Alexis Cuarezma shares his experience working behind the scenes of the Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5X75i7ORZ0