Sports

Mayweather-Pacquiao: Burning questions, bold predictions and everything you need to know

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Illustration by Marvin Lucas

Boxing is known as the sweet science, and it’s also a notoriously inexact science. For at least five years the sport has cried for a bout matching Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, and if the stars (and egos) could have aligned in 2010, this might be the third or fourth in a series of classic bouts between the two multi-divisional champions.

No matter. The fight is on, May 2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena, certain to generate record-setting revenue in Las Vegas and exposure for the city around the world. Both fighters stand to make a killing financially, and should Mayweather win he can rightfully claim to be the greatest fighter of his generation. That “TBE” acronym on Mayweather’s hats and T-shirts already claims he’s The Best Ever. We’ll see. But first, here are some questions—and answers—about “The Fight of the Century.”

Undefeated WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines face off during a final news conference at the MGM Grand Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Leonard Ellerbe, center, CEO of Mayweather Promotions looks on. The champions will face each other in a welterweight unification bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday.

Why wasn’t this fight held years earlier? Blame a disagreement about drug testing in late 2009, two judges’ scorecards in another fight and the counter right of Juan Manuel Márquez.

In ’09, negotiations between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank Boxing fell apart over a dispute over drug testing. Mayweather had wanted random blood and urine testing; Pacquiao initially disagreed but later relented, but by the early months of 2010 the deal had unraveled. That year’s held date of March 13 at MGM Grand Garden Arena was scratched.

Later, Pacquiao lost his first bout with Timothy Bradley on June 9, 2012, a fight most fans and media members felt Pacquiao dominated (he out-landed Bradley 253-159 in total punches and had a 190-108 edge in power shots). But the scorecards of judges Duane Ford and C.J. Ross had the fight 115-13 for Bradley.

That loss tabled talk of Pacquiao fighting Mayweather, and on December 8, 2012, he returned to fight an opponent who had given him trouble in four previous fights, Márquez. One of the great counterpunchers of this era, Márquez unloaded with a right hand near the end of the sixth round that sent Pacquiao to the canvas. Pacquiao had been dominant until being tagged, and it seemed after that knockout that a match with Mayweather would never happen. It took years for the momentum for this matchup to return.

WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines speaks during a final news conference at the MGM Grand Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Pacquiao will face undefeated WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. of the U.S. in a welterweight unification bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday.

In November 2013, what were the odds quoted by Wynn and Encore sports-book director Johnny Avello on the fight ever taking place? Nine-to-1 against.

How much does the pay-per-view cost for the fight? $100.

What is the estimated total gross of the fight? About $400 million, with estimates as high as $200 million for Mayweather and $120 million for Pacquiao.

What were the face-value costs for the scant number of tickets that sold out in under two minutes on April 23? Between $1,500 and $7,500.

And the secondary-market prices? More than $130,000 for ringside and $6,000 for back row, on stubhub.com.

Undefeated WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. of the U.S. smiles during a final news conference at the MGM Grand Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Mayweather will face WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in a welterweight unification bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday.

What’s the live gate estimate for MGM Grand Garden Arena? About $72 million, triple the existing Nevada record of $20 million for the Mayweather-Canelo Álvarez MGM Grand bout in September 2013.

What are room rates like for fight weekend? More than $1,600 per night at the MGM Grand and higher than $1,000 at high-end resorts like Aria, Bellagio and the Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace.

How did Mayweather fare in his first bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena? Not well. “The first time I fought there, I was 17 years old. I lost, actually,” Mayweather said during a news conference at LA’s Nokia Theatre announcing the fight back in March. “But I thought I won that fight.” Mayweather was beaten by Martin Castillo in a 1994 junior amateur tournament matching the U.S. and Mexico.

How much money has Pacquiao picked up in the past six months through endorsement contracts with companies like Nike and Nestlé? About $5 million.

How much endorsement money has Mayweather earned in that time frame? None.

April 21, 2015, Hollywood,Calif. ---  "11 DAYS OUT" ---  Manny Pacquiao trains with trainer Freddie Roach and assistant Marvin Somodio , Monday at the Wild Card Boxing Club as he prepares for his upcoming welterweight unification fight against Floyd Mayweather..   ---   Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank - copyright 2015

April 21, 2015, Hollywood,Calif. --- "11 DAYS OUT" --- Manny Pacquiao trains with trainer Freddie Roach and assistant Marvin Somodio , Monday at the Wild Card Boxing Club as he prepares for his upcoming welterweight unification fight against Floyd Mayweather.. --- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank - copyright 2015

Nonetheless, could Mayweather earn $1 billion in the sport, just in prize money, over his career? According to a Yahoo Sports story, if he fulfills the rest of his contract with Showtime (one more bout after the Pacquiao fight) and closes out with 50 fights, total, yes.

How many Ferraris has Mayweather purchased from Las Vegas’ Towbin Motorcars? More than 100.

How many did he buy with cash? All of them.

How many are painted white? All of them.

Which of his songs has Pacquiao said will be played as he enters the ring? “Lalaban Ako Para Sa Filipino” (“I Will Fight for the Filipinos”).

Which late-night host has offered to sing the song for Pacquiao as Pacquiao enters the ring against Mayweather? UNLV grad Jimmy Kimmel.

WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. hits a heavy bag at the Mayweather Boxing Club Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Mayweather will face WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in a unification bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2. .

Pacquiao has performed “Sometimes When We Touch” with Kimmel and also cut a video of the song. Is Manny serious about a singing career? No. His classic quote: “I love singing, but singing doesn’t love me.”

Which Nevada politician did Pacquiao, early in his first term as a congressman in the Philippines, contact to help with relief after Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people in November 2013? Harry Reid.

Who can we expect to enter the ring with Mayweather? Justin Bieber and Lil Wayne.

In 2009, Jerry Jones said he wanted the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight more than what? “My next breath.”

What did Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who had previously extolled the benefits of having such a major event as Mayweather-Pacquiao in Venetian Macau or Dallas’ AT&T Stadium, say when asked if he pushed to hold the fight anywhere but Las Vegas? “Understand that I am a resident of the state of Nevada, and I live in Las Vegas. This fight is going to bring tremendous revenue, not only to the hotels and the properties, but also for the cab drivers, the bartenders, everybody in the hospitality industry. These are my neighbors.”

Boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao face off during a news conference at Nokia Theater on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, in Los Angeles. The welterweights are scheduled to fight Saturday, May 2, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao face off during a news conference at Nokia Theater on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, in Los Angeles. The welterweights are scheduled to fight Saturday, May 2, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

How old was Mayweather when he announced his truncated retirement after beating Ricky Hatton in June 2008? 31.

How long was Mayweather away from the ring? 21 months.

Did he miss the sport? “I missed boxing, somewhat, yes,” he said in a news conference before a public workout at his Mayweather Boxing Club on April 14.

Which former Baywatch cast member showed up at that workout? David Hasselhoff.

What connects Liam Neeson, who has been spotted at Pacquiao’s workouts, with the fighter? He narrated the Pacquiao documentary Manny.

Leor Yerushalmi, of the Jewelers of Las Vegas, recently procured a watch for Mayweather. What is the price of the timepiece? About $16 million. Yerushalmi isn’t certain about the total carat amount, but emerald-cut diamonds around the face are 3 carats each. Yerushalmi says, “Everyone knows TBE. The best in the world should have the very best. When I saw this watch I knew that Floyd should have it.” Mayweather visits the business before all of his fights to have his diamonds cleaned, and Yerushalmi expects to see him this week.

Who does Mike Tyson like to win the bout? Pacquiao. “This guy is perpetual motion,” Tyson told London’s Daily Mail. “He comes from every angle. He’s all energy. Always throwing punches. Never stops. Floyd tucks in and picks his shots and he is more accurate. But he doesn’t throw anything like Manny’s hundred punches a round. It’s unlikely he can knock Manny out, so if he wants to win he’s got to change. Unless he throws more punches he can’t win the rounds.”

At which sporting event did Mayweather and Pacquiao serendipitously meet and agree to resume serious talks about the fight? A January 27 game between the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks in Miami. The two reportedly swapped numbers, then later met at Pacquiao’s hotel room. The bout was officially announced by Mayweather on February 20.

Mayweather can claim to be the greatest fighter of his generation if he beats Pacquiao. Where does Pacquiao stand in this conversation entering the May 2 bout? As Arum has said: “I think it’s open for debate … but he’s certainly the greatest fighter to come out of Asia, ever, and he has performed tremendously on the professional stage. To say he’s the greatest fighter of this era is a stretch and something I don’t think even he would appreciate or aspire to. That’s not how he thinks.”

Undefeated WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines pose during a final news conference at the MGM Grand Wednesday, April 29, 2015. The champions will face each other in a welterweight unification bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday.

How about one great quote from Floyd Mayweather Sr., Mayweather’s father who will be in the champion’s corner on May 2? “We’re just fighting an opponent. We’re not fighting Cassius Clay. We’re fighting an ordinary guy.”

Mayweather wins how? Most likely, by using his hand and foot speed and vaunted defensive skills and outpointing Pacquiao over 12 rounds.

Pacquiao wins how? With relentless pressure, throwing punches in bunches and wearing Mayweather down for a late TKO or decision.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, says he likes Pacquiao’s chances for what important reason? “Floyd’s lost his legs.”

Dream outcome for Las Vegas? Pacquiao claims a close but definitive decision, sparking public outcry for a rematch next year. That bout would be among the opening events at MGM Resorts’ new arena in May 2016.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao May 2, card begins at 3 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena.

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