Pacquiao-Mayweather bout will ‘blow everything away’

Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao. (Tracy Lee / Manny Pacquiao official Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines – Everything about Manny Pacquiao’s much-awaited May 2 fight against Floyd Mayweather is set to “blow you away”: from the ticket prices to the purse money, to the expected intensity of the bout.

“It’s gonna set all records – pay-per-view sales, pay-per-view revenue, tickets, gates revenue, foreign sales. Everything is gonna get blown away,” Bob Arum told reporters from local daily, The STAR, via a phone interview.

Speculation has it that Mayweather’s and Pacquiao’s guaranteed purses would be staggering: a whopping $120 million for the former, and equally mind-blowing $80 million for the latter boxing legend..

For tax reasons, however, the exact amounts cannot be disclosed.

“There’s a confidentiality agreement in the contract. We cannot and should not disclose the terms because stuff like that is contained in the confidentiality clause,” said Pacquiao’s chief adviser, Mike Koncz.

The showdown between the two greats is expected to break all per-pay-view records, as well. The record for largest pay-per-view audience was set by the 2007 fight between Mayweather and Oscar dela Hoya, with 2.5 million households tuning in.

Cable providers Showtime and HBO  have pegged higher amounts for the cost of viewing the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, with the price set at $100 to watch the live telecast. Half of whatever amount is collected goes to the cable channels, while the boxers will be paid the remainder of the amount.

Those who desire to see the fight live will have to pay a hefty sum for the experience: Ringside seats at the MGM Grand will reportedly cost $5,000 at face value No ticket is priced lower than $1,000.

According to ESPN Radio, only MGM Grand high-rollers with a credit line of $250,000 have a chance at receiving complimentary tickets.

Meanwhile, two tickets to the Floor A section, favored by Hollywood celebrities, are going for e$113,435; approximately P5 million.