The most anticipated boxing match of the last decade has finally been officially announced, with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao revealing that their long-anticipated fight will finally take place, on May 2.
Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao announce May 2 fight
Floyd Mayweather announces fight with a photo of the signed contract. (via @FloydMayweather/Shots) pic.twitter.com/lnXOe0Ia01
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 20, 2015 Statements from Showtime and HBO execs on #MayweatherPacquiao joint pay-per-view. pic.twitter.com/rAMmbc0xwa
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) February 20, 2015 The final numbers haven’t yet been released, but the two sides have reportedly agreed to a 60/40 split,, with Mayweather earning at least $120 million and Pacquiao at least $80 million for the fight, per Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports. The deal is for only one fight, according to Showtime Sports.
Rumors of the fight picked up steam in recent weeks, with promoter Bob Arum saying the details could be wrapped up by the end of January. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao sat courtside at a Bucks-Heat game in Miami, meeting face to face at halftime.
Though a TMZ report called the fight a “done deal,” promoters from both camps and network officials stressed that nothing yet was official.
“Floyd has agreed to wanting this fight for a long time, but there is no deal in place, so there is nothing new about it,” said Chris DeBlasio of Showtime.
Mayweather (47-0, 26 by knockout) is the current WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine welterweight champion, as well as the WBC light middleweight champion. Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KO) holds the WBO welterweight belt.
Pacquaio, 36, last fought on Nov. 23, a 12-round victory over Chris Algieri in Macao, one of two fights in 2014 for Pacquiao. Mayweather, 37, also fought twice last year, both 12-round decisions over Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas.
Fight Hub TV presents: Evander Holyfield talks Mayweather and Pacquiao before the official announcement was made.
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