Mayweather vs Pacquiao: Forget the belts...It's all about the money

The fact that tickets at ringside have been on sale for $100,000 (£65,000) adds a bit of spice. Mayweather has calculated that he will make about $200million (£130m), his 60 per cent share of the final purse. It is boxing’s biggest fight simply because of the vast sums that it will generate, including a record $72m (£47m) in legitimate ticket sales.

“This was the right time for the fight,” said Mayweather. “The money on offer now is double and treble what was previously being talked about — I made that happen, it was the plan.”

The fight was first suggested in 2009, in 2010 the talks reached an advanced stage and the purse was $40m (£26m) each.

The punters here, the travelling fans from all over the globe, are having to pay in excess of $4,000 (£2,600) for the cheapest seat inside the MGM, more than $250 (£163) to watch on closed circuit and, more alarmingly, are being held to ransom by the touts, who seem to have snapped up all 15,000 tickets for the weigh-in, each of which had a face value of just $10 (£6.50). The fighters are oblivious to the aggravation and both claim to have a clear idea in their heads that it will be an easy night’s work. Their respective coaches, who have thankfully kept the hate at an enjoyable level in the weeks and days before this final 24-hour wait, have each talked boldly of knockout wins.

“Freddie Roach is a joke,” said Floyd Mayweather Sr, who trains his son and claims to be the greatest boxing coach ever. Meanwhile, Roach has asked the same simple question all week: “Does anybody really listen to Floyd Mayweather Sr?” The pair will not hug when the fight ends tomorrow night, that is for sure.

“I have no need to speak loud for this fight,” added Mayweather Jr. “I’m older now and this fight sells itself — no hype needed.” Pacquiao never abuses his opponents but members of his team such as Roach, who has been with the Filipino for 12 years, are convinced that their man hates Mayweather.

The root of the hate is a short and insulting film that Mayweather made in 2010 when the fight had collapsed. In the film, Mayweather calls Pacquiao “that little yellow chump” and promises to “make that (expletive) make me a sushi roll and cook me some rice”.

There is a suggestion that Mayweather is more tense than anybody can remember and that is understandable because he is the one who is acutely aware of legacy, having never lost as a professional in 47 fights. Pacquiao has lost five times and correctly points out that, win or lose, his legacy as a world champion of six divisions will never change.

There has been a feast of boxing in Las Vegas this week and late last night Paddington’s Ashley Theophane won a split decision over 10 rounds at the Palms Casino. Theophane fought for the All Stars club in west London before becoming a full-time member of Mayweather’s team. “I have never seen him prepare like this before,” Theophane said after his fight.

There was also a cameo earlier in the week from a tired and emotional Mike Tyson. The fallen champion was on edge, sweating and thoroughly dismissive of Mayweather’s claim to be the best fighter ever. “He’s a scared little man, he can’t even take his children to school without help,” said Tyson.

There is a chance that Mayweather, who, at 38, has slowed naturally, will start fast, be aggressive and try to test Pacquiao early on. Roach is convinced that this is the Mayweather masterplan. “We have solutions for his big looping right and his check hook, no problem,” he added.

Mayweather Sr said: “There is nothing that Roach the joke and Pacquiao can do to hurt Floyd — let me tell you now, Floyd can end this when and how he likes.”