Mayweather vs Pacquiao Weigh-In: Date, Start Time and Live Stream for Superfight

After years of talk and a couple months of intense hype, the long-awaited encounter between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao is within reach. The boxing world is finally going to see a meeting between the top active pound-for-pound fighters.

An argument could be made that a bout between the two could have been a much bigger draw a handful of years ago. Yet the waiting also added to the intrigue and allowed for more discussion about what would happen if they did eventually face off.

Now they will. Let's check out the details for catching Friday's weigh-in showcase before diving into the fight itself with a preview of the action.

Weigh-In Information

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada

When: Friday, May 1 at 6 p.m. ET

Watch: Showtime and HBO

Live Stream: Showtime Anytime

Fight Preview

Above all else, both fighters deserve credit for finally figuring out a way to get the deal completed. If they each decided to walk away from the sport before ever facing each other, their resumes would have always contained a void.

At least one of them will now be able to claim a victory over the chief rival in their era. Exactly who will score that triumph is a tricky question.

Both fighters have shown some vulnerabilities in recent bouts. Pacquiao suffered back-to-back losses against Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, while Mayweather received a stiff test from Marcos Maidana in the first of their two fights.

Former heavyweight champion George Foreman also wonders how ready they will be after a relatively short preparation period:

It's certainly a fair point, but since they have been working on the same schedule, it shouldn't lead to an advantage for either fighter. It could impact the quality of the bout, though.

The biggest key will be Pacquiao's offense. Can he be effective on the attack using his quickness and power against a legendary defensive tactician? The answer likely decides the winner.

Pac-Man's trainer, Freddie Roach, is confident things are going to go their way. Dan Rafael of ESPN passed along comments from the boxing stalwart.

"Mayweather may be two victories shy of tying Rocky Marciano's record, but I can assure you Mayweather's party will end on May 2 and Marciano's record will remain just that—the record," Roach said. "And Mayweather will forever be known as Mr. 47 and 1."

At his peak, Pacquiao was outstanding at taking control of a fight with his movement and striking ability. He could dance around the ring, delivering combinations and backing off before an opponent could counterattack.

It's fair to wonder how much pop he has left, though. The last time he scored a knockout victory was against Miguel Cotto in 2009. He's adapted well, figuring out other ways to remain effective, but it's also made him less dominant and left the door open for those aforementioned losses.

If Mayweather can put up a defensive wall early in the fight, the advantage should shift clearly to his favor. It won't prevent Pacquiao from trying to push the pace, but it should keep the fight close until Pac-Man starts to wear down.

All told, it should be a highly entertaining bout. Perhaps not quite as good as it could have been if they met a little earlier in their careers, but it is still a must-see attraction that gets the sports world talking.

That's exactly what boxing needs.