Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Fight: Latest Highlights for Money and Pac-Man

The immersive, unrelenting build-up to the historical bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather has almost felt like an event in itself.

With the fight now just a day away, the anticipation has gone into overdrive, with boxing scholars examining every move made by each man in forensic detail to see who is going to have the advantage in the ring on Saturday evening.

Naturally, with such focus on the preparations, there have been some standout moments to savour already. Here’s how both Floyd and Manny have fared in the days leading up to the bout and a closer examination of how the action will play out when the two finally step in to the ring.

Manny More Relaxed

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As you would expect from a man as amicable as Pacquiao, he seems to be taking the unrelenting hype surrounding the fight well in his stride. The Filipino addressed his supporters at a fan rally on Tuesday and was extremely languid in his demeanour up on the stage.

For the eight-weight world champion, seeing so many of his supporters in Las Vegas must have been a personal highlight, per Dan Roan of BBC Sport:

Manny is the underdog coming into this fight and the aura he has emitted in the build-up has been of a boxer who has little to lose. But he insisted even though the bookies make Mayweather the favourite, there is still plenty to prove from his standpoint, per Sky News:

"

I have to prove something. Every time I'm the underdog I like that because my killer instinct, my focus is there. This is what I want.

We're not working one strategy ... we have two or three. If he wants to fight me, that's good for me. But if he's running and running and moving around the ring, we've prepared for that.

"

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It’s difficult to disagree with that particular assessment. While Mayweather has fought some quality operators in his 47 professional wins to date, none are quite as multifaceted as Pacquiao. Of course, the American will have a plan for his opponent, but there are questions as to whether he can handle a boxer who brings such ferocity to the ring.

Jason Strout and Jenaro Diaz of Church Street Boxing Gym spoke to Bleacher Report about how each fighter will approach this bout:

Indeed, Pacquiao will feel that he has the requisite power and precision to prise open Mayweather’s stringent defence. Factor in the relaxation and confidence he’s oozed in the week leading up to the fight, and Floyd could be walking into a whirlwind at the MGM Grand.

Floyd Focused On The Challenge

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You suspect Mayweather will be well equipped for that challenge, though. In the week leading up to the bout, while there has been the standard glitz and glamour that accompanies Floyd’s entourage, there remains a steely focus about the American; it’s clear he’s taken this challenge very seriously indeed.

Naturally, there was plenty of panache as he arrived at the MGM for his fan rally on Tuesday, per Oliver Brown of the Daily Telegraph:

There were still a few barbs from Mayweather, though, as he insisted Manny should have earned more money from this showpiece occasion, per Ben Dirs of BBC Sport:

"

If he'd have worked with us, he'd have made $100m (£90m).

Financially, he hasn't been treated right for this fight. And [this fight] is all about the money.

Saturday is just work, I'll just do what I do. But I'll make upwards of $200m for this fight, which is $50m apiece for my kids. So it was a smart move.

"

In addition, there were a few signs that Mayweather may have one eye on life after boxing. In the aforementioned piece he claimed that maintaining his undefeated streak is not that important and as noted here by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, the 38-year-old has also revealed when he plans to hang up his gloves:

Do these thoughts give Manny some kind of edge? Perhaps.

But away from the media spotlight, you suspect Mayweather will be unrelenting in his training and desperate to cement his legacy as one of the all-time great fighters with a win over Pacquiao in what will be the biggest fight of his distinguished career to date.