LAS VEGAS: The countdown is on to Saturday's showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, the $400 million "fight of the century" with a place in boxing's pantheon of greats on the line.
More than five years in the making, it's an epic clash of styles and personalities, pitting the craftsmanship and defensive savvy of "Money" Mayweather against explosive southpaw Pacquiao -- an iconic figure in his native Philippines.
The welterweight world title unification bout looks set to smash boxing records for worldwide viewership and revenue, with Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum predicting it could generate as much as $400 million.
With a 60-40 purse split in favor of Mayweather, the unbeaten American stands to make an eye-watering $150 million and Pacquiao $100 million.
Fanned by instant Internet publicity and social media, global interest in the contest has skyrocketed.
The precious 500 tickets for seats at the 16,800-capacity MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas that were put on sale directly to the public at face values ranging from $1,500 to $10,000 sold out in minutes.
Promoters are even selling 10,000 tickets to Friday's weigh-in, at $10 a pop.
The audience on fight night will read like a who's who of A-list celebrities, casino high-rollers and others with the wherewithal to snaffle tickets that are going at secondary sales outlets such as StubHub for as much as $100,000.
The staggering financial figures and celebrity sideshows have only boosted the fight's cross-over appeal.
The build-up has focused on such minutiae as Mayweather's custom-made mouth guard, infused with diamonds and gold, and the $2 million-plus Pacquiao will rake in for advertising on his trunks.
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