Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
Top Rank president Todd duBoef, Pacquiao's promotor, told Dan Rafael of ESPN that contracts with five title sponsors total a record $13.2 million. The previous sponsorship record is believed to be between $3.5 million and $4 million.
"We killed it, we blew it out of the water," Top Rank executive vice president of marketing Lucia McKelvey said.
The biggest sponsorship deal is with Tecate, the official beer of the fight, which is putting in $5.6 million. The Tecate logo will be featured prominently on the ring mat, and will be on fight signage and posters.
Paramount Pictures/Skydance Productions is promoting two movies: "Terminator Genisys" and "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation." The Weinstein Company is promoting a new film, "Southpaw." Trailers for those films will be broadcast between fights on the pay-per-view telecast.
The fight is also sponsored by the Mexican Tourism Board, Smart Communications and a Filipino telecom company.
The Digest
Everything you need to know about the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight
by
11h ago
Need to Know
- Bettors are banking on the fight ending in a draw. Odds have gone from 22-1 in February to 8-1 currently at the MGM sportsbook.
- The fight is official. It's going down. Tickets went on sale Thursday.
- Despite the heavy price tag, tickets available to the public sold out in less than a minute. Tickets for the weigh-in are slated to go on sale at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, April 24.
- Watching the fight from home also won't come cheap. The PPV will cost a record $89.95 for a standard version with high definition expected to add another $10 surcharge.
- Kenny Bayless has been appointed the fight's referee and he's no stranger to either Mayweather or Pacquiao. Burt Clements, Dave Moretti and Glenn Feldman will serve as the fight's judges and will have all eyes on them should the bout end in a decision.
- Mayweather took his cockiness to a new level in a conversation with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, suggesting he's better than Muhammad Ali while criticizing the boxing legend for using the rope-a-dope to beat George Foreman in the 1974 Rumble in the Jungle.
- Mayweather's history of domestic violence is reportedly fueling Pacquiao, according to Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer. Roach also has said that Pacquiao has learned from his losses, while Mayweather "hasn't learned anything yet."
- The two storied pugilists held their first and only press conference prior to the fight. It was a little dull, but it did feature an epic stare down.
- Mayweather has refused to agree to terms on a $5-million penalty if he or Pacquiao were to fail a drug test before or after their fight, Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz told ESPN.
- Although Mayweather opened as a huge favorite, heavy money placed on Pacquiao has led to a dramatic dip in Mayweather's odds of victory.
- A historic fight deserves a historic belt. World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman says a commemorative belt embroidered with either emeralds or platinum is being made for the winner. Apparently the fight also requires a $25,000 mouthguard.
Notable Predictions
Muhammad Ali: Pacquiao (more)Mike Tyson: Pacquiao (more)
Evander Holyfield: Pacquiao (more)
Roy Jones Jr.: Mayweather (more)
George Foreman: Pacquiao (more at Yahoo Sports)
Miguel Cotto: Pacquiao (more at CBSSports.com)
Shaquille O'Neal: Mayweather (more)
Mark Wahlberg: Pacquiao (more)
Tom Brady: Mayweather (more)
