On Friday, February 20, 2015, Floyd Mayweather officially announced on the shots app that he will be fighting Manny Pacquiao for the lineal Welterweight crown on May 2.
“What the world has been waiting for has arrived. Mayweather vs. Pacquiao on May 2, 2015, is a done deal,” Mayweather announced.
After weeks of speculation and nail-biting anticipation from boxing fans, Mayweather finally announced the fight fans have been asking for since 2009.
The fight will take place at the MGM Grand, is being promoted jointly by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank, and will be shown live on Showtime and HBO pay-per-view.
The two networks have not worked together to present a boxing fight since the 2002 Heavyweight showdown between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson.
“I am glad my decision to meet with Manny and discuss making this fight happen helped get the deal done,” said Mayweather in a press release.
“Giving the fans what they want to see is always my main focus. This will be the biggest event in the history of the sport,” said the 37-year-old of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Mayweather is the undefeated WBC, WBA and RING Welterweight champion and most recently fought against Marcos Maidana in May and September of 2014.
Pacquiao, who was knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez at the end of 2012, is coming off 2014 wins against Timothy Bradley–in which won back the WBO crown–and Chris Algieri.
“I am very happy that Floyd Mayweather and I can give fans the fight they have wanted for so many years,” said the 36-year-old Filipino superstar via Twitter.
The fight will look to be a record-breaking pay-per-view event as even mainstream sports media and mainstream fans have asked for the two best fighters in the world to step in the ring.
Broadcast team for #MayweatherPacquaio, per sources: Jim Lampley, Al Bernstein and Roy Jones. @Max_Kellerman and Jim Gray reporting.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) February 21, 2015
In a recent tweet, Chris Mannix reported that the announcement team will include Jim Lampley, Al Bernstein, and Roy Jones, with Max Kellerman and Jim Gray reporting.
Mannix also reported that Floyd Mayweather will wear eight-ounce Grant gloves, while Pacquaio will wear eight-ounce Cleto Reyes Gloves.
Showtime’s Jimmy Lennon Jr. also revealed that we will be sharing ring announcement duties with HBO’s Michael Buffer.
Stay with RBRBoxing.com as we provide more details and analysis leading up to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.
