By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
The contest is expected to gross $120 million.
There is no belt on offer for the winner of this welterweight fight, but the eventual prize could be a showdown with Filipino Manny Pacquiao to decide who is the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
The Mayweather v Mosley clash has ignited widespread interest across the United States. Both men are shoo-ins for boxing’s Hall of Fame, the two most recognisable American fighters on the planet, with 12 world titles between them.
Fifty of their contests have been shown on Home Box Office, the television home of major fight nights in the US. Sky Sports are showing the contest live in the UK.
Mayweather, a boxing genius, remains a cash cow for the television companies. In his last six fights, Mayweather has generated 5.5 million pay-per-view buys, or $292 million (£191 million) of revenue.
He has averaged $48.6 million in pay-per-view revenue for those half-dozen fights. It puts him at the top of the all-time revenue list, according to Mark Taffett, head of HBO’s pay-per-view sports programming.
Mayweather’s TV pulling power is reflected in his purse. His basic fee is $22.5 million, but if pay-per-view buys add up to 1.5 million, he will earn $40 million.
If interest in the fight accelerates in the last 24 hours, as it often does, the 33 year-old could earn just under $60 million.
Mayweather talks like he fights. Slick. “Be smart, be sharp and fight hard. I just happen to be an athlete that’s God-gifted.
“I’m the biggest thing. I take less punishment, I land the highest percentage and I work the hardest. As far as drawing power and superstardom, me and Shane are not on the same level.”
In hard financial terms, he is right, but Mosley could still win this fight.
A points victory over the championship distance for Mayweather is on the cards, though Mosley looks primed for the fight of his life.
The issue is whether, at 38, it has come too late for him against Mayweather, who is adept at the art of defending.
Meanwhile, ITV confirmed on Friday that they will broadcast live Amir Khan’s World Boxing Association light-welterweight title defence – which will also be his US debut – against Paulie Malignaggi, at Madison Square Garden in the early hours of May 16.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
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