Vegas buzzing over ultimate bout

Boxing is a great way to measure time, with iconic fights happening only once every decade or so.

In the 1970s, the epic match-up between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier set the benchmark, then in the 80s it was Sugar Ray Leonard v Thomas Hearns and in the 90s there was Mike Tyson v Evander Holyfield.

The entertainment capital of the world is buzzing with anticipation as the biggest fight in boxing history is about to take place between American Floyd Mayweather and US-based Filipino Manny Pacquiao.

I have been to Las Vegas many times, I have fought here early in my career and I have been lucky to sit close to the action with my dad a few times in important bouts.

But I have never experienced such a thrilling atmosphere.

People are jetting in from all over the world to watch the most anticipated sporting event in decades.

To give you an idea of just how crazy the boxers’ purses are, Mayweather stands to earn $US5 million ($6.34 million) a minute and Pacquiao $3.3 million a minute.

The event is set to generate more than $400 million. Floyd’s share is $180 million and Manny walks away with a handy $120 million.

Ringside seats front row are being scalped for $100,000. I cannot get my head around that.

These two have been on a collision course for a long time. The boxing world has been waiting nearly six years for this fight.

Floyd Mayweather. Picture: Getty Images

Since 2009 there have been several negotiations fall through because of money, drug testing and ego issues.

Speculation surrounds just how the two finally agreed to fight, with one story circulating that Floyd set up a “coincidental” meeting at a basketball game in Miami, where Manny happened to be. Floyd walked up to Pacquiao at half-time and they spoke, exchanged numbers, met later that evening in Manny’s hotel room and fleshed out the beginning of negotiations.

That “chance” meeting at the game courtside at half-time was the first time the pair had met. I have bumped into many Aussies who are here to watch the fight, regardless of whether they have tickets.

At Brisbane Airport, I was chatting to a bloke who was taking his wife to watch it at a bar on the Strip just to be a part of history.

The streets are crawling with people wearing their favourite fighter’s merchandise and the calamity that normally exists around a big fight here has well and truly escalated. Almost everyone I know has been asking about “who will win” or “are you watching it”.

It’s hard to explain why this event has created such incredible hype and expectation. I had a close call with Mike Tyson’s car yesterday as he zoomed out of the carpark at the MGM Grand Casino, being hounded and harassed by literally 100 people.

The whole side of the MGM Grand Casino is a billboard for the fight. Poker machines and blackjack tables are branded for the fight with the fighters’ images, merchandise for the event is selling like hot cakes and the guys who make the fake ones and sell them on the Strip are earning a stack. Tickets to just see them weigh in cost $1000.

Manny Pacquiao. Picture: Getty Images

My prediction is that Manny will come out firing from the get-go in a bid to rattle Floyd’s cage early and keep the pressure on him and make Floyd come out of his incredible defensive shell and trade with Manny.

After a tumultuous 3-5 rounds, Floyd will get his eye in and find his rhythm and begin to pick his aggressive and brave opponent off and score a unanimous but close points decision that will have the fans screaming for more.

I could only imagine the nerves both boxers are feeling right at this moment.

Both will earn ridiculously high purses for the fight, win, lose or draw.

People may think they are overwhelmed just to earn so much in one fight and the passion for victory may be diluted. But the reality is these two athletes are competitive beasts, supremely driven and will stop at nothing to win this fight.

That is why they are in this position — they possess something rare and special.

They have fought similar opponents on five occasions, against future hall of famers and multiple world champions with different endings but both victorious each time.

We all want to see who the best is when that first bell sounds to begin the action.

Like millions across the globe, I will be on the edge of my seat.