Hollywood rolls out the red carpet for Mayweather-Pacquiao and what a scene it was
The Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight has gone Hollywood.
There was jostling and elbowing and curse words for this one. The fight before the fight, with reporters, several rows deep, trying to get microphones and recorders near Mayweather and Pacquiao.
The scene was insane, a red carpet in Hollywood that had all the elements of the Oscars, only there were just two stars for this show.
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
There aren't red carpets in boxing. There are the postgame press conferences, which was a scene to behold, but pre-fight hoopla, a la the Grammys, hasn't happened.
Not for Muhammad Ali. Not for Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield.
Not until Mayweather-Pacquiao.
The fight stands to gross $300 million. We've never seen anything like this in the boxing world. Not even close.
It was announced that ticket prices will start at $1,500 each. Even the Super Bowl has lower face-value seats.
Social media surely is largely responsible for the upswing in hype and hysteria that has blanketed this May 2 fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. A red carpet and press conference 53 days out was necessary. And worthy. And awesome.
Everyone from Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to Mayweather's cut man, Rafael Garcia, had a place strolling down the carpet at L.A. Live across from Staples Center. Even executives, like Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corp. He's considered the most instrumental person in making this fight happen, beside the two boxers, of course.
Pacquiao was more than an hour late for his scheduled arrival on the red carpet, which made Mayweather's time pushed back and frenzied folks trying to make everything come together for a live, nationally-televised press conference.
It was so celebrity-like.
Mayweather and Pacquaio each strolled down the Nokia Theatre aisles with the aid of hundreds of flashbulbs. Mayweather got to the press conference stage last. He's got everything just how he wants it for this fight. His name is first. His entrance is last. He makes more money. The usual when Mayweather headlines a fight. Even this one, which should be one for the ages.
The two first stood 10 feet apart, then faced each other a couple of feet apart in the ever present staredown portion of the press conference. They stared each other down for eight years with accusations about how the other was to blame for not making this fight happen.
In this meet-and-greet everyone played nice.
Pacquiao thanked God and talked about how he had gone from nothing to something. He didn't sling any mud.
The best barb came from Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer.
"This is the biggest challenge of my life," Roach said. "It's finally here. I've been looking forward to this for a long, long time. I'm going to get my fighter as ready as possible. We're going to kick his ass."
Mayweather smiled, then clapped.
Mayweather is undefeated at 47-0, and Pacquiao is 57-5-2.
"I've never wanted to win a fight so bad in my life," Mayweather said.
Then he went to the subtle jabs.
"One thing I do know about any sport is that when you lose, it's in your mind," Mayweather said. "If you lost once, it's in your mind. If you lost twice, it's in your mind. From Day One, I was always taught to be a winner. No matter what, to be a winner and push myself to the limit to stay focused."
It's been five years since a deal could be struck between their two camps, and it took a chance meeting between the two boxers at a Miami Heat game to get the ball rolling.
"It was a credit to everyone in boxing that we've been able to put on such an event," Arum said.
Mayweather echoed those sentiments, as did Pacquiao.
And when does anyone talk about camaraderie in boxing?
Like never.
This wasn't one of those mud-slinging, cursing, nose-to-nose, throw-you-off-stage press conferences. Hopefully that's coming to the MGM stage in Las Vegas on May 2.
Pacquaio didn't sing on his way to the stage. He did belt out a little tune when coaxed by a reporter on the red carpet to sing his usual "Sometimes When We Touch." He's set to sing his own entrance song at the fight.
After the press conference was over, Justin Bieber even showed up for photo opportunities. Of course, Bieber is a friend of Mayweather, but really, when is there an event where Bieber doesn't want to be seen?
Already this week, he's been in the desert for a tennis event during the BNP Paribas Open in the desert.
But this day was about two superstars and such an anticipated boxing fight, that a red carpet was rolled out for it.
"May 2, that's when the world stops," Mayweather said. "I want everyone to tune in. Mayweather-Pacquiao, the biggest fight in boxing history."
