Mayweather v Pacquiao fight seals $300m record sponsorship deal

Titanic clash between two of the best pound-for-pound boxers in history is already set to smash a number of revenue records with the two fighters set to split a purse of $300m.

This fight is sure going to be a classic encounter with records set to be broken for revenue generated and money earned.

Over three million dollars ($300m) would be generated in pay-per-view sales in North America, with cable broadcasters HBO and Showtime showing the fight. International broadcast rights sales are expected to bring in a further $35m – UK viewers can catch the event for £19.95 on Sky Sports Box Office.

Record revenue is also expected to generate ($1m), from merchandise sales, ($13m) from commercial sponsorships and ($13m) closed-circuit screenings of the event in Las Vegas

The size of the two fighters’ purse depends on the eventual revenue raised by pay-per-view sales, but most estimates expect it to come in at around $300m, meaning Mayweather will take home a staggering $180m and Pacquiao around $120m after the pair agreed a 60/40 percent in favour of the American money man.

Mexican beer company Tecate is the fight biggest sponsor with a $5.6m deal, while the Mexican Tourism Board, Filipino telecoms company Smart Communications, Paramount Pictures and The Weinstein Company also signed deals.

Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank, promoters representing Mayweather and Pacquiao respectively – set the minimum bid for sponsorships at $1m.

Such is the desire to get the exposure of an audience that is expected to reach record levels for a pay-per-view fight that Pacquiao will even be sporting extra-long shorts to sport the names of companies’ paying him a collective $1.5m.

So it’s no surprise tickets to actually be inside the 16,800 capacity MGM Grand arena are soaring to astronomical levels, nor that the two main men are in for a record payday.

If the fight goes in longer time, it means the undefeated Mayweather would earn a mega sum of five million dollars ($5m) per minute.

The 38-year-old Mayweather is the highest-earning athlete in the world, with total career earnings from his exploits in the ring currently in excess of $400m. He made $105m from two fights in 2014 – he could well double this Sunday.

Filipino icon, Pacquiao has made around $340m in career earnings, but earns more money than his competitor from sponsorship deals. Mayweather does not have any endorsement deals – but Pacquiao is believed to make around $5m from various deals with Nike, Nestle and Foot Locker. His shorts is worth $1.5m of sponsorships.

 

Anthony Nlebem