Sky snaps up rights to Mayweather-Pacquiao super-fight

UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has acquired exclusive rights for the highly anticipated welterweight world championship unification boxing clash between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao on May 2.

Sky will exploit the rights to the event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas via its Sky Box Office pay-per-view service.

Viewers will be able to access the fight for a price of £19.95 and €24.95 ($26.40) until midnight on Friday, May 1. After that, the price will remain the same for bookings via remote control and online platforms, but will cost £24.95 and €29.95 if booked over the telephone.

According to event promoter Bob Arum, the rights to the fight have also been sold in Pacquiao's home country of the Philippines for $10m to pay-television broadcaster Solar.

Arum added to US pay-television broadcaster ESPN yesterday (Tuesday) that about $300m is expected to be generated in pay-per-view buys in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, with foreign rights expected to bring in another $35m.