How to Watch Mayweather Pacquiao
It's taken six years, but we're nearly there. To put it in context, if you had invested all of your money in Apple when Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao negotiations first began in 2009, you would now own ten times that wealth.
It'd likely still take a significant chunk of those earnings to buy a ticket for the fight, and a spare a thought for our American cousins for whom the much anticipated mega-bout will cost between $90 and $100 from the comfort of their own living rooms. The 'fight for the fans' is truly upon us.
With viewers in the States set to sip budgetarily-enforced Colt 45s as they watch the most hotly anticipated fight of this century, across the Atlantic we've been left off rather lightly in terms of PPV costs; Mayweather vs Pacquiao will cost €24.95 on Sky Sports Box Office, which is the only place Irish fight fans can observe the fight legally.
To put it in perspective, it's the same price as many poor folks such as ourselves paid for David Haye versus Audley Harrison in 2010 - where there were a grand total of zero punches landed in the opening two rounds - or November's snooze-fest between arch rivals Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew.
How to watch Mayweather Pacquiao: Option 1
Set an alarm
The coward's option.
'Money' Mayweather and Pac-Man will likely enter the ring any time after 5am, but we advise setting your alarm for closer to 4 so you can take in what's set to be an elaborate and spectacular build up to Saturday night's megafight. Keep an eye out for famed MCs Michael Buffer and Jimmy Lennon Jr's first collaborative introduction since Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson in 2002.
When you sit down bleary-eyed and disorientated, open your tub of Ben and Jerry's and weep at what your life has become, when you can't even stay awake for the biggest fight of the 21st century.
How to watch Mayweather Pacquiao: Option 2
Stay awake
Battle the conditions. With the event kicking off on Sky Sports Box Office at midnight, the five hour haul to the main event will be taxing on both body and soul. The €24.95 price tag might be too steep for some solo television viewing, and companionship is recommended for both emotional and financial reasons.
If you are on your own and don't wish to contribute to the $200m or so Floyd Mayweather is expected to earn in 36 minutes or less at the MGM Grand on Saturday night, there may be First Row seats available in shady pockets of the world wide web but we wouldn't know about that. Regardless, if you can't stay awake for the Fight of the Century, you don't belong in the VIP League. Cough.
Warning: Having to explain that you missed the undefeated pound-for-pound king taste the canvas for the first time due to a lag in your dodgy stream would be heartbreaking, and in some circumstances a full legal confession.
