Pacquiao vs Mayweather: Three belts and a historic fifth crown on the line

The years of boxing showdown between Manny Pacquiao manufacturing and Floyd Mayweather, a fight that has long plagued boxing fans in vain, is finally on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Mayweather announced the fight, listed as one of the most anticipated boxing history on Friday night through a social media application called Shooting in which he is an investor. "What the world has been waiting for has arrived," wrote under the photo of the signed contract. "Mayweather vs Pacquiao on May 2, 2015, is a fact."

The clash between these two legends has been brewing for years. But something, whether it was drug testing, the magnitude of the cuts purse or cable network would air on pay-per-view-always put the fight against the ropes.

Reapers flew verbal and guilt moving back and forth as to who was ducking whom. There were times when it seemed that the fight would never happen. Mayweather, who is 47-0 in his career with 26 knockouts, is now 37 years old. Pacquiao, 36, is 5.2.57, but lost two fights in 2012 and embarked on a second career as a congressman in the Philippines.

Many experts and exasperated boxing fans had given up the fight.

So how this fight finally happen?

After 2012 knockout loss to Pacquiao Juan Manuel Marquez, a fighter who easily dispatched with Mayweather, Pacquiao lost leverage. In addition, the numbers of Mayweather pay-per-view have immersion. Now in the fifth fight of his six fight with Showtime, Mayweather was also running out of opponents.

Many experts believe that boxing Mayweather fiercely wants to protect his undefeated record. Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, once complained "the fight will happen when Mayweather, who has a great eye for boxing, detects a serious decline in the skills of Pacquiao." After the defeat of Pacquiao and his less than stellar recent performances, "Pacman" no longer seemed miniature human wrecking that decimated the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley ball.

After his second victory over Marcos Maidana in September, Mayweather briefly opened the door to fight Pacquiao, but then became mum on the subject. However, according to Arum, CBS, Showtime matrix, company was willing to make this fight and beat backroom negotiations along. This winter, check out Pacquiao wish list Mayweather, a 60/40 split of the purse money, random drug testing, and even the type of gloves to be used during combat.

The advance may have arrived on 27 January, when Mayweather and Pacquiao both attended the same game Miami Heat. They exchanged phone numbers and spoke privately. Then the momentum towards the fight seemed to increase dramatically.

Critics say that this fight would have been better if these rivals had collided when both were at the peak of his art from destruction. Age certainly has nibbled at the edges of its hypersonic speed but his supreme skills are intact and all admit that there is nothing bigger than this fight.

The vitality of professional pugilism depends megafights to corner the interest of the general sports fans. The last fight I approached this level of interest was the 2002 clash between Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis. But financially speaking, is expected to welterweight showdown to dwarf that showdown.