Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

While in Vegas one gigantic sign in the middle of the strip grabbed Sideline Sid's attention, the huge photo image of Floyd Mayweather and 'Canelo” Alvarez on the side of the MGM Grand, told a little of the tale of the forthcoming biggest fight in money terms ever staged.

Last Saturday night (Sunday in New Zealand) in Vegas, two world champions put their undefeated records on the line in a light middleweight clash. Since the introduction of the Queensbury rules, which ultimately dispatched bare knuckle fights to the history books, the heavyweights reigned supreme in both prestige and purses. The heavyweight strangle-hold on professional boxing was first broken in the 1980's with the arrival of Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberta Duran, 'Marvelous” Marvin Hagler and Thomas 'The Hitman” Hearns in a series of super fights.

With the demise of the heavyweights in the last couple of decades, the glamour divisions have become the various Welterweight and Middleweight divisions. The 'Golden Boy” Oscar del la Hoya who turned a 1992 Olympic Gold into a fortune, led the way with a series of super fights in the 1990's and the new millennium. Father time caught up with the Golden Boy when he was beaten by the next version of super fighters in Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

The reality is that it's the punters who make the super fights. They are the ones who shell out the big bucks to watch ringside or grab a PPV. Vegas usually wins the bidding war to stage the super fights where the same punters leave their hard earned cash on the casino floor.

Last weekend all sorts of records in people making money from boxing were set. The fight was the biggest gate ever of $20million, shattering the previous live gate by a couple of million dollars set by de la Hoya and Mayweather in their clash in Vegas. It was also seen by an estimated by an estimated 1.6 billion viewers worldwide which also set a new record.

While we had to pay $29.95 to watch on Sky Arena in New Zealand, it was dirt cheap by comparison with what other punters paid around the globe. Seats at the fights averaged $1100, with stories circulating that ringside seats went for up to $30,000 on the black market. For those that wanted to be up and close and personal with the fight crowd at the MGM Grand and didn't have the big bucks for a seat, there was closed circuit viewing. A quick look on the internet last week showed that seats were going for between $150 and $500 apiece.

As one who shelled out the nearly NZ$30 to catch the action – was it worth it. Yes, Yes and Yes. The time differential of 16 hours ahead of Nevada meant that we got to see the action in midafternoon rather than have to sit up to the wee small hours for our big fights down under.

The undercard was superb. Two genuine world title fights and a quality contest between two evenly matched up and comers. All three build-up bouts went down to the judges' decision and provided a grand entrée to the main event. Also there was little time between fights which made for an action packed afternoon.

After the dramatics of two national anthems and the accompanying of the boxers to the ring by a musical parade apiece, the action began. While I never have been a 'Money” Mayweather fan as I feel he generates too many headlines outside the ring, he earned my attention with a dominant display of controlling the fight from the opening bell to the end. Alvarez simply wasn't allowed to get into fight with Mayweather seeming to be two steps ahead throughout.

The only part I couldn't understand was where the judge who scored the fight a draw, left his white cane. Respected commentator Colonel Bob Sheridan, who is a regular visitor to our shores, called it a shutout.

Was it value for money for the near thirty bucks that we shelled out to Sky Television – Hell Yeah.

Seeya at the Game