Mosley-Mayweather weigh-in an event by itself
Floyd Mayweather (L) and Shane Mosley pose during the official weigh-in for their fight at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino. (April 30, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
LAS VEGAS - The hype surrounding the welterweight matchup between Floyd "Money" Mayweather and "Sugar" Shane Mosley on Saturday night at the MGM Grand has been relentless.
Millions of dollars in ad buys and radio and television commercials have peppered newspapers and sports airwaves for months now.
You can add Friday's weigh-in, carried live on ESPN, to the promotion.
An estimated crowd of 6,000 descended on the MGM Grand Garden Arena to witness Mayweather and Mosley step on to the scale. Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) came in at 146 pounds, while Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) weighed in at 147.
While it may not have been the largest crowd to witness two of the world's best fighters take the scale - an estimated 7,000 witnessed the Mayweather-Oscar de la Hoya weigh-in in 2007 - the weigh-in has become a major part of fight week.
"It's really a very good catalyst for pay-per-view," famed ring announcer Michael Buffer said. "It's live on ESPN and they'll replay it through the day . . . Locally it will build up a lot of interest, because a fight like this will have closed circuit at practically every hotel."
Buffer also pointed out the benefit for the hotel hosting the fight.
"It's a lot of juice for the hotel, because they get a lot of people to come in that are staying at different properties," he said. "There are probably 3,000 people that came here that [otherwise] wouldn't have come here today."
It's also an event that draws celebrities and other athletes. Jets defensive stars Kris Jenkins and Bart Scott attended the weigh-in. Several other boxers - retired and active - were in attendance, too, including Tommy Hearns, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, Joe Calzaghe, Sergio Mora and Andre Berto.
Boxing historian Bert Sugar said he was amazed at how large the weigh-in has become.
"They're an event. They're separate from the fight itself," Sugar said. "It used to be two guys in their underwear stand on the scale in the commissioner's office. It would be written down and announced to three members of the press who were pool reporters."
Sugar pointed to Muhammad Ali as the catalyst.
"Ali started all of this . . . It's on television, it's a separate event," he said. "Ali made it into this event and it's been growing ever since."
