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Mayweather Pacquiao rivalry featured on VICE TV's 'The Grudge'
Article
Manouk Akopyan
Manouk Akopyan
RingMagazine.com
Mayweather-Pacquiao rivalry featured on VICE TV's 'The Grudge'
The most commercially successful clash in combat sports history is getting commemorated.

VICE TV's newest series, "The Grudge," dives into the rivalry between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao in a half-hour episode that airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET. (Check here for streaming and replay information)

International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee and broadcaster Al Bernstein and boxing reporter Radio Rahim are among the individuals who provide commentary on the lead-up and aftermath of a bout that was billed as the "Fight of the Century." The episode is narrated by former NFL linebacker Will Compton.

“The Mayweather-Pacquiao saga is an iconic rivalry that captured the attention of not only boxing fans, but also spectators globally," Shane Ertter, content development manager for VICE Media and the executive producer of the show, told The Ring.


"It's the story of two undeniable boxing legends with very different upbringings and starkly different views of life. As we decided which high-stakes sports rivalries to feature in ‘The Grudge,’ Mayweather-Pacquiao felt like a no-brainer given the egos and drama involved. We relived the white-hot actions and attitudes that fueled the promotion of the historic boxing match and the physical fight between feuding superstars.”

VICE TV president Pete Gaffney told The Ring they'll continue to explore opportunities to fill their programming slate with compelling content in boxing and combat sports.

"We're excited to carry BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing on VICE TV, our first-ever live sports event series," said Gaffney. "This year, we will televise nine more BKB live events in primetime on VICE TV. VICE has long been known for its authentic, provocative sports programming in the combat sports space. Our hit professional wrestling docuseries 'Dark Side of the Ring' is now in its sixth season, and we premiered our MMA edition of the 'Dark Side' franchise 'Dark Side of the Cage' in January, and we partnered with the United Fight League earlier this month as its exclusive cable television outlet."

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao took place on May 2, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in front of a star-studded crowd of 16,219. The fight took place five years too late, but it still generated massive interest en route to a $72,198,500 gate, 4.6 million pay-per-view purchases at $100 a pop and more than $600 million in revenue — 60% for Mayweather, 40% for Pacquiao.

Although the bout was a blockbuster success, the money trail left a mixed bag of emotions because the fight failed to live up to the hype, as a 38-year-old Mayweather scored a workmanlike unanimous decision victory via scores of 116-112, 116-112, and 118-110. Mayweather outlanded him 148 to 81, and after the fight Pacquiao claimed he entered with an injured shoulder. The unreported development led people to pursue legal action alleging fraud.

Mayweather retired in 2017 at 50-0 after another blockbuster event and crossover clash against UFC star Conor McGregor.

Meanwhile, the Filipino workhorse and eight-division champion Pacquiao is still going at it. Pacquiao, 46, is ending a four-year retirement to face Mario Barrios on July 19, six weeks after he’ll be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan

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