The boxing matchup between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao was the fight many sports fans waited impatiently for many years to see.
Once the two sides agreed to face off, the event became a corporate event designed to generate as much money as possible for the parties involved, which meant the average boxing fan would have to pay a heavy price tag to witness the festivities.
Some may call it greed, but the actions of the parties' involved in planning this event, showed from the start that their goal was to reap a huge financial payday.
Pay-per-view purchases were projected to account for the largest part of the event's estimated sales. The suggested price was $100, with the potential for 3 million pay per view buys or more which could generate $300 million plus.
Tickets for the fight at the MGM Grand were expected to generate a total of $70 million, according to The New York Times. International broadcasts were projected to bring in $35 million, and licensing fees for closed-circuit broadcasts could produce another $13 million.
Sponsorship revenue was expected to reach $12 million, and another $1 million was expected from merchandise sales.
The fighters were expected to receive massive paydays, with early estimates placing Mayweather and Pacquiao's combined pay at $200 million prior to fight week.
During a fight week press conference, Mayweather said the fight could earn him $200 million overall.
Even the pre fight weigh in, which has offered free admission in the past on a first come first serve basis, had a price tag of $10, with the proceeds scheduled to go to charity. On the secondary ticket market, the same $10 weigh in ticket sold for between $200 to $400 prior to the event.
According to various reports, the release of tickets for sell to the general public was delayed and in a limited capacity, with only 500 to 1,000 out of about 17,000 seats being made available and that allotment reportedly sold out in 60 seconds.
Despite the hype and increased financial cost, boxing fans still wanted to see the fight, the corporate event feel continued on fight night as a number of celebrities made the trek to Las Vegas, including Robert Deniro, Jon Voight, Jay Z and Beyonce, Mary J Blige, Michael J Fox, Denzel Washington, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, Tom Brady, Shawn Combs and many others.
Many boxing fans thought the fight happened five years too late, with both fighters past their prime, but Mayweather had his own idea on the timing of the fight.
"Why won't you guys just say that Floyd was the smart one?" Mayweather was quoted as saying. "Five years ago this was a $50 million fight for me and a $20 million fight for him (Pacquiao)."
If his calculation is correct, then waiting for five years made Floyd Mayweather an additional $150 million.
Then there was the angle that various media types took to promote the fight, "Good (Pacquiao vs. Evil (Mayweather).
Prior to the fight, many members of the press scrutinized Mayweather's life and career inside and outside the ring including his past which has incidents of domestic abuse and incarceration.
There seemed to be a split amongst boxing fans when it relates to Mayweather's episodes with domestic abuse, some do not condone his actions but consider the issue to be in the past and not related to his boxing skills. While others are simply disgusted with him being connected with domestic abuse at all and refuse to support Mayweather in any fashion.
While the media's focus on Pacquiao was about his ongoing declaration about his Faith in God and how he has rededicated himself as a Christian. The Philippine legend seemed to fit the bill as the right man to finally take down to take Mayweather and his evil empire.
What many do not take into account is that when two fighters step into the ring, the burden of proof falls on the athletes.
While people were looking for the old Pacquiao to appear, he was actually a shell of his former self. Now it has been reported that Pacquiao entered the ring with an injured shoulder, but his group checked ''no'' a day before the fight on a Nevada Athletic Commission questionnaire asking if he had a shoulder injury.
Mayweather's style of boxing may not be the most exciting, he knows how to dissect an opponent and find a way to win. He showed that ability once again on May 2, for the 48th consecutive time.
Is he the best ever, perhaps not, but his body of work has shown that he has to be considered perhaps the best of his generation.
The question has to be asked as additional details continue to be released about what took place behind the scenes, can all of the blame to dupe the general public to buy into this colossal hype machine be placed on one man, Floyd Mayweather? Or were there additional parties involved prepared to run to the bank and cash their check as well? Take a moment to ponder that thought and get back to me.