Sunday, May 3, 2015

STARS ASSEMBLY FOR MAYWEATHER IN LAS VEGAS ON SATURDAY

The stage is set at the MGM Grand Arena ahead of the richest fight in boxing history between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao
The stage at the MGM Grand Arena before the richest fight in boxing history
 
A ticket worth fighting for! Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber and Jay Z lead the stars as a host of VIPs descend on Las Vegas for Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao's historic boxing bout

Having already been dubbed the 'Fight of the Century', Saturday night's Las Vegas boxing bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao quickly became not only a showdown between two of today's most celebrated fighters, but also a testament to stars' true celebrity status.


The VIP crowd making their way to the desert gambling haven's MGM Grand Garden Arena was littered with so many big names from the movie, music and modelling worlds that the momentous sporting event could easily have been mistaken for a glittering Hollywood awards show.

And after disembarking from their countless private jets - and, for the humble few, first class seats - the likes of Justin Bieber, Mark Wahlberg, Ben Affleck and Jay Z and Beyoncé watched from their coveted ringside seats as Floyd beat Manny on points in the richest fight in history at $300 million.
 Power couple: Beyoncé and Jay Z soaked up the atmosphere ahead of the mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Mary J. Blige, right, was also caught on camera
Power couple: Beyoncé and Jay Z soaked up the atmosphere ahead of the mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Mary J. Blige, Nicki Minaj were also caught on camera

Buddies: Shortly before the highly anticipated fight, pop star Justin Bieber posted to Instagram a photo taken of him with Floyd Mayweather
Buddies: Shortly before the highly anticipated fight, pop star Justin Bieber posted to Instagram a photo taken of him with Floyd Mayweather

Minaj-esty: Rap superstar NickI Minaj made quite the eye-catching entrance as she strolled to her seat later than most other attendees
NickI Minaj made quite the eye-catching entrance as she strolled to her seat later than most other attendees

The Fighter: Mark Wahlberg, who backed Manny Pacquiao in the fight, and met up with Antoine and Jake ahead of the huge fightMark Wahlberg, who backed Manny Pacquiao in the fight, and met up with Antoine and Jake ahead of the huge fight

Highly anticipated: Hollywood actor Robert De Niro, a huge boxing fan, sat patiently in his seat as he waited for things to kick off
Hollywood actor Robert De Niro, a huge boxing fan, sat patiently in his seat as he waited for things to kick off
Date night: Sean 'Diddy' Combs and his girlfriend, Cassie, were among the attendees
Sean 'Diddy' Combs and his girlfriend, Cassie

A showboat-load of celebrities were among the 16,000 spectators spirited into ringside through a back door.
Ten grand - the reported price of seats at the cavernous arena - is peanuts for the likes of Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Matt Damon, Jamie Foxx, Rihanna, Donald Trump, et al.


Not all the famous boxers in the building are flush these days – certainly not Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield – but even though their tickets had to be paid for the bill for some was being picked up by promoters Mayweather or Bob Arum or private benefactors.

Mike Tyson knows a thing or two about huge boxing fights, and he was present at ringside at the MGM
Mike Tyson knows a thing or two about huge boxing fights, and he was present at ringside at the MGM
Actor Michael Keaton (left) poses for a photo alongside boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard (right)
Actor Michael Keaton (left) poses for a photo alongside boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard (right)

Basketball legend Michael Jordan is joined by wife Yvette Prieto at the MGM Grand to watch the fight
Basketball legend Michael Jordan is joined by wife Yvette Prieto at the MGM Grand to watch the fight

Former tennis star Andre Agassi takes his seat as a plethora of famous faces gathered together to watch the fight

Actress Drew Barrymore joins the crowd before the start of the world welterweight championship bout
Actress Drew Barrymore joins the crowd before the start of the world welterweight championship bout
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, husband of Gisele Bundchen, was one of many stars who made their way to Las Vegas
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, husband of Gisele Bundchen, was one of many stars who made their way to Las Vegas
Of course American billionaire Donald Trump wasn't going to miss the fight - along with wife Melania
American billionaire Donald Trump wasn't going to miss the fight - along with wife Melania
Model Charlotte Mckinney poses ringside ahead of the richest fight in boxing history on Saturday night

American socialite Paris Hilton was filmed making her way into the building and will be in attendance
Formula One star Lewis Hamilton watches the fight from ringside with businessman Sir Phillip Green
Formula One star Lewis Hamilton watches the fight from ringside with businessman Sir Phillip Green
He's got a golden ticket: Denzel Washington took his coveted place ringside
Denzel Washington took his coveted place ringside 
He's got a golden ticket: Ben Affleck smiled for the cameras as he waited
Ben Affleck smiled for the cameras

 Fighting fit: Jake Gyllenhaal, left, and director Antoine Fuqua, right, put their best fists forward as they posed together ahead of the bout
Jake Gyllenhaal, left, and director Antoine Fuqua, right, put their best fists forward as they posed together ahead of the bout
There were so many household names in attendance that the rest of us felt we were in thy minority and they were looking around wondering who we might be.

Joining De Niro and Co were superstars such as Denzel Washington, Nicki Minaj, Paris Hilton, Jesse Jackson, Jake Gylenhaal, Mark Wahlberg and Donald Trump.

The spectacle may have looked more like the Oscars than a boxing event, but of course many sports stars also made their way into the arena. New England Patriots quarter-back Tom Brady, former tennis star Andre Agassi and basketball legend Michael Jordan were pictured.



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