The following is the Boxing Insider special edition notebook for the upcoming Mayweather vs. Pacquiao super bout, set for May 2nd in Las Vegas, Nevada. This notebook covers most of the news and notes that have been emerging from their respective camps for the weeks of April 1st to April 14th.

Manny Pacquiao Releases Music Video for Fight Walkout Song

Manny Pacquiao’s love of singing has been well documented with prior live performances on the live talk show circuit and even a live concert immediately after his bout with Shane Mosley. Pacquiao ha just released a music video for his song “Lalaban Ako Para Sa Filipino” which he recorded for his walkout music for his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

In English the song means “I Fight for the Filipino People” and it can be viewed online here.

Floyd Mayweather’s 2015 Earnings Will Shatter All-Time Record for Athlete Pay

The Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao bout is expected to bring in about $74 million in gate receipts, four times more than the previous record of Mayweather vs. Alvarez in 2013, and the foreign rights to the fight were sold for a record $35 million.

If the pay-per-view buy rates reach the level of what the promoters expect, Mayweather will earn at least $150 million and Pacquiao will earn more than $100 million. Mayweather’s earnings will translate to the biggest yearly earnings by an athlete ever, even more than the $125 million Tiger Woods made in 2008.

Dish and DishLatino Offering Pacquiao vs. Mayweather for Free

A lot of fans have been complaining about the high price of the upcoming Pacquiao vs. Mayweather pay per view which will cost as high as $99. However, new customers who switch to Dish or Dish Latino will get the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight at no extra charge when they mention the Offer Code “Boxing”.

More information on this offer can be found here.

Mayweather/Pacquiao: At Last Debuts on April 18th

HBO Sports will present Mayweather/Pacquiao: At Last on Saturday, April 18th. This one-hour special will detail the six year journey to the most-anticipated fight of the century between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd.

It will debut at 11:45 p.m. ET immediately following the HBO Boxing After Dark doubleheader. The film will be narrated by Liev Schreiber.

A preview of this show can be found here.

Mayweather/Pacquiao Fight Tourism Stats: Vegas Hotel Prices Skyrocket for May 1st and May 2nd

Las Vegas prices have been skyrocketing since the fight had been announced and Sin City is set to reap an economic windfall from the fight of the century. Fight tickets are expected to go for $1,500 to $7,000. Five star hotels such as Aria and Wynn Las Vegas have seen a $700 room rate increase.

Other ways Las Vegas Tourism is being affected by the May 2nd fight fight announcement is a 660 percent increase in searches, and a 954 percent room booking increase. Two star hotels such as El Cortez and Golden Gate Hotel & Casino see a $200 room rate increase, with 568 rooms booked in two days on vegas.com’s website on February 20 and 21, when only 52 rooms were booked for May 1st on the two days’ previous.

Freddie Roach: Floyd Pool Workouts a sign that he knows Manny is taking him into deep water

Floyd Mayweather recently released footage on his instagram account of him training in the pool and using techniques that he has never used before. Freddie Roach saw this footage and released the following statement:

“Sounds like we should start calling him Floyd ‘Flipper’ Mayweather,” said Hall of Famer and seven-time Trainer of the Year World-Famous Freddie Roach. 

“Team Mayweather would be wise to add a lifeguard to their corner on fight night, because Manny is taking ‘Mr. 47 and 1’ into deep water.  Swimming lessons or whatever he thinks he is doing will not help him survive the shark-infested waters he will be entering on May 2.  I’m betting his little buddy Justin Bieber will be walking him into the ring singing this.

HBO Sports to Replay Three of Pacquiao’s Classic Bouts

HBO Sports has announced that they will replay three of Manny Pacquiao’s classic bouts. These include Pacquiao vs. Bradley II from 2014, Pacquiao vs. Cotto in 2009, and Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya in 2008. These bouts will be broadcast on HBO2 and will be available on HBO On Demand as a special preview to the upcoming Mayweather vs. Pacquiao pay-per-view event.

Justin Bieber to Make Music Announcement During Mayweather Fight

One of Floyd Mayweather’s biggest supporters, Justin Bieber, has announced that he will make an announcement on his new music during the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight via social media while the fight is happening.

What the announcement is about is still pure speculation and Bieber is clearly using his friendship with Mayweather to help further his career.

More information can be found here.

Pacquiao Hounded Over Tax Affairs Ahead of Clash with Mayweather

The Philippines government is still chasing Manny Pacquiao over alleged unpaid taxes as he prepares for his bout with Floyd Mayweather.
Pacquiao is the highest tax payer in the Philippines Government, but they government is looking for tax payments stretching back seven years. It is alleged that Pacquiao owes up to 2.2 billion pesos in unpaid taxes for 2008 and 2009. Pacquiao’s lawyers dispute this and claim he has paid taxes in the United States.

More information can be found here.

Manny Pacquiao Brings in Ex UFC Fighter as a Sparring Partner

Manny Pacquiao has enlisted the help of one-time UFC fighter and current professional boxer Doshon Johnson as a sparring partner. Johnson is a super middleweight and has been sparring with Pacquiao for the last two weeks.

Johnson told Ring Magazine, “Pacquiao’s work ethic isn’t like anything I’ve ever seen. He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve been around.”