Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao are fighting a much-anticipated clash that will earn them a combined payday of $300m.Long lines of people queuing to get into the Las Vegas venue began hours before the bout, which has been billed as boxing match of the century.
Inside, those who bought some of the 500 tickets allowed to be sold to the general public - which sold out in a minute - are rubbing shoulders with celebrities and thousands of other fans connected to the promoters or the casino.
Among the famous faces in the audience are actors Ben Affleck and Bradley Cooper, and former boxing world champion Sugar Ray Leonard.
Many of those cheering for 36-year-old Pacquiao on the Strip on Saturday waved the flag of the Philippines, his home country.
Others waiting in line chanted "Man-ny!, Man-ny!" or "Floyd! Floyd!" before being asked to calm down by security guards.
The fight is the culmination of five years of negotiations between the Filipino and his unbeaten opponent.
Fans have been hoping to see the boxers in the ring since Pacquiao established himself as a legitimate welterweight power in 2009 by stopping Miguel Cotto.
On Friday the pair weighed in below the welterweight limit, with Mayweather coming in at 146lbs, one pound more than his rival.
They stared each other down before Pacquiao thanked his 38-year-old opponent, later saying: "I believe that the fight must happen because the fans deserve it."
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