Fans to flock for Mayweather vs McGregor showdown

Kiwi fight fans will be glued to their screens for tomorrow's bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr, left, and Conor McGregor. Photo / AP

Fight fans will be on the edge of their seats, and packing into venues around the country, for tomorrow's showdown between Floyd "Money" Mayweather and Conor "The Notorious" McGregor.

Mayweather will be attempting to extend his professional boxing undefeated streak to 50-0 when he takes on two-division UFC champion McGregor. Coverage of the undercard starts from 1pm, with the main event set to begin at 4pm NZT.

SkyCity Auckland is screening what has been called "The Money Fight" in three venues, including twentyone bar - where New Zealand UFC fighter Dan "Hangman" Hooker will be hosting the event.

Hooker, 27, who competes in the UFC's lightweight division, will be providing fight commentary and analysis.

The fight will also screen at SkyCity Hamilton. Coverage will begin from 1pm at both sites.

"We know that UFC and boxing fans around the country have been excited about this fight for months. We're looking forward to seeing them," SkyCity communications advisor Rebecca Foote said.

And patrons at O'Hagans Irish Pub, on Auckland's Viaduct Harbour, will be hoping for the luck of the Irishman.

Day manager Melanie Wilson said interest in the fight was huge, possibly even rivalling the All Blacks v Lions series.

"The day it got announced, we already had emails coming through with people [wanting] to book tables... every day we've had a lot of phone calls [from] people trying to book tables and people asking if it's on," Wilson said.

And Wilson said of prospective patrons at the traditional Irish pub, screening the fight action from 1pm: "I think the majority of people are backing McGregor definitely."

Both fighters weighed in comfortably under the super-welterweight limit of 154 pounds (69.85kg) - McGregor at 153 pounds (69.39kg) and Mayweather at 149.5 pounds (67.81kg).

McGregor, 29, the reigning UFC lightweight champion - draped in an Irish flag - was first to make the walk to the scales in-front of a jam packed crowd at the T-Mobile Arena.

Mayweather, 40 - clad in his clothing brand "The Money Team" - walked out to Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight.

The bout will be take place in Las Vegas, at the 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena. The fight is expected to do huge numbers on pay-per-view. Up to 50 million people were reportedly expected to watch the bout in the United States alone.

The fight is being shown on pay-per-view in New Zealand.

nzherald.co.nz will have live updates of the fight.