Public interest in boxing is firing up ahead of the scheduled fight between two of the sport’s greatest fighters: Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. and Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao.

Mayweather, 38, whom experts rank as the best pound-for- pound boxer in the world, is undefeated.

Pacquiao, 36, is ranked No. 3 as the pound-for-pound best fighter.

The long-awaited fight, which has taken more than five years to arrange, takes place this Saturday, May 2, in Las Vegas.

The hype surrounding the scheduled 12-round bout is on par

with the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier scraps — and with good reason given the two fighters’ records and the prospect this battle will settle which of them is the best.

Mayweather, the prefight favorite, is 47-0. The Michigan native has won championships in five weight divisions and currently holds the super welterweight and welterweight titles of both the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council.

Pacquiao is 57-5, with two draws. The Philippines native has won championships in a record eight weight divisions and currently holds the welterweight title of the World Boxing Orga- nization. An actor and singer as well, he also is a congressman in the Philippines.