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High Demand Socks Cable Companies Before Mayweather-Pacquiao Boxing Blockbuster

The fight had to be delayed 45 minutes after high demand for the pay-per-view blockbuster caused problems before the boxing match began.
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/ Source: NBC News

The stars shone ringside for the boxing blockbuster between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao Saturday, but pay-per-view demand dealt a blow pre-bout to fans watching at home.

"This is a fight the world has been waiting for," referee Kenny Bayless told both boxers before the bout, but the world had to wait a little longer than originally scheduled.

The main event was delayed about 30 minutes because of problems pay-per-view customers experienced while trying to order the fight. The pay-per-view price went for $100.

Related Story: Undefeated Mayweather Beats Pacquiao on Points

Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications and Cox Communications reported problems ahead of the main event and DirecTv directed viewers to a troubleshooting website.

One frustrated customer tweeted to Time Warner: "Why don't you want my $100? Can you make it any more impossible to legitimately buy the May-Pac fight." The company later acknowledged problems and urged its customers to be patient.

Image: Beyonce Knowles and Jay Z
Beyonce Knowles and Jay Z turn out for the 'Fight of the Century'.Al Bello / Getty Images

While all eyes were on Mayweather and Pacquiao, the mega-event was attended by an awards-show worthy collection of A-list celebrities, including Jay-Z and Beyonce, Clint Eastwood, Robert DeNiro and Denzel Washington. Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson also attended, as well as boxing great Mike Tyson.

Tyson was not impressed, using the Twitter hasthag "underwhelmed" after the long-anticipated fight ended in a decision, which went to Mayweather.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady pulled an overtime performance — attending the Kentucky Derby earlier in the day before making his way to Las Vegas to take in the fight in person. Three actors who played "Batman" or are planning to — Christian Bale, Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck — were in the crowd.

There weren’t just backups among cable and satellite operators ahead of the fight. Aerial photos showed private planes wingtip to wingtip at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, and KSNV reported on Friday that the airport was nearing capacity for private aircraft. The airport asked visitors to consider other airports.

Hours before the fight, McCarran Airport warned passengers that there are sure to be travel headaches on Sunday and Monday as fans fly out of Sin City. "Do us a favor & pack your patience," McCarran Airport said in a Tweet.

Mayweather and Pacquiao had been flirting with the fight for years.

They were scheduled to fight in 2010, but negotiations between their promoters fell apart, and then it got ugly: Mayweather suggested that Pacquiao was doping, and Pacquiao sued for defamation. They later settled.

— Phil Helsel

The Associated Press contributed to this report.