IT IS billed as the Fight of the Century.

People across the world will be on the edge of their seats when Floyd Mayweather junior and Manny Pacquiao finally face each other in the biggest - and richest - bout in boxing history.

But whilst tickets maybe like gold dust - one Hampshire boxing fan has ensured the memory of the encounter will stay with him for years to come.

By the time the titans of the fight game trade blows at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 2, the bout is expected to have generated £250million.

Devoted fans have gone to huge lengths to get tickets for the much-anticipated fight with ringside seats changing hands for as much as £100,000 each.

Although George Chapman cannot be there in person the encounter will remain forever with him after he decided to have a tattoo of the two boxers inked on to his left leg.

George, 22, from Coxford Drove, Southampton, describes himself as a huge boxing fan and is delighted with the £600 artwork.

“I can't wait for the biggest fight ever, which is why I got the Mayweather and Pacquiao piece done on my leg,” he told the Daily Echo.

“It's definitely my favourite tattoo.”

George, pictured below, a former student at Redbridge Community School and Southampton City College, who works as a sales assistant, already had a tattoo of Mike Tyson and is planning to add a few more boxers to his leg to form a sleeve, including Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Roy Jones junior and Ricky Hatton.

Daily Echo:

The Mayweather and Pacquiao tattoo was done by Mike Millward, of Ink'd Up and took 18 hours to complete, nine of them at Mike's studio in Shirley and the other nine at Portsmouth Tattoo Convention last weekend.

Mike, 28, said: “I think it might even be the best piece I have ever done. I'm really happy with the piece, even though it didn't win any awards.

“Of course I was disappointed, but I always am if I don't win. It's a great tattoo and has received a huge amount of positive attention on social media and boxing fan sites.”

The pair cannot wait for the bout which takes place on May 2 and are even planning to watch the fight together.