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CNN's Rachel Nichols and ESPN's Michelle Beadle say they've been banned from the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight

Cork Gaines
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao

(Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Just hours before Saturday night's long-anticipated fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, both Rachel Nichols of CNN and Michelle Beadle of ESPN and HBO announced on Twitter that they've been "banned" from the fight.

While they didn't explain the reason for the alleged ban, they've both been prominent in the discussion on Mayweather's history of domestic violence.

Beadle and Nichols posted the news within minutes of each other, with both claiming that Mayweather's camp — which is the lead promoter of the fight through Mayweather Promotions — was responsible for the decision.

Both the MGM Grand and Mayweather Promotions have not responded to requests to comment. However, Kelly Swanson, who is a member of Mayweather's PR team, took to Twitter to strongly deny that Beadle and Nichols had their credentials blocked.

According to George Willis of the New York Post, media credentials were only distributed in the past two weeks and they came with no guarantee that the holders would be seated in the arena.

It is unclear if there are other credentialed reporters who won't be in attendance.

Even if there was no guarantee for seating, and even if they do still have credentials, as Swanson asserts, both Nichols and Beadle seem pretty sure it was Mayweather's camp that singled them out for exclusion from the arena.

Shortly after her first tweet, Nichols posted an interview she conducted with Mayweather prior to his fight with Marcos Maidana last September. She asks him hard questions about his history of domestic violence. The interview begins at the 1:44 mark.


Beadle told SportsGrid about why she was denied attendance to the fight:

"They didn’t say in so many words, as much as they’re not fans of our hot takes? Honestly, not surprised. No one likes to be reminded of the horrible things they’ve done. I’m honored to be linked to Nichols.”

Beadle has made several comments on Twitter about Mayweather's history of domestic abuse and has also stated that she wouldn't buy the pay-per-view for the fight.

[UPDATE] Beadle has since tweeted that she has been told by HBO that her credential was "re-approved" but that she had already returned home and will not attend the fight.

Nichols later released this statement via Twitter reaffirming her stance that she was being denied a credential for the fight and that the Mayweather camp only reversed their stance after "significant backlash." She also says she will not attend the fight:

"Have had a bunch of folks asking questions about the Mayweather issue. Here's what happened: After asking tough questions of Floyd Mayweather on my program, I was not offered press credentials to cover tonight's fight. In an email dated April 23, I was told I would only be credentialed for the run-up events through the week, but in bold, italic letters the email stated "you do not have any access Saturday to any services or events." A CNN producer revisited the issue with the Mayweather camp on April 29, confirming to Mayweather's publicist that I would be in Las Vegas, and the publicist replied that I would still be denied a fight night credential. I was told the same thing when I arrived at the credential office in person on May 1, by two separate officials, in front of several other people. It doesn't surprise me that now, after facing significant backlash, the Mayweather camp has reversed its position. But despite this, and other outside parties generously offering me their seats, I will not attend the fight. I will also not let fear of retaliation prevent me from asking the tough questions the public deserves answers to in the future."

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