FEW would imagine Boat Quay and pubs coming to life early on a Sunday morning but that is what's happening right now in Singapore.

Boxing fans are gathering in the watering holes along that iconic stretch by the Singapore River to catch the "Fight of the Century" - the long-awaited boxing bout between American Floyd Mayweather and Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao.

Just past 9am - the time the live telecast of the action at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Arena began with the undercard bouts - spectators began streaming in, with some, such as The Penny Black, at full capacity close to 9.30am.

Just past 10am, there was no more standing room inside The Penny Black and Dallas Restaurant and Bar, with fans spotted spilling out onto the sidewalk.

At Outback Steakhouse at Millenia Walk, a crowd of about 200 is also gathered around large screen. Among the crowd are local legend Syed Kadir and SEA Games boxer Muhammad Ridhwan.

Said Syed: "I support Manny. He's a good ambassador for boxing, very generous and I can tell he wants to win this match more and he's confident."

Ridhwan, on the other hand, backs Mayweather. He said: "I support Mayweather because he trains hard, has a lot of boxing intelligence and I like the way he approaches matches."

Even Harry's - the third bar at Boat Quay to screen the bout live - was filling up fast.

Other places screening the action include: Shanghai Dolly at Clarke Quay, Boomarang Bistro and Bar at Robertson Quay, Urban Fairways Golf Bar at Robinson Road and Muddy Murphy's Irish Pub at TripleOne Somerset.