ESPN reporter Michelle Beadle says she has been blocked from attending tonight’s Mayweather v. Pacquiao fight … and claims it’s all because she ruffled some feathers in Mayweather’s camp.
Floyd’s camp hasn’t explained why Beadle is blocked — but it seems it has to do with the fact Michelle has been critical of Floyd and his history with domestic violence.

CNN reporter Rachel Nichols says she has also been blocked from the fight — Nichols has suggested the ban has to do with the fact she pressed Mayweather on his violent past during an interview back in September.

That accusation was countered by Kelly Swanson, the longtime publicist for Mayweather and one of the most powerful figures in boxing. Swanson tweeted out the following: “No one including ME banned Rachel Nichols from covering the fight. And @MichelleDBeadle isn’t even on the press list. She’s credentialed through @HBOboxing. Yes credentialed. #Fact#2.”

Asked directly on Twitter by Bonnie Bernstein of Campus Insiders to clarify her comments—“Kelly, you’re saying Rachel Nichols/Michelle Beadle falsely claimed credentials were revoked?—Swanson tweeted, “Yes, that is what I am saying. They have credentials and still have them.”

UPDATE: Asked directly on Twitter by Bonnie Bernstein of Campus Insiders to clarify her comments—“Kelly, you’re saying Rachel Nichols/Michelle Beadle falsely claimed credentials were revoked?—Swanson tweeted, “Yes, that is what I am saying. They have credentials and still have them.”

When reached on Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles, Beadle said that wasn’t the case.

“There are emails,” Beadle said. “They lie. It’s their job. But I was banned.”

SI’s Chris Mannix obtained a copy Saturday afternoon of the MGM’s most recent seating chart circulated by promoters. Two CNN talents were listed as credentialed. Nichols was not one of them. Nichols had not responded to SI.com’s interview requests as of this writing, but on Saturday night, she tweeted the following:

“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.”