City Spy: Rupert Murdoch loses out at Mayweather -Pacquiao's fight of the century

After weeks analysing the crowd photos in the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight, Forbes has worked out who got the best seats.

No surprise to see hedge-fund squillionaire Paul Tudor Jones snagged the prime ringside position, alongside Mandalay Entertainment chief Peter Guber.

But who’s that behind Tudor Jones in a slick, open-neck shirt? Our very own retail tycoon Sir Philip Green. Under Armour sportswear boss Kevin Plank also got a primo view.

But there’s a surprise appearance making do with one of the “cheaper” seats: Rupert Murdoch, sitting with an obscured view six rows behind one of the corner pads.

Other billionaires included casino tycoon James Packer, son of Rupert’s Aussie media mucker, the late Kerry Packer. By the looks of it, James got the better seat. Dad would be proud.

Those watching the likes of Cate Blanchett glide down the red carpet in Cannes this week were doubtless aware the annual movie bash is merely filler until the main event in March next year — the Mipim property jaunt.

But never fear, bricks and mortar types, a Japanese iteration of the shindig is taking place this week as agents swap champagne for sushi and abandon La Croisette for Tokyo.

The Greater London Authority and King’s College London are among those doing the mingling. Can we expect them to bring contracts for a few karaoke bars back with them?

For cold callers vying to bag a listing with a supermarket, here’s some handy advice: Gü founder James Averdieck reveals that the best time to get hold of buyer is between 1.30 and 2.30pm, after they’re contented from a hearty lunch and before their afternoon meeting.

Whether a fistful of gluttonous chocolate puddings helps prevent them slamming the phone down, he doesn’t mention.

He also offered a word for those selling up: leave before you become a spare part.

“When you sell your house, you don’t move into the attic but when you sell your business, people expect you to stay,” he says.

Spy better move its stuff out of the attic, then.

City Spy usually likes to point out a company’s inconsistencies, with hypocrites and back-pedallers bottom of our Christmas card list.

However, points for dull relentlessness go to Asda boss Andy Clarke, who yet again told us this week he won’t use “knee-jerk” promotional tactics to win back shoppers.

Clarke has used the description to disparage plucky, upstart rivals like Tesco so many times over the past three years that Spy wonders whether a knee-jerk reaction on the employment of his fluffy PR advisers is in order.