Arum forecasts TV boom

LAS VEGAS – Sensing a boom in pay-per-view sales, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight here this morning (Manila time) could break the 2.4 million record hits generated by the Oscar de la Hoya-Floyd Mayweather bout in 2007 and will become the first non-heavyweight contest without the Golden Boy to breach the one million mark.

Only four non-heavyweight fights in history eclipsed one million pay-per-view subscriptions – De la Hoya’s bouts against Mayweather, Felix Trinidad, Pacquiao (1.25 million) and Bernard Hopkins.

With De la Hoya’s retirement, Pacquiao is considered the new pay-per-view king and HBO sports SVP Mark Taffet described the Filipino icon as “a breakthrough star” with still a lot of big fights in the horizon. In Taffet’s estimation, the basis for a “mega” fight is at least a million pay-per-view buys.

Arum told The Star yesterday the Pacquiao-Hatton fight should bring in at least 1.25 million pay-per-view hits.

“The all-time record is 2.4 million and that’s because the UK brought in 1.25 million,” said Arum. “If the British contribute as many buys for Manny’s fight, we could be looking at a new record. There is tremendous interest in this match as two countries are involved where the opposing fighters are considered heroes. It’s certainly a lot more competitive than Manny’s fight against Oscar which was a mismatch. This involves two warriors who like to come at each other.”

Arum denied rumors that British fans gobbled up 70 percent of the tickets at the fight venue, the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It was announced that over 25,000 British fans flew in but only about 5,000 bought tickets as the majority will watch the action on closed-circuit TV and party in bars.

“From what I know, Golden Boy sold 3,000 tickets to the British and Top Rank, another 3,000 to Filipinos,” said Arum. “The balance was taken by the MGM, casinos and the public. I think Americans will outnumber the British and Filipinos in the audience. I expect the crowd to go crazy.”

It was reported by Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer that Pacquiao’s purse is $12 million and Hatton, $8 million. But their split of all fight revenues, including the guaranteed purse and pay-per-view buys, is 50-50 only Pacquiao will take an additional two percent from the combined share of Golden Boy and Top Rank.

Arum and Golden Boy chief executive officer Richard Schaefer agreed to increase Pacquiao’s gross by two percent from their own shares when the 50-50 split became an issue with the Filipino’s camp.

“In a fight involving two warriors, anything can happen but Manny should and will win over Hatton,” said Arum. “Hatton’s size isn’t a concern. Manny was outsized by Oscar but look what happened. I believe in Manny’s team. I believe in Freddie (Roach) and my matchmaker Bruce (Trampler). I expect a hard fight but Manny’s faster and stronger. Hatton’s going down, face first, just like David Diaz did.”

Arum said the trash-talk initiated by Hatton’s brash trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. was just “background music” to the hype. “You expect that from Floyd,” said Arum. “Freddie doesn’t talk trash. Neither do Manny and Ricky who are decent guys. They’re beyond that.”

Arum confirmed that Pacquiao will watch the Miguel Cotto-Joshua Clottey fight for the WBO welterweight crown at Madison Square Garden on June 13 and receive the Fighter of the Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America the night before.

“There’s another reason why Manny wants to be at ringside,” said Arum. “One of his boys Rodel Mayol is challenging Ivan Calderon for the WBO lightflyweight title and Manny’d like to sit near his corner.”

Arum also said he is planning an Aug. 22 show at the outdoor San Francisco Giants baseball stadium featuring IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. and IBF lightflyweight titlist Brian Viloria against separate opponents.

“The Giants will be away on a road trip that week and the AT&T stadium will be available,” said Arum. “That’s where Manny recently threw out a ceremonial pitch before a Giants game.”