Arum predicts record PPV buys

LAS VEGAS – If Floyd Mayweather can do 1.25 million pay-per-view buys, as reported, against someone like Victor Ortiz, there’s no reason why Manny Pacquiao can’t do more, against Juan Manuel Marquez.

It’s a far more interesting fight, and is tipped to be another classic.

 “I’m absolutely confident that this one will blow the others away,” said Top Rank’s Bob Arum in anticipation of some great numbers for Saturday’s highly awaited match.

Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound king, is also boxing’s biggest draw today, and a third match with Marquez, his chief nemesis inside the ring, is a must-see for boxing fans.

Tickets to Saturday’s fight have been sold out.

“It looks like the results that are coming in are so great that this is clearly, and by a fairly a wide margin, the biggest fight that Manny has ever been in,” he said.

“The pay-per-view numbers are tracking beautifully and really, really impressively.  And the gates sold out so fast. As far as the promotion is concerned, it’s going splendidly well,” he added.

Arum said Saturday’s event will certainly be the fight of the year, regardless of who wins because there’s just so much history riding on the shoulders of both boxers.

It has gotten so personal for Pacquiao that people are hoping to see him in his fiercest form when the bell rings at the MGM Grand, which has all 16,000-plus seats sold out.

“Absolutely (the fight of the year),” said Arum.

But it won’t be easy for Pacquiao because Marquez, in the past, has shown that he can hurt the Filipino. He thinks he can do it again, and may even succeed this time.

“I like Manny to win the fight, but it’s gonna be a tough, tough fight. This guy (Marquez) is no quitting, and he’s not gonna pocket in like (Joshua) Clottey or (Shane) Mosley. He’s gonna give his all like Miguel Cotto or (Antonio) Margarito,” Arum predicted.

Marquez won’t take the money and run.