MANILA, Philippines - Now there’s a bigger need for Manny Pacquiao to pull off an impressive victory over Timothy Bradley on June 9 in Las Vegas.
The latest clash between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto reportedly drew 1.5 million pay-per-view buys for revenues of over $90 million.
These are huge numbers for Mayweather, who considers himself not only as the reigning pound-for-pound champion but also the best fighter ever.
Mayweather and Pacquiao are locked in a heated battle regarding who the better fighter is.
And there’s always a big comparison between the two superstars who just can’t seem to do the fight despite the promise of a record pay for both.
Mayweather still holds part of the pay-per-view record of 2.4 million buys in his 2007 bout with Oscar dela Hoya, and has done well ever since.
But Pacquiao isn’t far behind with over a million buys in each of his fights against Dela Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao’s third clash with Marquez last November did close to 1.4 million.
But the question is if he can produce the same numbers against Bradley, whose name may not ring a bell to most fans outside of the United States.
Somehow there will be pressure on Pacquiao and his promoters from Top Rank whether or not they can at least match the Mayweather-Cotto sales.
Pacquiao should be happy if he comes close to 1.5 million buys against Bradley.
Otherwise, it will give Mayweather all the bragging rights as well as the leverage to ask for a bigger share of the purse against Pacquiao.
Pacquiao wants a 50/50 share with Mayweather, who said no way it’s going to happen because Pacquiao can’t “produce the same numbers.”
Mayweather scored a unanimous decision against Cotto, who hit the canvas twice and did not last the distance against Pacquiao.
Pacquiao has to make noise in his coming fight against Bradley – in and out of the ring.