Broadcasting & Cable reports that Oscar De La Hoya’s loss to Manny Pacquiao generated 1.25 million buys and $70 million in PPV revenues.
This marks the fourth time a non-heavyweight boxing match has hit the million buys mark, the report said, and this number makes it the biggest PPV event of the year, in boxing or MMA.
There are those that will say the fight should’ve done closer to the numbers enjoyed by Oscar and Floyd for their 2007 bout; that generated 2.4 million buys and $120 of revenue. Considering that was two US based fighters, in a stronger economy, many will say this latest scrap did OK.
Still others will tell you they wished it did worse, under one million buys, if only to convince the suits that the PPV model is hurting the sport, even if they are benefiting mightily…
Congrats to Manny Pacquiao for an outstanding performance. By the 7th round I was yelling for Manny to knock the golden boy down to the canvas. Despite not getting my wish, quitting on his stool was good enough for me. No disrespect to Oscar, but everybody who’s anybody knows for a fact… that Oscar fights for money and not for the sport. If he loves the game so much, then step aside Golden Boy, and allow others to enhance this great sport. No shame in retiring. Oscar has done pretty good money wise, and decently in his boxing career. With wins over Rafael Ruelas, Genearo Sanchez, Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga, there’s no question he was once “Great.” Hang em’ up, please…. and let’s move on with all of our lives.
Just goes to show you that predicting boxing’s death because of too many shows on PPV is wishful thinking. People will always pay to see legal mayhem. Holly!