According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the May 7 bout that saw Manny Pacquiao score a lackluster unanimous decision over Shane Mosley was a box office success as the bout drew an estimated 1.3 million Pay Per View buys.
This was Pacquiao’s best showing on Pay Per View
“We know we have a little over 1.3 million,” said promoter Bob Arum said. “What we don’t have are some of the smaller cable systems. What I’m saying is I know we go to the bank counting a little over a 1.3 million. I know we’ll go up from there. How much up, I have no experience in this. This was all done for us in the past by HBO, which had experience, charts and all kinds of data from past fights to compare the fight to. Showtime can’t do it because they haven’t done this in so long. They don’t have the database that you need, but I’m feeling very, very happy because I know I’ve done at least 1.3 million.
“How far over we are remains to be seen, and I have no way to make a prediction. Obviously, on the outstanding systems we did something. So that will determine how much above 1.3 million. But I don’t think we have enough outstanding numbers to say we will be over 1.4 million, so I think we will wind up somewhere between 1.3 and 1.4 million.”
Which network will be awarded the rights to Pacquiao-Marquez III has not been determined, Arum said.
“We’re on the clock and we’re discussing it with of them now, how we’re going to do it and which network we’re going to do it with,” he said.
“We worked out how we would do that first negotiation and everybody is happy with the procedure,” Arum said. “But we are also discussing it with HBO.”
“I’ve got more than a whole month to get that done, so we’re not going to agonize,” Arum said.
