MikeLigalig.com

By Kevin Iole
Manny Pacquiao moved into the boxing elite from a sales standpoint on Thursday when HBO Pay-Per-View announced that his March 15 fight with Juan Manuel Marquez at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas generated $20.2 million in purchases.

Mark Taffet, HBO senior vice president of sports operations and pay- per-view, said the bout generated a record 400,000 sales, the most for any fight in a lower weight class.



Previously, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said the paid gate of $3.3 million was a personal best for Pacquiao, as was the additional $57,000 in closed circuit tickets that were sold.

Pacquiao, who lifted the WBC super featherweight belt from Marquez with a split decision, has gotten progressively bigger as an attraction. His three fights with Erik Morales, spanning 2005-2007, drew 345,000, 350,000 and 360,000 pay-per-view purchases respectively.

"The fight performed extremely well in the historically strong Latino and Filipino markets, but the strongest percentage gains most impressively occurred in broader general markets," Taffet said. "The performance of this fight reinforces the popularity of these fighters, the interest in the lighter weight classes and, most importantly, the strength of the sport."

Taffet said he thinks Pacquiao's appeal is for a variety of reasons. Plus, the exposure he gained by fighting Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera made him well known among the Hispanic fans, who tend to be among the most passionate for boxing.
The result, Taffet said, is a growing pay-per-view juggernaut.

"I think it's a few things," Taffet said of Pacquiao's growing appeal. "Manny's personality is larger than life and his in-ring style is exciting to all boxing fans. Marquez brought with him the sentiment of a nation because of Manny's victories over Morales and Barrera. And because of these factors, the fight appealed to all boxing fans, not just the core fan bases.

"Most importantly, when the big fights take place and when they are as electric as both of the fights between Pacquiao and Marquez, the fighters and the sport both grow in the reverberation of the echo. Having faced three of the greatest fighters in Mexico's storied history, and having shown great heart and great skill, Manny Pacquiao has earned his reputation and status in the sport today. And those Marquez brothers showed us all something special in March."

Arum plans to have Pacquiao move up to fight WBC lightweight champion David Diaz at Mandalay Bay on June 28, provided Pacquiao's injuries sustained in the Marquez fight are healed.

Let us know what you think of a Pacquiao-Diaz fight, whether you'd rather see a third fight between Pacquiao and Marquez or whether you'd rather see Pacquiao fight someone entirely different, such as WBA super featherweight champion Edwin Valero.





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