MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao stands to earn more from his May 2 showdown with Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas than when he stopped Oscar De La Hoyalast Dec. 6.
This was the assessment of Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum, who left Manila Monday (April 20) night after watching Filipino-Americans Nonito Donaire and Brian Viloria knock out their Mexican opponents at the Araneta Coliseum.
Arum bared his projections to international matchmaker and Pacquiao confidant Wakee Salud, who is to leave Thursday (April 23) to join the Pacman in Los Angeles, California.
The 76-year-old Arum, who promotes Pacquiao’s fights, told Salud that the bout, dubbed the “Battle of East and West,” is expected to surpass the gate receipts as well as the pay-per-view buys of the Pacquiao-De La Hoya blockbuster, which drew a sum of $1.25 million.
With the expected tremendous ticket purchases, particularly by Hatton’s British fans, Arum said another sellout crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is assured.
While no official figure was released, it was estimated that the Pacman earned about $17 million from the De La Hoya outing.
Arum and Salud both predicted a knockout victory by Pacquiao over Hatton, who is staking his lightly regarded International Boxing Organization light welterweight crown as well as his unbeaten record at 140 pounds.
“I don’t think it (Pacquiao-Hatton) will go past eight rounds,” said the Cebu-based Salud. “Manny is in his prime.”
During his three-day Manila visit, Arum also bared that he is looking at World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico as a possible opponent for Pacquiao.
After considering a rematch with the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr., Arum said he is leaving his options open. The former pound-for-pound king is said to have made atrocious demands.
Source: inquirer.net
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