Pay-per-view numbers for Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight

 

HBO announced Friday morning that Saturday's Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto welterweight title fight in Las Vegas generated 1.25 million pay-per-view buys, making the bout the most lucrative one-night event in the U.S. this year and establishing record interest for a Pacquiao fight.

The pay-per-view revenue was $70 million, marking the first time since 1999 that two boxing matches in the same year had at least 1 million buys.

The numbers are expected to play an important factor in negotiating an anticipated showdown between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0), whose September victory over Juan Manuel Marquez had 1 million PPV buys.

Mayweather's advisor, Leonard Ellerbe, told The Times Thursday night that Pacquiao's big numbers were helped because he had a "dance partner," referring to the popular former world welterweight champion Cotto, a star in Puerto Rico.

The Mayweather camp points to Mayweather's common fights with Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Marquez and argue Mayweather outsold Pacquiao in each. Pacquiao's May fight with Hatton had approximately 100,000 less PPV buys than Mayweather-Hatton in December 2007.

Pacquiao's camp argues the buzz around the Filipino fighter is still climbing because of his thrilling performances in scoring a ninth-round TKO of De La Hoya, his second-round KO of Hatton (Mayweather needed 10 rounds) and the 12th-round TKO of true welterweight Cotto set up by two earlier knockdowns.

Ellerbe told The Times Thursday he will authorize co-promoter Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions to begin negotiations with Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum in the near future.

--Lance Pugmire

Photo: Manny Pacquiao, right, lands a punch on Miguel Cotto's face last Saturday. Credit: Mark Ralston / Getty Images.

Video of Pacquiao confirming interest in Mayweather

Just tonight, Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s lead advisor told The Times the unbeaten fighter will move past his bitter relationship with the chairman of Manny Pacquiao's Top Rank promotional company, Bob Arum, to allow for negotiations to proceed for a possible super-fight capable of becoming the most lucrative showdown in boxing history.

Earlier this week, Mayweather responded to Pacquiao's impressive 12th-round TKO of Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto on Saturday night in Las Vegas by saying he'd yet to hear Pacquiao say he wants to fight Mayweather -- the man Pacquiao surpassed as the world's top pound-for-pound fighter.

Then, KTLA reporter Cher Calvin cornered Pacquiao (50-3-2) at a victory celebration gathering on Tuesday, and asked him to go on the record with his wishes for a Mayweather bout. Here's the exchange.

The buzz for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight next year is intense. In fact, Calvin invited me to KTLA studios in Hollywood today for a lengthy disussion about the participants. The interview will air tonight on KTLA's 10 p.m. newscast if you're interested in watching.

-- Lance Pugmire 

Photo: Newly-crowned World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao shows off his recently acquired championship belts today in Manila. Credit: Noel Celis / Getty Images.

Busy boxing day, except for Mayweather-Pacquiao

Richard Schaefer, the Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions chief executive who's arranged Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s last three fights, was taking awhile to return my call. Was he making the much-anticipated Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao deal? 

"No, but I've never seen the interest in this fight," Schaefer said. "Everybody wants to know what's happening. It's amazing. This is something on a scale that's beyond [Oscar] De La Hoya-Mayweather."

That's saying something, given that De La Hoya-Mayweather is the most lucrative fight ever.

Schaefer was, however, busy striking other deals Wednesday.

He said Huntington Park's Israel Vazquez has signed to have a fourth fight with Mexico's Rafael Marquez on Feb. 27 at Staples Center. The super-bantamweight champion Vazquez engaged in two fights of the year with Marquez, but endured more than a yearlong layoff after suffering a detached retina in the memorable third fight in March 2008.

Schaefer said Marquez's promoter, Gary Shaw, and Showtime have expressed a strong willingness to make the fourth fight happen, and he expects it will. 

Also, Schaefer said, he has received verbal instructions from both Ricky Hatton and Juan Manuel Marquez to pursue a fight that will pit them against each other next year at an open-air soccer stadium in Manchester, England.

"Hatton wants to come back," Schaefer said, referring to the Englishman's brutal second-round knockout loss to Pacquiao in May. "Marquez wants Pacquiao first, but he realizes this Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will probably happen first, so he told me he's OK to fight Hatton, and willing to go to England."

Lastly, Schaefer said, as long as Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. win their tune-up fights next month, their rematch will occur March 13 in Las Vegas.

"And Hopkins wants to move up to fight [heavyweight champ] David Haye if he wins," Schaefer said.

"I told you I've had a busy day."

-- Lance Pugmire 

Photo: Golden Boy Productions CEO Richard Shaefer and Oscar De La Hoya at during a news conference to announce his retirement from fighting, April 14, 2009. Credit: Ricardo de Aratanha, Los Angeles Times.

Tuesday's poll: Who is the best pound-for-pound boxer of all time?

Vote now and let your voice be heard, then leave a comment letting us know why you voted the way you did.

Become a fan of the Times' Sports Facebook page and keep up with all the boxing, including any details of an upcoming Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, as well as sports news from around the country.

-- Houston Mitchell

Mayweather calls Pacquiao out, Arum says silence is golden

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been quiet for weeks as Manny Pacquiao prepared for, then delivered, a stirring performance in his 12th-round TKO of Miguel Cotto Saturday night in Las Vegas.

On Monday, Mayweather (40-0) released a statement through his publicist expressing concern that pound-for-pound and world welterweight champion Pacquiao hasn't been more aggressive in pushing for a showdown that could be the most lucrative event in the sport's history.

The release said Mayweather listened to several comments made by Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, and trainer, Freddie Roach, but "still has yet to hear Manny Pacquiao himself say he wants to fight him."

Pacquiao, after the Cotto victory, said he does the fighting and lets Arum select who he'll fight. He has also expressed doubt Mayweather wants to fight him.

"Manny Pacquiao is the fighter and every time someone asks him if he wants to fight me, he says it is up to my promoter ... ," Mayweather said in the statement. "I have yet to hear him actually say, 'Yes, I want to fight Mayweather.' We are the fighters and if one fighter is talking about fighting another fighter, then they should just come out and say it. Manny Pacquiao doesn't say anything directly about fighting me because he might just know it's not a fight he can win."

That qualifies as calling Pacquiao out.

Defensive specialist Mayweather criticized Pacquiao for saying "Money" only cares about cash and not producing entertaining fights.

"Why is he talking about what I won't do instead of what he wants to do?" Mayweather asked in the statement. "Plain and simple, it's because he knows he can't beat me under any circumstances.

"Less than an hour after his fight, ... the talk turns to me. Their whole promotion was just a Mayweather sweepstakes. ... The world is much more intrigued by the thought of someone fighting me who can beat me. ... Manny Pacquiao's people have done a good job of creating an image of him to be this unbelievable fighter and now the so-called guy to beat me. But like all the rest, he's not the one.

"Tell Manny Pacquiao to be his own man and stop letting everyone, including his loudmouth trainer, talk for him. If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight me, all he has to do is step up to the plate and say it himself."

Pacquiao wasn't immediately available Monday.

His promoter Bob Arum declined to discuss the beginning of negotiations, and said he's urging those around his company to keep quiet publicly.

"The one way this will be upset and not happen if it is negotiated through the newspapers," Arum told The Times Monday. "All I want to say is that my guy [Pacquiao] has said, 'We're here, we're ready to fight Mayweather.' "

So there you go.

Arum added he was deluged Monday by more interest from suitors looking to host the fight, including officials from the new New York Giants/Jets stadium, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field in New York, the Dallas Cowboys' stadium, the City of New Orleans, and Las Vegas authorities pitching the construction of a 30,000-seat outdoor facility.

--Lance Pugmire 

Become a fan of the Times' Sports Facebook page and keep up with all the Mayweather-Pacquiao news.

Photo: Floyd Mayweather Jr. celebrates after defeating Juan Manuel Marquez. Credit: Rick Bowmer, AP.

Monday's poll: Who would win a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.?

If the two agree to meet each other in the ring, then it might be the biggest pay-per-view of all time. But who would win, Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr.?

Vote now and let you voice be heard, then leave a comment letting us know why you voted the way you did.

Become a fan of the Times' Sports Facebook page and keep up with all the Mayweather-Pacquiao news.

-- Houston Mitchell

Pacquiao vs. Cotto live round-by-round updates (Pacquiao wins by 12th-round TKO)

Pacquiao wins by 12th-round technical knockout
 
If there was any doubt Manny Pacquiao was the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, he answered that Saturday with a dominating victory over world welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, stopping the Puerto Rican at 55 seconds of the 12th round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
 
Pacquiao, the only fighter in history to win seven titles in seven weight classes, took control of the fight in the second round and never let up, knocking Cotto down twice. By the end Cotto was bleeding from cuts near both eyes as well as from his nose and his white boxing trunks with stained pink with his own blood.
 
Cotto, who clearly hasn't been the same fighter since his brutal 11-round loss to Antonio Margarito in this same ring 16 months ago, spent most of the night backpedaling. In the final round referee Kenny Bayless had to step in and remind Cotto to keep his hands up. When Cotto couldn't do that, the referee stepped in to stop things.

Round 12
 
 
This is it--although clearly the fight has been over for some time. The blood coming from the cut near Cotto's eye is gushing now and referee Kenny Bayless has to continue to remind him to keep his gloves up. Finally Bayless steps in to stop with more than two minutea to go.

Round 11
 
There is a cut next to Cotto's left eye, sending a trickle of blood down that side of his already battered face. Pacquiao has just been too quick and elusive for the bigger Cotto, who still can't solve the Filipino. Freddie Roach's fighters aren't big on defense and Pacquiao isn't backing off know. At the start of the second minute of the round, he gets Cotto in the red corner and lands several punches, none of which Cotto answerd. Thiirty seconds later they're back in the same corner with the same result. There would be little argument if the fight was stopped now. Cotto may not be defenseless but he has no offense. As the final seconds of the round tick down, Cotto backpedals away as Pacquiao again stops, dropping his hands to his side in disgust. Pacquiao wins the round, 10-8
 
Round 10

This time it's Cotto who makes the sign of the cross at the bell. His white trunks are now stained with blood and both eyes are nearly swollen closed. The only punches he's able to connect with on a regular basis are left jabs and they aren't doing much damage.  Cotto continues to backpedal and Pacquiao continues to chase him.With 42 seconds left, Pacquiao pauses in the center of the ring, drops his hands and takes a deep sigh and if to challenge Cotto to make this a fight instead of a track meet. Pacquiao wins the round 10-9

Round 9
 
Cotto needs a big punch now. And while Pacquiao knows that he remains on the offensive. Cotto again keeps the right back, content to lob left-handed jabs. Pacquiao gets off a good three-punch combinaiton early in the round, the again traps Cotto against the ropes three times. The final time, with 87 seconds left, really hurts him. Cotto is ready to go down. It's only  a matter of time now. Cotto looks--and is boxing lke -- a battered fighter and Pacquiao can sense that. Cotto is now bleeding heavily from his nose into his mouth. Pacquiao wins the round 10-9

Round 8
 
The chant is now Let's Go Manny. The Puerto Rican fans answer with a feeble Cotto, Cotto. But like their fighter, their hearts clearly are not in it. Pacquiao is mixing both the right and left hands now. Cotto gets off another straight  to Pacquiao's face that stuns him. Cotto may have a problem with his left hand. He doesn't appear to be using it at all. Cotto continues to fight backward and the round ends with him backed into his corner, saved from further damage by the bell. Pacquiao wins the round, 10-9

Round 7
 
The fight of the year is quickly becoming a rout. Cotto hasn't been the dominant fighter he once was since taking a beating from Antonio Margarito in this same ring in July 2008. But Pacquiao is simply taking him apart. Cotto can't match the Filipino's speed and when the two go toe-to-toe, Pacquiao is the harder puncher as well. Cotto really hasn't landed more than a handful of clean shots since the opening round. Although he nails Pacquiao with the shot to the face in the opening seconds of the final minute. That startles Pacquiao, who takes a few seconds to regroup. But the round again ends with Cotto on the run. Pacquiao wins the round 10-9

Pacquiao vs. Cotto time

Bell time for the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight will be 8:15 PT.

In the meantime, you can catch live updates from the undercard by clicking here.

You can follow Kevin Baxter's live round-by-round updates from the main event by clicking here.

You will be able to catch live round-by-round updates of Pacquiao-Cotto here later tonight too.

Pacquiao's attempting to first fighter to win a world title in seven weight classes. He and Oscar De La Hoya are the only men to win titles in six divisions.

Pacquiao's a 2.5-to-1 favorite to win Cotto's WBO welterweight title.

David Haye has a mandatory fight, but will try for Klitschko

Newly crowned World Boxing Assn. heavyweight champion David Haye of England is staring at a mandatory title defense against big John Ruiz, but his promoter said Saturday "there are ways around that," and plans to initiate conversations to land a fight with one of the other world champion Klitschko brothers.

Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions told The Times he will next week begin trying to coordinate a unification bout against either Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko.

Haye suffered a broken hand bone in his majority decision victory over Nikolai Valuev on Nov. 7, but Wladimir Klitschko has a title defense against Eddie Chambers in March so there's time to heal. HBO is believed to be highly interested in helping a Haye-Klitschko bout happen next year.

Schaefer said the brash Haye is what the slumbering heavyweight division needs.

"He has the looks, the skills, the charisma and the punch,' Schaefer said. "We've all been waiting for the next exciting heavyweight, and he's here: David Haye. And people want to see him in there now against the Klitschkos."

-- Lance Pugmire

Photo: David Haye. Credit: Al Bello / Getty Images

Shane Mosley getting back in ring

Pomona's Shane Mosley hasn't fought since last January, when he defeated Antonio Margarito in the memorable Staples Center fight when the Mexican champ's gloves were unloaded of plaster inserts.

Mosley lobbied hard in the interim to be considered by Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, neither of whom took him up on the offer, wasting months. Mosley's camp says that's because he's too skilled. Mayweather's team has complained Mosley can't draw a big enough crowd. Pacquiao came to terms with Miguel Cotto, and they'll fight in hours.

So on Saturday morning, world welterweight champion Mosley, 38, showed up at Mandalay Bay in Vegas to announce his Jan. 30 return to the ring for a title unification bout against World Boxing Council champ Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KOs). HBO will broadcast the fight live, and tickets will range from $50-$300. Mosley is slightly more than a 2-to-1 favorite in Las Vegas sports books.

The athletic, hard-punching Berto has beaten Luis Collazo and Juan Urango by decision this year, and he's enthused about taking on a bigger name.

 "I'm young and talented and [Mosley's] at the end of his career," Berto said.