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.

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.

Pacquiao protege upgraded to stable

Filipino bantamweight boxer Z Gorres, a protege of six-time world champion Manny Pacquiao, was ungraded to stable condition in a Las Vegas hospital hours after being carried from the ring following a unanimous-decision victory over Colombian Juan Melendez at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Friday.

"He's conscious and responding to stimuli," said Keith Kizer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. "All in all, it's pretty good news."

Gorres was dominating the fight until Melendez caught him with a quick left cross with about 25 seconds left in the 10th and final round. Gorres barely beat the count to get back to his feet and appeared wobbly, struggling to survive the final seconds of the bout, said Kizer.

"He held on the last 10 seconds but his eyes were gone," said a photographer who was ringside. "He was gone."

After celebrating his victory by circling the ring with a Philippine flag, Gorres returned to his corner and tried to climb through the ropes to leave the ring. But he became dizzy and couldn't lift his legs and ringside doctors immediately raced to the boxer's aid. Gorres was given oxygen and carried from the ring on a stretcher, but Kizer said he never lost consciousness before being rushed to the trauma unit at University Medical Center.

Pacquiao protege Gorres in critical condition after winning Las Vegas fight

Bantamweight boxer Z Gorres, who is part of Manny Pacquiao's stable at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, was in critical condition at a Las Vegas hospital today after collapsing shortly after winning a fight Friday at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.

The 27-year-old Filipino was knocked down in the 10th and final round but climbed back to his feet to win a unanimous decision over Colombian Luis Melendez. After the fight, Gorres circled the ring waving a Philippine flag. But as he was preparing to leave the ring, say spectators who were at the fight, Gorres complained that his legs felt weak, then collapsed in his corner.

Gorres (31-2-1) was given oxygen and taken from the arena on a stretcher. He was transported to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where he underwent surgery to reduce swelling in his brain. Doctors said the boxer will be kept in a coma for several days.

-- Kevin Baxter 

Notes (and video) from Pacquiao-Cotto Vegas scene

Not since 1999 has boxing produced two fights in a year that generated 1 million pay-per-view buys.

Back then, Oscar De La Hoya's controversial loss to Felix Trinidad and Lennox Lewis' highly suspect draw with Evander Holyfield pulled off the feat.

Now, on the heels of September's million-selling victory by Floyd Mayweather Jr. over Juan Manuel Marquez, Saturday night's Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas is well-positioned to surpass 1 million buys, HBO pay-per-view executive Mark Taffet said.

"The fight is of the highest quality, and the numbers that are tracking because of it are magnificent," Taffet said.

-- The fighters issued late prepared statements Friday after the weigh-in, of which we have video:

Margarito controversy continues to swirl around Miguel Cotto

Miguel Cotto has looked like a different fighter since his bloody and controversial 11-round loss to Antonio Margarito the last time he fought in Las Vegas 15 months ago . But Cotto says he's moved on.

"The Margarito fight is out of my mind," he said this week as he prepared for Saturday's bout with Manny Pacquiao. "It's a past chapter in my book. We have a new chapter with Manny Pacquiao. And I'm an equal or better boxer than before."

But there are reasons the Margarito fight won't go away. For starters, it's the only loss on Cotto's 35-fight pro resume. Then there are the suspicions that Margarito's gloves may have been loaded that night -- charges the Margarito camp have denied.

But shortly before his next fight with Shane Mosley in Los Angeles, Margarito was found to have illegal plaster inserts in both gloves. Subsequent examination of photos from the Cotto fight show red stains on Margarito's hand wraps that are consistent with stains on the inserts seized by the California State Athletic Commission when it suspended Margarito's boxing license for a year.

Cotto's father, Miguel Cotto Sr., said the photos are "overwhelming" evidence that Margarito used loaded gloves in the Las Vegas fight. They could also present a major obstacle for Margarito when he applies to have his boxing license renewed next year.

If DNA tests of the stains on the plaster inserts, which were seized before the Mosley bout, show the stains are Margarito's blood, that would strengthen claims that the inserts were used in earlier fights.

"There was a move to test the inserts before," said a member of the commission who is not authorized to speak on the record about the Margarito case.

The official said he's not sure where the stained insert is now, but believes it is still in the commission's possession.

"I don't know where it is," he said. "But I think that pad is still together. And it should be tested."

Cotto said the controversy eventually helped him cope with his only loss as a professional.

"In the beginning, when you're used to winning and a loss comes to you, it's a hard thing to handle," he said. "But when you understand, when the things with Margarito come after my fight, it makes you feel better and understand the situation."

-- Lance Pugmire and Kevin Baxter

Top photo: Antonio Margarito after his 11th-round TKO over Miguel Cotto in July, 2008. Credit: Will Hart / HBO.

Bottom photo: Cotto believes the discolored area in the corner of Margarito's hand wrap matches the discolored area over Margarito's pinkie in the post-fight photo. Credit: California Attorney General's office.

Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto tale of the tape and more

The tale of the tape for Saturday's anticipated welterweight title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto is missing just one category, which will be settled after 3 p.m. today when the six-time world champion Pacquiao and welterweight belt-holder Cotto step on the scales inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The weigh-in is open to the public, with doors opening at 1 p.m. At 5:30 a.m., the first person started the line, said an MGM security official.

For those waiting for the weight numbers to be finalized for the bout that contractually demands each man to weigh in at 145 pounds, here's the other key numbers to chew on:

Age: Pacquiao 30, Cotto 29; Record: Pacquiao 49-3-2, 37 KOs, Cotto 34-1, 27 KOs; Height: Pacquiao 5-6 1/2, Cotto 5-8; Reach: Pacquiao 67", Cotto 69"; Chest normal: Pacquiao 38", Cotto 39", Chest expanded: Pacquiao 41", Cotto 41"; Biceps: Pacquiao 13", Cotto 13", Forearm: Pacquiao 12", Cotto 11 1/2"; Waist: Pacquiao 28", Cotto 32"; Thigh: Pacquiao 20", Cotto 22 1/2"; Calf: Pacquiao 15", Cotto 12"; Neck: Pacquiao 16", Cotto 16"; Wrist: Pacquiao 8", Cotto 7 1/2"; Fist: Pacquiao 10", Cotto 11".

-- An unofficial poll of writers has been finalized, with 16 selecting Pacquiao and eight picking Cotto. HBO did a tour of the media center Thursday interviewing writers across the country, including me, about the outcome. Check it out here.

Last night, I talked to veteran matchmaker Bruce Trampler, who told me Pacquiao spent two and a half hours inside a Vegas gym, getting in a workout in which he looked intense and sharp. Trampler, who works for the promoter of both fighters, Top Rank, wouldn't go as far as guaranteeing a Pacquiao victory.

He said what so many others are saying about the fight: it has all the makings of a classic.

--Lance Pugmire 

Fight-week honesty from Freddie Roach

Before he was to participate in a round-table discussion with reporters across the country today, Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach was sitting near a line of radio tables and called me over for a talk.

"I've never seen Manny better," Roach said after an inspired workout Wednesday in preparation for Saturday's world welterweight championship fight against Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto. "Usually, I have to tell him to make combinations. Now, he's making them before I even ask. He knows the game plan so well, he's punching so hard and fast. I'm serious -- I've never seen him better. His mind-set is 100%."

Pacquiao is more than a 2-1 favorite in the Las Vegas sports books, and Roach took pride about the oddsmakers this week dropping the line favoring a first-round knockout by Pacquiao. Roach told me at his Hollywood gym two weeks ago that he had "loaded up" on the first-round KO proposition bet, getting odds in excess of 25 to 1. Now, the odds are less than 10 to 1.

Roach pointed to Cotto's past first-round troubles against Joshua Clottey and Carlos Quintana.

I asked him whether he's overconfident. Roach said no.

He also embraced the idea that his experience in the game is a major advantage over Cotto's new trainer, Joe Santiago. At Wednesday's news conference, Santiago warned Pacquiao that Cotto is in supreme shape.

Roach fired back today.

"He's just another strength coach who puts the towel over his shoulder and calls himself a trainer," Roach said. "He's never been in the ring himself. I've seen Cotto hit mitts [in video footage] and it's so soft it's like he's working out at the 24 Hour Fitness."

Roach made another observation: He doesn't believe Cotto has corrected a flaw in which he corks his left hand before throwing a punch.

"Just like Ricky Hatton," Roach said.

In May, Pacquiao penetrated a Hatton flaw and delivered a violent second-round knockout.

-- Lance Pugmire  

Pacquiao-Cotto bout has no rematch clause

 

 

In crafting the deal that is allowing Saturday night's Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto welterweight championship bout, promoter Bob Arum provided guaranteed purses of $7.5 million to Pacquiao and $4 million to Cotto.

The contract also allowed the promoter to extend his deals with each fighter. Cotto is now under contract with Arum's Top Rank company until the end of 2011, Arum said, and Pacquiao's Top Rank deal was extended until the end of 2012.

One provision that was left out was a rematch clause that would allow either fighter to seek a rematch if they desired.

"It never came up," Arum said. "These were intense negotiations. To throw that in was an added element would've put negotiations on hold for probably two more weeks."

Privately, the Top Rank camp has expressed a desire for Saturday's bout to be a compelling bout that would allow a rematch to occur.

The alternatives to a convincing victory by either fighter could be problematic to create. If Pacquiao wins the 145-pound welterweight bout in lopsided fashion, fight fans will of course clamor for a showdown against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr., a former Top Rank boxer whose relationship with Arum is strained, to put it mildly.

Should Cotto overwhelm Pacquiao, Arum is pushing for a rematch with Antonio Margarito as "a fight everyone wants to see." Margarito is currently without a license after being caught with plaster-hardened inserts in his hand wraps before a January fight against Shane Mosley. Cotto said he suspects Margarito had loaded gloves in their July 2008 bout won by Margarito via 11th-round TKO, and Cotto's father said he doesn't want a rematch to occur.

"No way," Miguel Sr. told The Times Wednesday.

The Pacquiao-Cotto rematch, thus, is a strong fallback option, but first requires a compelling duel Saturday night.

"It's all well and good to refer to me as the chessmaster, but these guys have managers and advisors, and I won't be able to do a rematch by snapping my fingers," Arum said. "I can't just make the pieces on the board fall into place."

--Lance Pugmire