Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao (Photo : REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)
Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao wanted to make sure he will have the full support of over 98 million Filipinos when he slugs it out with undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Last week, three of the biggest television networks in the agreed to settle their business disputes in order to simultaneously broadcast Pacquiao's historic showdown against Mayweather.
SolarSports, which bought the broadcasting rights of fight for $10 million, had been in partnership with GMA7 when it comes to broadcasting Pacquiao fight, but somehow decided to hook up with other two networks, ABS-CBN and TV5, for the nationwide broadcast of the fight that would determine the best fighter of this era.
According to SolarSports president and CEO Wilson Tieng, the landmark deal would have not been possible without the plea of Pacquiao to bring these competing stations on the same page for the sake of 98 million craving for free-TV telecast of his 'legacy fight' with Mayweather.
"Manny played an important part to put this thing together. Solar Sports can only take part of the credit. It's still Congressman Manny who made this possible," said Tieng during the press conference announcing the historic collaboration among the 'Kapuso', Kapamilya' and 'Kapatid' stations via Spin.ph.
The Fight of the Century clash between Mayweather and Pacquiao on May 2 may not just surpass everybody's expectations, it's set to destroy every existing financial record in combat sports history.
ESPN Boxing insider Dan Rafael reported this week that the May-Pac showdown appears on its way to breaking the estimated gross revenue of $400 million following the recent move of the promoters to increase the value of the tickets which have been the most-sought possession for any sports fans.
"I think what you're seeing is the enthusiasm of the people who want to buy tickets, the enthusiasm of the foreign (television) networks and the enthusiasm of the sponsors," Arum said Tuesday of the escalating projections regarding revenues. "It just demonstrates what a huge event this is."
With tickets ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 and Pay-per-View buys expected to reach 4 million buys, the confrontation between Pacquiao and Mayweather will be the most lucrative prize fight in history of sports. According to reports, Mayweather could pocket a career-high $180 guaranteed purse while Pacquiao might as well get his fattest paycheck ever at $120 million from that fight alone.
