Pacquiao's fight draws 1.4M buys

MANILA, Philippines — Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said Manny Pacquiao’s hotly-contested win over Juan Manuel Marquez drew 1.4 million buys, making the Nov. 12 rubber match in Las Vegas the biggest Pacquiao headliner yet.

“They’re still computing but it’s going be about 1.4 million,” Arum told the Bulletin from his Las Vegas lair.

Pacquiao’s previous best was posted when he beat Shane Mosley last May when the subscription reached 1.3 million aside from registering huge numbers when he faced Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.

And in the event a fight starring Pacquiao and Mayweather pushes through next year, it is expected to shatter all attendance and pay-per-view records owing to the magnitude of the matchup.

Arum is in fact coming over to Manila in early-January to discuss with Pacquiao their plans for 2012.

In case a Mayweather fight doesn’t happen, Arum still has several attractive options for the Filipino pride: a fourth fight with Marquez, a rematch with Cotto and a faceoff with unbeaten Tim Bradley.

Both Marquez and Cotto are angling to be given another chance at Pacquiao.

Marquez said he’d rather retire than be passed over, while Cotto believes that the acquisition of new personnel in his camp will help him achieve payback.

Pacquiao, celebrating his 33rd birthday in General Santos City this Saturday, said he will hang up his gloves at the end of 2013.

MELINDO OUT TO KEEP TITLE

Meantime, the coming New Year should be a very busy one for Milan Melindo, the undefeated and reigning WBO Intercontinental flyweight champion.

The 23-year-old Melindo, born in Cagayan de Oro, will banner Pinoy Pride 11 on Jan. 28 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in the Queen City of the South.

The mainstay of ALA Boxing Promotions will take on Mexican Juan Esquer in the main bout of the card that will also feature boxers from Korea, Indonesia and Japan.

Melindo, 25-0 with nine knockouts, is confident he’ll get past Esquer, who’s 27-8-2. A victory could set the Filipino for a world title fight next year.

“But I’m not in a hurry. I will take it step by step. Whoever my promoters put in front of me, I will fight him,” said Melindo during the PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue.

Melindo said he’s hoping for a shot at WBA flyweight champ Hernan “Tyson” Marquez or WBC king Pongsaklek Wonjongkam.

Then there’s Brian Viloria, a Filipino-Hawaiian and reigning WBO flyweight champion who just defended his title over Mexican Giovani Segura.

source by NICK GIONGCO | mb.com.ph

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