Friday, April 27, 2012

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather: The battle for PPV supremacy – leverage for future negotiation






Photo via google images


Instead of signing the most valuable contract in boxing history, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fight different opponents at the same venue – MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, but on different dates. Manny Pacquiao against Timothy Bradley on June 9, 2012 and Floyd Mayweather Jr. against Miguel Cotto on May 5, 2012 (cinco de mayo).




Negotiations for Floyd and Manny to fight failed in all occasions. Issues on drug testing, purse split and venue has been the major factors. These negotiations end-up both man fighting different opponents that disappointed fight fans.



Pacman and Floyd undertake critical but calculated decisions after every failed negotiation in order to gain leverage for any of their future negotiation.



Floyd I think chose the take on Cotto at 154, not at 147 and or catch weight, to surpassed Pacquaio’s win against Cotto. I consider Pacman’s win against Cotto as his best performance. Cotto was perceived to be the stronger, bigger and powerful fighter at that time. When Pacman won, some blamed that Cotto was drained to fight Manny at 145 and branding Pacman as catch weight king.



Before Pacman announce Bradley as his next opponent, Cotto was an option but he (Cotto) clearly stated that “I would not sacrifice my body for Pacquiao…”  Cotto has been campaigning at Junior Middleweight after his defeat with the pacific storm.



In the recent negotiation, Pacquiao vs. Mayweather failed because of purse-split issue. Floyd offered Pacquiao 40 million dollar guaranteed purse. Pacman counter offered a 50-50 split, a 50 million dollar guarantee and even a 40-40 split and the victor will take the remaining 20 percent. All options failed – Mayweather believed that he deserved the larger share for he is the major draw.



Now, both men take on different opponents, in just one month apart. Floyd and his promoter would try to do everything to prove in figures that Money is the cash cow. Under-cards would be equally exciting.



The same goes for Pacman and his promoter.  They have one month to figure out how to surpass Floyd’s numbers.



For me, this is good for boxing; promoters on both sides will try to their best to put on the best and equally exciting under-cards. I observe in the past, without this kind of race in PPV sales, promoters will only line up crap under-cards. Sometimes, it only showcases the other boxer so as to improve his popularity, resulting to mismatches.



I expect there will be last-minute addition to fight cards just to boost promotions.



For Kuwait, here is the link for TFC PPV subscriptions rates click here 

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