Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Fight 2015 Preview: Bob Arum Reveals Possible $4 Million PPV Earnings
Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum has predicted the pay-per-view earnings from the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight to run over $4 million on the Cinco de Mayo weekend.
Bob Arum, founder and CEO of Top Rank promotions, is pegging the pay-per-view take for the Floyd Mayweather, Jr versus Manny Pacquiao superfight on May 2 at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Arena to reach over $4 million, surpassing the 2007 Mayweather versus Oscar De La Hoya PPV earnings of $2.5 million.
"I think it's gonna do over 4 million, it might be closer to 5 million," Arum told ESPN Friday Night Fights. "I mean the interest in unbelievable. People who don't follow sports, and who certainly don't follow boxing are caught up in this event. Everywhere I go, people are talking about it."
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The Mayweather-Pacquiao bout has been a match nearly six years in the making, and it is touted to be the richest fight in boxing history with a $250 million pot to be divided 60/40 between the fighters, with Mayweather getting the lion's share of the purse, as per agreed during negotiations between the two fighters' camps.
Arum's prediction hinges on the average betting odds pegged at $3.15 million in a number of sportsbooks. He also expects another PPV record breaker over the 2013 Mayweather – Canelo Alverez fight that brought $150 million, plus a history breaking gate record of $20 million.
With ticket demands higher than he has seen so far, Arum believes money isn't the object when it comes to boxing fans clamoring for seats to watch the long-awaited fight.
"I've been offered for top ringside seats $100,000 a seat, I mean that seems to me to be crazy. I said raise it to $200,000 and you could have my seat," he continued.
Boxing observers have dubbed the Mayweather – Pacquiao mega-fight a "non-mass event" after a high demand for seats from celebrities and other famous personalities continue to soar. With the exorbitant ticket prices, ordinary boxing fans will be unable to afford to watch the fight live.
In fact, Arum has offered to foot the ticket for UFC 184 champion, Ronda Rousey after the mixed martial artist expressed her intention to win her fight against Cat Zingano Saturday to be able to afford a Mayweather-Pacquiao seat.
