Pacquiao vs. Bradley 3 Fight News: Bob Arum Anticipates Fight to Do 700,000 Pay-Per-View Buys
On Saturday, April 9th, a rubber match between eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and former WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley will be taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
It will be Pacquiao's 66th and supposedly final professional boxing match, before he retires to put his full focus on being a politician. Currently a Congressman for the Sarangani Province, "Pacman" is also eyeing for a Senatorial seat at the May 9th Philippine Elections.
Through the two previous fights between both men, the pay-per-view numbers that were generated were satisfactory, at the very least. The first encounter between Pacquiao and Bradley in June 2012, where Bradley won via a controversial split decision, garnered an estimated 890,000 buys.
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The rematch that transpired in April 2014, where Pacquiao this time had won via unanimous decision, generated close to 800,000 buys. Many people have shown their dissatisfaction towards the making of the third fight between Pacquiao and Bradley.
Most of the sentiments were centered on the fact that both men have already fought each other, and that seeing a third fight is not something the world would be interested in.
In early January, Top Rank chief Bob Arum himself admitted that the third fight between his two top welterweight boxers would be a "tough sell", noting that while he "understands what they are up against", they will be trying to at the very least equal the output of the two previous fights.
"I've done my numbers and I have done my math," Arum said in a Boxingscene report dated January 1st. "I'm not out here with my head up my a**."
However, it seems like Arum has gained some confidence, with less than a week away from fight night. In a recent Boxingscene report, Arum believes they would be able to reach their goal, as far as pay-per-view numbers go.
"With the pay-per-view, I think we can reach 700,000 buys," Arum said. "Bradley and Pacquiao have already done those numbers before. But the Hispanic community is (behind the show)."
"Maybe if Donald Trump opens his mouth, it will do a little more, maybe 800,000."
