Interest in Saturday's Oscar De La Hoya-Felix Trinidad
welterweight title bout "is so high," it will be "the
richest non-heavyweight bout ever," according to Steve
Springer of the L.A. TIMES. The fight "will be seen in more
than 60 countries," and the PPV total "is expected to reach
a million buys." In Puerto Rico, Trinidad's home country,
the percentage of homes buying the fight "is already up to
15% to 16% of the 200,000 outlets capable of receiving it,"
and Springer predicted that "more than a third of Puerto
Rico" may eventually buy the fight. Scalpers are selling
seats for the fight, to be held at Mandalay Bay Events
Center in Las Vegas, "for as much as" $7,000 each. Springer
attributed the fight's popularity "largely" to De La Hoya,
who he called "the most marketable face in the game, and one
of the most popular athletes in the world." De La Hoya will
make "about" $8-10M in endorsements this year, with
projections for $30M in a "few" years. De La Hoya's agent
Bruce Binkow: "He is articulate, he is good-looking and he
has crossover appeal to both males and females." Binkow and
his partner, Leonard Armato, "are conducting a summit
meeting of De La Hoya's marketing partners" Friday at
Mandalay Bay. Reps from McDonald's, Puma, MCI, Logo
Athletic, EA Sports, EMI Latin recording company, Met-Rx and
Budweiser will attend (L.A, TIMES, 9/14). De La Hoya was a
guest on last night's "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. De La
Hoya, on his recently signed recording contract: "Hopefully
I can have a hit song and retire" (NBC, 9/14).
