Pacquiao's Rising Star Power Driving Saturday's Bout With Cotto
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Pacquiao Using His Massive Drawing Power To
Drive Appeal Of Saturday's Fight With Cotto |
Boxer Manny Pacquiao's "massive drawing power, which has grown to overwhelm the traditional boundaries of the often insular realm of boxing, is driving the appeal of Saturday’s megafight with Miguel Cotto" at MGM Grand Garden Arena, according to Jeff Haney of the LAS VEGAS SUN. As the most "celebrated persona in his native Philippines, Pacquiao’s visage graces the cover of the Asia edition of Time magazine," while fight promoter Top Rank points to a recent Sunday feature on Pacquiao in the N.Y. Times as a "manifestation of the media blitz that has accompanied the buildup to the fight." The coverage was "significant, and telling, because the Times typically affords boxing about as much coverage as it does the lumberjack competition." With its "widespread appeal," the fight has "drawn some unconventional corporate partners," including the History Channel. Haney noted it is "all expected to add up" to PPV sales "for the fight that could approach or exceed record performances." Top Rank Chair Bob Arum said "closed-circuit locations are doing tremendously" ahead of Saturday's bout. Arum: "We had the quickest sellout of tickets in years. We base how the pay-per-view is going to do on those indicators. It should do absolutely great" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 11/12).
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR: USA TODAY's Bob Velin wrote Saturday's bout is "unquestionably the 'Manny Pacquiao Show,' also starring Miguel Cotto." Arum: "Manny's the star of the show. That's why everybody is here" (USA TODAY, 11/12). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Gordon Marino wrote while Pacquiao has "won more than the hearts of his countrymen," he also has "cultivated a fervent base of supporters in the U.S." He fights in an "artful fury that even casual fans find enthralling" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/12). In Toronto, Morgan Campbell notes Pacquiao's "mainstream profile continues to rise." Nike in October "unveiled a billboard in Hollywood emblazoned with Pacquiao's image," while Time magazine earlier this year named him "one of the world's 100 most influential people." In addition, his "fame in the Philippines and beyond has only grown." Toronto-based Filipino Bulletin Publisher Carlos Unas said, "He's bigger than our president. Everyone knows his name and is proud of him. He put the Philippines on the map" (TORONTO STAR, 11/13).
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Pacquiao-Cotto Could Be On Same Level
As Classic Hagler-Hearns Fight |
PACKING QUITE A PUNCH: In L.A., Bill Dwyer wrote under the header, "Pacquiao-Cotto Is A Fight Worth The Money." If this bout is a "tough sell, it is only because slugfests are not high priority in sluggish economies." The publicity for the fight is "needed only for those who have just recently found an interest in boxing," because for fans "in the know, Pacquiao-Cotto has had a ring of excellence since the day the fight was made." The bout shows boxing, "to its credit and in order to get the best matchups, is abandoning the usual weight categories and making up the rules as it goes along" (L.A. TIMES, 11/12). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole wrote there "may come a day, not too long from now, when boxing fans speak of Pacquiao-Cotto in the same reverential terms that they speak" of the '85 Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns middleweight title. It is "not hyperbole to suggest that Saturday's bout" could ultimately become "another of the sport's epic battles" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/11). Meanwhile, in Sacramento, Victor Contreras noted the fourth and final episode of HBO's "24/7" miniseries surrounding the fight will air Friday night, and "after watching four episodes of these boxers' lives -- and those who help shape them -- you can't help but want to buy the PPV fight" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 11/12).
SITTING PRETTY: In London, Ron Lewis wrote the winner of Saturday's bout should next face Floyd Mayweather Jr., who "came out of retirement to beat Juan Manuel Marquez in September." But "logic seldom plays a part in such things," and "rows over money and promotional rivalries make Mayweather-Pacquiao seem a long way off." The window for a Mayweather-Pacquiao bout "seems to be about March next year, because Pacquiao is planning to run in the Filipino Congressional elections in May." Arum wants to feature Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium in March, but "has denied that Mayweather is being considered as an opponent" (TIMES.co.uk, 11/12).
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