ARUM SAYS THE INCOME FROM THE ?FIGHT OF THE CENTURY? IS UNBELIEVABLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 25 Mar 2015
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says the income from the ?Fight of the Century? between eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao and undefeated pound for pounbd king Floyd Mayweather Jr at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2 is ?terrific, unbelievable.?
He said the ?sale of everything? which includes television rights around the world continues to bring in the big bucks even as the wait of almost five years to get the fight done is paying huge dividends although Arum emphasized ?it's not that we planned it? in reference to the delay in sealing the fight deal.
Solar Sports which reportedly paid a massive $10 million for the Philippine rights will hold a news conference on Thursday at the Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino after the much-awaited press conference of ?Pinoy Pride 30?, the blockbuster fight card of ALA Promotions and its partner, the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN at the same venue.
Solar Sports top executives are expected to announce details of the telecast as well as the networks that will air the fight in response to a request by Pacquiao himself that he wished to bring the networks together for the telecast of his showdown with Mayweather.
Solar Sports which has telecast Pacquiao?s fights beginning with his November 2003 battle with Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas is certain to telecast the fight.
However, there have been reports that TV 5 and ABS-CBN have also been involved in hectic negotiations to carry the fight with The Filipino Channel of ABS-CBN which has regularly telecast the Pacquiao fights in the middle east in particular, expected to win the rights to air the fight on its widely watched TFC network.
The three major networks have had reporters and camera crews covering the day-to-day activities almost solely of Pacquiao because of apparent restrictions imposed by the Mayweather camp.
The two bitter rivals in the coverage of boxing in Mexico, TV Azteca and Televisa have taken a lead from the Showtime-HBO agreement and have agreed to telecast the fight simultaneously and reportedly paid a rights fee of some $2.6 million.
Arum has disclosed that the fight will be telecast in over 170 countries which means that besides bringing in the highest gate in boxing history, likely record pay per view buys the fight is almost certain to rake in record revenues from around the world.
Meantime CignalTV got a head-start in the Philippines and announced that ?The Battle for Greatness? on Cignal Front Seat PPV live will be at a discounted rate of P2,000 until April 8 but starting April 19 the PPV regular brate will be P2,500.
The latest addition to the international coverage mix is Sports Box Office which has been awarded exclusive live rights according to an agreement announced in London on Tuesday.
Sky Sports reported that its viewers will be able to follow the build-up to Mayweather vs Pacquiao across its channels and digital media outlets, including access to both boxers? training camps, press conferences and public appearances.
Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports, said: "This fight has everything and is set to be one of the biggest sports events of the year. As the home of boxing in the UK and Republic of Ireland, we?re thrilled to be awarded the rights.
"We'll provide Sky Sports viewers with the best possible build-up across our channels and outlets and the best coverage of the fight itself from our team in Las Vegas."
Analysis of the fight will be provided by Adam Smith, former world cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson and former world lightweight champion Jim Watt, as well as a range of boxing experts. Sky Sports viewers can also enjoy an extensive schedule of support programming providing the best possible analysis of the fight including the weekly magazine programme Ringside, the Ringside Toe 2 Toe podcast series and feature-length interviews.
Sky Sports News HQ will be in Las Vegas during the final build-up to bring the latest news and analysis from both camps including the official press conferences and weigh-in as the two fighters complete their training camps and anticipation reaches fever pitch.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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