LAS VEGAS ? Top Rank Promotions boss Bob Arum proudly announced an attendance of 18,276 for the “Grand Finale” between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales at the Thomas and Mack Center here Saturday night.
Pay-per-view sales are still being tallied from all over the US but Arum said, from early indications, the hits will exceed 400,000. The first two Pacquiao-Morales bouts drew about 370,000 subscriptions apiece.
If Arum?s projection of 400,000 is right, Pacquiao could earn a cut of at least $2 million which he won?t need to share with anyone. That would mean a gross of $5 million for Pacquiao, including his guaranteed purse of $3 million (compared to Morales? $2.75 million).
Once Pacquiao cuts up the money pie, he could end up with over $2 Million for his bank account.
The attendance was the third largest to witness a boxing match in Southern Nevada, according to Jeff Haney of the Las Vegas Sun. The second biggest crowd ever showed up for the 1992 bout between Julio Cesar Chavez and Hector (Macho) Camacho at the same venue. Over 19,000 fans jammed the University of Nevada at Las Vegas basketball gym for the match and organizers even sold standing-only tickets to accommodate the huge demand.
The record of about 30,000 was set in 1982 when Larry Holmes stopped Gerry Cooney in a heavyweight contest at Caesars Palace.
Haney said Pacquiao?s third round demolition of Morales was reminiscent of Marvelous Marvin Hagler?s win over Tommy Hearns also by a knockout in the third. The Hagler-Hearns match was held in 1985 and is known in history books as the “Eight Minute War.” * * * Pacquiao was a runaway 3-1 favorite to beat Morales but oddsmakers were surprised by the early ending. Most experts predicted a knockout win after five or six rounds when Morales wouldn?t be as strong.
Boxing 2006 Magazine, for instance, picked Pacquiao to win by a stoppage in the 12th round.
“A big key to the first fight was Morales? ability to keep Pacquiao at the end of his jab and score from the outside,” said the magazine editors. “In the rematch, Pacquiao found a way to counter Morales? reach advantage by ducking under the jab and banging right hooks to the body which eventually helped break down Morales? resistance. The end was almost merciful as a battered and helpless Morales was stopped for the first time in his career.
“Count on Morales and Pacquiao putting on another entertaining fight as they are virtually incapable of anything else. This time, a better-conditioned Morales devises a way to stick around a little longer as he tests Pacquiao?s patience with jabs and rights from long range. But Morales will wither in the later rounds as Pacquiao gets stronger and stronger, finally stopping Morales in the 12th.”
The publication made this assessment of Pacquiao?s ability to win:
“Excellent hand and footspeed. Good upper-body strength. Quick reflexes. Boundless energy, despite busy out-of-ring lifestyle. Nasty cut suffered in first Morales bout but not reopened in three subsequent fights Looks comfortable making 130.
“Powerfully accurate left hand thrown from southpaw stance, one of the most devastating weapons in boxing today. Right hand starting to become more effective punch, especially to the body. High degree of confidence. Carefree attitude compliments aggressive style.
“Frequently abandons defense in favor of all-out assault but has incorporated more upper-body movement in recent years. Sturdy chin and conditioning enable him to withstand power shots. Southpaw knockout artist with rapid-fire attack that now features blistered power in both hands. Throws wide array of punches from every conceivable angle. Always in crowd-pleasing fights, regardless of opponent. Seldom retreats. Enjoys fighting.”
Boxing Monthly writer Graham Houston also predicted a late knockout for Pacquiao:
“The first four or five rounds are likely to be fiercely contested but I think that, as in their last fight, Pacquiao will gradually begin to land more punches and increase the intensity of his assaults, making Morales wonder how much he really wants to stay in the fight. I think that Pacquiao will have blasted his way through the crumbling defenses of Morales by the ninth or 10th round.” * * * Arum, who just signed Pacquiao to a four-year deal, called the Filipino buzzsaw the most exciting fighter in the world today, pound for pound.
But in most polls, Pacquiao ranks third behind welterweight Floyd Mayweather and middleweight Winky Wright in the best fighter category regardless of weight class. The others in the top 12 are No. 4 Jermain Taylor, No. 5 Bernard Hopkins, No. 6 Marco Antonio Barrera, No. 7 Rafael Marquez, No. 8 Ricky Hatton, No. 9 Jose Luis Castillo, No. 10 Joe Calzghe, No. 11 Sugar Shane Mosley and No. 12 Antonio Margarito.
The honor roll excludes superwelterweight Oscar de la Hoya, long-reigning flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, unbeaten lightweight Juan Diaz and Morales.
Neither Mayweather nor Wright is as explosive or charismatic as Pacquiao ? which is why Arum said the General Santos City hero is the most exciting fighter on earth today.
