Tickets went flying out of the MGM Grand boxoffice over the past weekend for Chapter 4 between Manny Pacquiao and nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez.
Top Rank is “ecstatic” to report that 13,000 ducats were moved and that only 3,000 remain for Rounds 37 through 48 come December 8.
So what does this teach us, students of the Sweet Science?
I thought you would never ask but I’m glad to inform you that:
1. The Pacquiao Popularity Well has hardly gone dry. People still want to believe that Pacman can produce a crowdpleasing scrap, one worth their hard-earned live gate or PPV TV investment.
2. Marquez remains Mexico’s Fistic King, although a princeling named Canelo is obviously the heir apparent not only to Juan Ma but a possible breakthrough superstar whose fan base may someday equal that of Grand Campeon, JC Chavez Sr.
3. The sense that Juan Ma has been screwed in one, two or all three of their first fights still rubs many people, not all of them Mexicans, raw.
4. That Uncle Bob Arum was not misguided when he steered Pacman away from a rematch with Tim Bradley.
5. That Tio Roberto was also not off the mark when he suggested an outdoor, stadium venue for the elusive Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. Super Bout.
6. That Cowboys owner Jerry Jones should get back to his former goal, that of landing Manny-Floyd for his football playpen in Tejas.
7. That there is a hunger among casual fight fans for “events,” meaningful big fights and I hope this is borne out again when Golden Boy runs its first show at Brooklyn’s dazzling, new Barclays Arena. Mickey Mouse could be fighting Goofy in that October 20 main event and it would still bring out a big crowd eager to sample Bruce Ratner’s imposing new building.
8. That, over in Manhattan, Barclays rival Madison Square Garden won’t have to “fish” too hard for ticketbuyers when Boricua Bomber Migel Cotto battles Austin Trout on December 1.
9. That competition for solid boxing cards between Barclays and MSG could be the best thing to happen in New York sports since Linsanity rocked the Garden and the whole city.
P.S., I like Marquez to win the fifth fight which Arum may label “Bottom Of The Fifth.”
