HOME BOX OFFICE (HBO) IS EXPECTING brisk business from Manny Pacquiao’s encore fight with Mexico’s Erik Morales tomorrow.
Unfazed by lack of major media coverage in California–the most lucrative pro boxing market in the United States–the pay per view giant has made the fight available to over 50 million homes.
Why at $44.95 a pop, HBO is even offering the fight from the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas in high definition television (HDTV) for “unsurpassed” clarity and realism.
HBO is again literally banking on its rock-solid marketing reputation to make a windfall from the fight.
But there is something about Morales and Pacquiao that makes the Golden State’s major print media mum about their bouts. Or is it just because of the newspapers’ traditional disdain for television and its capacity to erode their reader base?
Anyway, the top five California newspapers are living up to tradition. After a near-blackout of news on the first Pacquiao-Morales fight last year, they again have demurred from treating the runup to tomorrow’s super featherweight title match as a major news story.
Despite vast resources at their disposal, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, San Diego Union-Tribune, Orange County Register and the Sacramento Bee–the five biggest daily newspapers of the state–have treated the bout like a desert for news.
The only saving grace is La Opinion, the most circulated Spanish-language daily in California.
The bible of boxing for Latinos has written major stories on the card since it was announced.
Filipino newspapers around the state have thrown in their hefty share of publicity by reprinting stories, usually without permission, from Manila-based dailies.
Like last year, the only substantive mainstream media exposure on the bout appeared in the Los Angeles Daily News– considered a poor cousin to the LA Times in terms of circulation and influence.
In its Jan. 11 edition, the Daily News reported that Manny Pacquiao will be able to use his preferred Reyes brand of gloves for his rematch with Morales. The Filipino fighter has complained that using the “Winning brand globes that are preferred by Morales took steam out of his punches.”
According to the newspaper, each fighter will be able to use whatever gloves he prefers for tomorrow.
“I think psychologically, maybe wearing the (Reyes) gloves makes him feel that he is a stronger puncher than he really is,” the Daily News quoted Morales as saying. “All I can tell you is that I fight with both kinds of gloves and I knock people out with both kinds of gloves.”
Sports Note: Former Tarlac Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco delivered a virtual report to the nation on the Southeast Asian Games during the awards dinner of the Philippine Sportswriters Association last week. The boring 25-minute plus speech by the Philippine Olympic Committee head contributed to the drab atmosphere of the event. President Macapagal-Arroyo, hightailed it to the Manila Pavilion after the Lakas meeting at the Palace. The President’s appearance, however limited, saved the night marked by the absence of most major awardees.
