Business in Boxing: Manny Pacquiao versus Ricky Hatton (Battle of East and West)

On Saturday night, May 2, 2009, at the MGM Grand Garden, boxing’s pound for pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao of the Philippines and Ricky “Hitman” Hatton of England will face each other for the boxing’s world supremacy. The ring magazine and IBO championship belt at 140 pound held by Hatton and the pound for pound crown of Pacquiao are on the line. But this clash is not only for the two boxers, Pacquiao and Hatton. Their trainers, Freddie Roach and Floyd Joy Mayweather, Sr. (father of five-division champion and former pound for pound king Floyd “Pretty Boy” Mayweather, Jr. are also putting on the line their reputation as the best trainer in the world right now.

Millions of people around the globe excitingly awaits for this very exciting and action-packed guaranteed match between the two of the world’s best warrior alive. And as I write this article, I feel the enthusiasm of watching this event. But this is a business oriented site. So what is boxing doing in this site anyway? Well, there is huge money in boxing. And when there is big money, there is big business. Boxers, trainers, promoters, the media and even the bloggers, are enjoying the profits distributed by highly regarded boxing events such as the “battle of the east and west” featuring Pacquiao and Hatton. Boxers like Manny Pacquiao, who is considered as the world’s no.1 boxer today, is guaranteed with a purse of $11 million for his coming fight tomorrow at MGM. This amount excludes his share in the pay-per-view and other revenue that will be generated from the show. World’s top trainers like Roach and Mayweather are also highly-paid and are enjoying luxury living out of their career as elite boxing trainers. The two promoters of this fight are Bob Arum’s Top rank and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. These giant companies together with the top PPV provider HBO, get the biggest revenue provided from this kind of event. As for bloggers like me, and especially those who are blogging pure boxing sports, the “battle of East and West” will pull massive visitors who are boxing fanatics during this occasion.

When Manny Pacquiao knocked out Oscar Delahoya in December 6, 2008, Pacquiao climbed in the Yahoo’s top searches. This just proved how popular is Manny pacquaio and how he is worth to blog during his megafights. That is why the Pacman is also called as “Mega Manny” for bringing mega money inside and outside the ring. At this moment, millions of people are searching for Manny Pacquiao in the Internet. And I assume more millions of people are searching for a “free online video” or free online coverage” of his fight against Ricky Hatton. This most awaiting battle can be seen live on HBO PPV and other PPV providers in the market. There are also free videos and coverage that can be found in the internet through some people who share their live streaming on the net. However, most of these free online coverages are distributed without permissions from copyright owners and therefore considered as illegal. Hence, in due respect with copyright owners, it is better to buy PPV to watch the fight live via cable or via internet. Or, you can also watch the fight for free on delayed telecast coverage by TV stations like GMA7 and Solar Sports in the Philippines.

As for now, let’s just wait and see for this very exciting fight – who will win? Is it Manny “the Pacman” Pacquiao or Ricky “Hitman” Hatton? And for the business sense, let us wait and see how this show will generate millions of dollars.

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