Will Pacquiao duck Mayweather?

[knodaledge]

Comparing Pac vs. Marquez and Floyd vs. Marquez is irrelevant. Two completely different weight classes. The Floyd vs. Marquez match up was a complete mismatch from the day the fight was signed. And while the PPV sales might have been high...the actual fight was a snoozefest. Pac generates excitement in the ring. Floyd, for all of his technical brilliance, generates more excitement on the pre-fight hype than in the actual ring. You don't have to be a Pac fan to realize that he is the most exciting and probably most popular fighter in the sport. So in the end...it doesn't really matter about previous fights...what matters is the ability for the fighters to generate $$$$...and Pac can do that as well if not better than Floyd at this point. So having said that...Pac deserves at least half of the purse. Floyd will not be fighting an up and comer, he will not be fighting a stiff...he will be fighting (whether you agree with it or not) the current pound for pound fighter in the sport (we shall see what happens with the Cotto fight). Personally, I wish both Pac and Floyd fought guys in their "natural" weight classes. But again...boxing is as much a business as a sport. And while in the ring these two fighters might not be equals (i see Floyd winning with relative ease at welterweight)...from a business standpoint, they certainly are equals.

Actually, no. From a business standpoint Mayweather is bigger than Pacquiao. In terms of popularity in the US Mayweather is bigger than Pacquiao. I will agree that Pacquiao is more entertaining to most/me (but this is all opinion as some appreciate the science more).

Unless Pacquiao does huge numbers in his fight with Cotto (sans Cotto's share of viewership), I can't see how Arum can even think about 50%.

In business, the topic i'm discussing, the only thing that matters is the bottom line. Who puts on the best show is irrelevant because that doesn't always equal viewership. I love Michael Katsidis's style, but there's a reason he was on the undercard of the Mayweather fight.

Simply put, Mayweather's numbers are, at this point, better than Pacquiao's numbers and unless Pacquiao (along with Cotto) does something to reverse that, 50% is simply foolish.

I have to disagree. I don't have the PPV numbers for both fighters...but right now...i think they are equal in popularity and it wouldn't shock me if Pac was even more popular. Especially after the Delahoya fight...Pac took his name to a new level. And when i took to most casual boxing fans...they certainly get more excited about Pac than Floyd. Again..Floyd mainly sells fights extremely well because he plays the loud mouth villain role so well. Sure, his technical brilliance is enjoyed by some...but his fighting style does not translate into a huge fan base. But a lot of people are excited about Pac in general. Not to mention 2 huge demographics know him very well: the Filipino and the Mexican fan base. Again...none of this has anything to do with who i think will win. But Pac, whether you agree with it or not, is the current pfp champ...and AS POPULAR a fighter as there is in the sport. And lets not oversell Floyd's ability to promote/sell fights. AFTER ALL...his biggest draw was the Oscar fight...and we all know Oscar could sell out stadiums fighting bums. Hatton also brought his huge fan base and overseas contigency to the table. Floyd, overall, hasn't been a huge PPV seller BY HIMSELF like someone like Oscar. I guarantee the Pac vs. Cotto fight will sell more than Mayweather vs. Marquez. IF Pac wins that fight...his popularity and pfp ranking will soar even more...and Floyd will not have much in the form of making contract demands.

No, i'm afraid you're wrong.

Mayweather's numbers against the same opponents are better. Oscar/Hatton were the reasons for the majority of viewership in their fights with Mayweather, but they were also the reason for the majority of viewership in their fights with Pacquiao. The only difference is their fights with Mayweather sold better than their fights with Pacquiao.

Again, i'm not debating who is more entertaining. I agree, to myself, Pacquiao is more entertaining. I'm talking purely from a business stand point. In business, things like p4p rankings hold no weight. In business all that matters is the bottom line. What matters is who sells more and at this point Mayweather does. He is also more popular in the USA.

In order for Pacquiao to get the money he wants, he will have to do great numbers with Cotto. Not just solid numbers or good numbers, he will have to do great.

I just don't see, from a business stand point, how Arum can ask for 50%. And if Pacquiao's fight against Cotto sells less than Mayweather/Marquez, he'll be lucky to get a 60/40 split.