Pacman-Marquez ppv exceeds 1 million

HOUSTON – The counting isn’t over yet and the pay-per-view figures for the recent fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez have already breached the one million mark.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum said Saturday early figures are pegged at 1.15 million hits, ensuring another big day for everybody involved in last week’s historic fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“We don’t know yet (final figure),” said Arum as he sat at ringside of the Toyota Center waiting for the night’s main bout between Filipino Nonito Donaire Jr. and Mexican Jorge Arce.

“But 1.15 million (so far) is a good figure. It’s just the first week. Computations are still being done,” said Arum, who expects the final number to come close to that of Pacquiao-Marquez 3.

The third fight between the two great fighters, which was held last November, did over 1.2 million buys, and this one just coming close to that should be enough to satisfy everybody.

At $59.95 per pop, the pay-per-view sales for Pacquiao-Marquez 4 are expected to generate around $70 million.

It means that Pacquiao, who was guaranteed $23 million for the fight, may end up with perhaps $26 million or $27 million when everything comes in.

“I think at the end of the day, we’ll probably do a little less than the third fight,” said Arum the other day.

“But almost as much which is great, and since we charged $5 more ($59.95 per hit), it will probably be the equivalent amount of money,” he said.

Marquez was guaranteed $6 million and may end up with a couple more millions at the end of the day, enough for him to park a couple more Ferraris in his garage.

Marquez, who took up accounting, should be very happy seeing the numbers, and counting his money later on. It’s not surprise that this early he’s sounding like he wants a fifth fight with Pacquiao.

“I spoke to Marquez and I think he wants to do it. It’s up to the promoters,” said Marquez’ strength and conditioning coach, Angel Hernandez, here Friday.

“I think he (Marquez) wants two months off then fight in June at 140 (pounds) or with Manny,” said Hernandez.

He said if Pacquiao decides to return to the ring no earlier that September, then Marquez will fight a small fight just to keep himself busy.