While most of us watched UFC 121 last Saturday, HBO began another installment of its 24/7 series featuring Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao. The three-part series chronicles the fight camps leading up to their fight on November 13th in Dallas.
Sports Business Daily (subscription required) details the mainstream leadup:
Pacquiao (will make an) appearance on the November cover of American Way, the in-flight magazine of American Airlines. The magazine debuts on Monday, with circulation of about 315,000 across the entire fleet. That night, Pacquiao is slated to appear on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” along with Will Ferrell. Pacquiao also will be featured on CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Nov. 7, with Bob Simon reporting a story that has been in the works since February. In addition to shooting in the Philippines, Simon and the CBS crew have shadowed Pacquiao since he arrived in L.A. Saturday night, joining him for sparring, road work and meals with his vast inner circle. Interviews with Pacquiao, promoter Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach are scheduled for this week. Meanwhile, Pacquiao is scheduled to appear at a campaign rally for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Friday night in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, who was elected to Congress in the Philippines in May, will endorse Reid, who is locked in a tight race with Tea Party-backed Republican Sharron Angle.
Payout Perspective:
It is interesting that Harry Reid has enlisted Dana White, Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Frank Mir and now Manny Pacquiao to attract voters. This is a sign that Reid, 70, is trying to reach out to the 18-34 male demographic. In a tight race with the Republican candidate, Reid will need every vote.
As for the Pacquiao fight, we have seen the mainstream PR before. He is boxing. It seems like the only things that can really defeat him are his various distractions away from boxing. As for Margarito, the story will revolve around his infamous Mosley fight and subsequent suspension.
It is too bad that the Mayweather fight never materialized because that fight is the only one out there that could bring back boxing to mainstream consciousness. Pacquiao is a huge draw because he is an icon among Filipinos and has drawn many other fans because of his fighting style. But, he hasn’t had the opportunity to fight a serious contender in a couple years.
Can’t wait for the fight I got pacman cuase margarito is a disgrace to boxing and combat sports
funny article
the title is pacquiao fight grabs mainstream exposure
and on the last paragraph only the fight with mayweather can bring boxing back to mainstream consciousness lol….well his fighting margarito and he got maintream exposure….contradiction
hasnt had the opportunity to fight a serious contender in a couple of years?
so cotto is not a serious contender?he fought dela hoya(faded but still way bigger)hatton was bigger and clottey is also big and in the top 10 of his division
and OH dont forget his not from the states…and he gets this attention from american media……..that wont happen soon with anderson, junior dos santos and fedor
Juice:
I believe that there are two points here: mainstream exposure and mainstream consciousness.
The article first reports about the PR exposure the Pacquiao/Margarito fight is receiving. This includes his appearances in print and on television. Also a personal appearance for Harry Reid.
Next, that notwithstanding the PR leading up to the Nov. 13th fight, I make the argument that boxing is not in the minds of most sports fans (or the media) because there is not a great opponent for Manny Pacquiao to face. Were fans really excited to watch Joshua Clottey face Manny Pacquiao? How about Cotto…maybe? Hatton? Margarito? Fans would be excited to watch him fight Floyd Mayweather. A fight like that would bring boxing back to the level of the UFC (that’s my take).
There are no boxing superfights to be excited about anymore.
yup 1.15million ppv foe cotto is small and hatton 800t ppv yup thats small as well lol.now tell me which WEC star who weighs in at 140 lbs..and for argument sake which ufc 170 lbs can headline and event and get these kind of numbers…pacquiao is filipino and cotto is from puerto rico..hatton is from the u.k… yet they were able to generate this much ppv in the U.S..?