WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 SPORTS

Megafight numbers add up to new sporting landscape

LAS VEGAS: Even in where yet we have said that about a lot of most eagerly anticipated in “When you have a billion people, if and famous with only 500 offered for fortunes are won and lost on the roll of things in global sports: television rights, since the 1975 ‘Thrilla in Manila’ you just get 10 percent of the popula- sale to the general public. the dice, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and $2 billion franchises, billion dollar stadi- between and Joe tion to watch a fight on television, you As usual, casinos up and down the have Sin City abuzz ums. Frazier. The current PPV record is 2.5 mil- do the math.” And the numbers are eye- Las Vegas Strip will flash the names of over a megafight that will generate mil- “So nothing surprises me anymore lion buys for a 2007 fight between popping. big-name headliners on their glitzy mar- lions and reshape the sport business but this in many ways is a watershed Mayweather and but While sport fans have grown numb quees but for this weekend the hottest landscape. event for boxing and maybe the busi- Saturday’s bout should obliterate that to multi-million soccer transfer fees and ticket in town once again belongs to From $100,000 ringside seats to $150 ness of sport.” mark with at least 3 million boxing fans routine $100 million player contracts boxing. million paydays, Saturday’s long-await- Even by Las Vegas standards, a desert expected to tune in. “A lot of people the figures surrounding Saturday’s fight “Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is an ed showdown between the greatest city built on excess, Mayweather and over the last half dozen years have been have provided a ‘take notice’ jolt. With event that transcends not just boxing fighters of a generation is expected to Pacquiao will bank a king’s ransom, their saying, ‘Well MMA or UFC is taking over,’” Showtime and HBO predicting unprece- but sport in general,” Peter Nelson, vice be the richest fight of all-time and night’s work likely to land both men at famed ring announcer Michael Buffer dented pay-per-view numbers ticket president of programming for HBO smash records in fashion. the top of Forbes’ 2015 highest-paid told Reuters. “MMA, UFC, no doubt brokers have also been startled at the Sports, told Reuters. “The quality of “It is precedent setting and it breaks athletes list. The undefeated about it, are very successful and have a staggering prices on the resale market competition is what attracts fans. every financial model known to man,” Mayweather (47-0) is guaranteed $120 hard core and loyal group of fans ... but with some ringside seats on StubHub “People want to see athletes at the Rick Horrow, sports lecturer at Harvard million and Filipino Pacquiao (57-5-2) is they don’t have the scope or the world- commanding $109,000. top level of their sport in the toughest Law School, told Reuters. “The pay-per- assured $80 million but could top those wide appeal that boxing does. The MGM Grand Garden Arena, test imaginable. “Greatness is more than view is $100, the tickets are almost unaf- figures depending on pay-per-view “Boxing is huge in Russia and the which has a capacity of 16,800, will be talent, it’s seeking out moments of fordable for even the millionaire fight (PPV) sales. eastern European countries. Asia, of packed with high rollers, A-listers, enter- adversity and moments of reckoning fan. Showtime and HBO will jointly course, with Pacquiao. Chinese fighters tainment moguls and business tycoons, and showing people what you can do in “The numbers are almost unrealistic broadcast the bout, which is one of the now have started to step up. tickets out of reach for all but the rich those moments.”—Reuters

plot on how to hit Mayweather

LOS ANGELES: Manny Pacquiao and trainer have spent the past two months trying to solve the biggest puzzle in modern boxing. How does anybody hit Floyd Mayweather Jr., a fighter whose perfect career is built on being nearly impossible to touch? Pacquiao and Roach will reveal their answer in detail Saturday night in Las Vegas, when the fighters meet in the richest bout in boxing his- tory. But clues to a strategy for breaking Mayweather’s impenetrable defense were evi- dent in Pacquiao’s final workout at Roach’s Wild Card gym in Hollywood on Monday. Pacquiao was a whirlwind of motion from the moment he stepped in the ring, throwing dozens of punches in combinations against Roach’s mitts and chest protector. While Roach took a much-deserved break, Pacquiao shad- owboxed across the canvas, peppering the air with hundreds of rapid-fire punches long after his workout could have been over. “You can beat Floyd Mayweather if you out- work him and never give him a chance to do the things he does best,” Roach said. “Manny is punching real hard, but I want him to outscore (Mayweather) in every round. I think we can win a 12-round decision. We want to throw a ton of punches.” Pacquiao is betting on aggression, activity and volume to defeat Mayweather, according to and his longtime train- er. The eight-division world champion has trained fiercely to fight 12 rounds of nonstop offense against the pre-eminent defensive fighter of his generation. “I’m not really looking for a knockout,” Pacquiao said. “We’re not looking only for a knockout, but for throwing a lot of punches, and also making sure that every round, we’re LAS VEGAS: At left, in a May 4, 2013, file photo, Floyd Mayweather Jr. exchanges punches with Robert Guerrero (not shown) in aWBC title fight. At right, in a Nov. 12, ahead on points.” 2011, file photo, Manny Pacquiao exchanges punches with Juan Manuel Marquez (not shown) during a WBO welterweight title fight inLas Vegas.—AP Pacquiao has built his remarkable career on otherworldly quickness and old-fashioned vol- ume punching, both outmaneuvering and out- working nearly all of his opponents over the Heavyweight appetizer for Mayweather, Pacquiao past 10 years. He has never faced a fighter with Mayweather’s skills in defense and counter- punching, but Roach believes Mayweather has NEW YORK: joined shadowed by Saturday’s upcoming bout. the legs? They were bigger opponents, but were lenger Jennings, said Pacquiao’s attitude would never dealt with an opponent as relentless as in the record books with his title bout on Saturday “Thankfully, it’s not the undercard,” Klitschko they slower? Were they southpaw, were they be key. “Depends which Pacquiao comes,” Shaw the southpaw Filipino congressman. but the event took a decided back seat to box- said with a laugh, acknowledging how he would energetic?” he rattled off. “Were they on him like a said. “If it’s the real religious Pacquiao that comes “Our volume of combinations is much high- ing’s latest ‘Fight of the Century’-Mayweather v have ranked in the billing for the extravaganza. swarm of wild bees after you disturbed the bees’ in and doesn’t have the killer instinct he had years er than Mayweather’s,” Roach said. Pacquiao. Klitschko matched the legendary Louis “Obviously, Jennings and Klitschko is not the nest and they’re all over you? That is how ago, I don’t think he has a chance. “Mayweather waits for you to finish your com- by climbing into the ring for his record-tying 27th mega-fight.” The Las Vegas bout is expected to be Pacquiao fights.” Promoter/manager Shelly Finkel “If he goes in and takes Mayweather into a bination and throws back with the big right world championship fight but the boxing’s richest and there was no shortage of said he thought the fight would be tougher than street fight, maybe he hits him low, gets a point hand or the check , and we’re not going Ukrainian’s win against was a comment. many think.“I believe Mayweather will win taken away, pushes him... “I remember (Evander) to be there for that. We’re going to be in and mere prelude to bigger things. Most favored Mayweather, as do the odds- because he’s just a better fighter,” Finkel said. “But Holyfield telling me the night before he went in out, and I plan on Manny outscoring him that “This event with Wladimir Klitschko, heavy- makers. , a longtime mid- this is not going to be easy. Pacquiao is coming the ring with (Mike) Tyson, ‘I’m going to push him way.” Roach also seems confident Pacquiao can weight champion of the world returning to dleweight champion who became the oldest to fight. He has to. His whole country depends on into the ropes. If he hits me once, I’m going to hit move better than Mayweather in a 12-round , is the perfect hors d’oeu- world champion by taking the light-heavyweight it.” him twice. If he pushes me once, I’m going to fight, a remarkable prediction based on obser- vre to what the main course will be next week,” crown at age 46 and won again at 49, expects the Iran Barkley, the former world , push him twice.’” vation. The trainer believes Mayweather’s legs Peter Nelson, HBO sports programming vice pres- aging combatants to wage a lively battle. super-middleweight and light-heavyweight Former undisputed heavyweight champ will fade in the second half of the fight, partic- ident, told Reuters. “The first six rounds, I believe you’re going to champion, also picked Mayweather. “Floyd is the joked about the gravity of the ularly if Pacquiao chases him around the ring The biggest buzz among boxing notables get your money’s worth,” he told Reuters. “Back mecca of boxing right now,” he said. welterweight showdown. “Only heavyweight for the first half. gathered in the Big Apple centered on the long- and forth, before Mayweather is going to figure “I see it as a big fight like Sugar Ray Leonard fights are the ‘Fights of the Century’,” he said, Evidence of the decline in the 38-year-old awaited showdown between Floyd Mayweather him out.” and (Roberto) Duran in the years of ‘No Mas’. Both with a nod to indelible moments produced by Mayweather’s legs is debatable, but Roach and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2. But Hopkins expects Pacquiao will present a of these guys are going to put on a tremendous the likes of Louis and Muhammad Ali. “But I’m insists he saw it in Mayweather’s two most Even Klitschko understood his place in the unique challenge. “Look at Floyd’s wins in the last fight. But my man Floyd is going to be victorious.” going to be watching it. I’m trying to get some recent fights against . The boxing landscape when asked about feeling over- five or six fights. Did you see anything different in Gary Shaw, promoter of losing heavyweight chal- tickets.”—Reuters hard-hitting Argentine seemed to land more clean shots on Mayweather than anybody in recent history through persistence and vol- ume, although Mayweather has scoffed at the Fight week begins with notion. “Mayweather’s legs are shot, and you saw it twice last year,” Roach said. “He’s not becoming caravan to Las Vegas more crowd-pleasing. He just can’t move like he used to, so he has to exchange more. As LAS VEGAS: The last time Freddie Roach was Delano Las Vegas hotel at Mandalay Bay long as we can hit him and then move, on the interstate linking with this sometime early evening Monday following Mayweather can’t touch us.” boxing capital, he was written up for going seven weeks of training at Roach’s Wild Card Roach has closed Pacquiao’s sparring ses- 140 mph. Boxing Club in Hollywood. His arrival marks sions to the media, an unusual tactic for the Roach will be driving a lot slower as part of the unofficial kickoff to a fight week unlike duo. Roach said it’s because they’re working a colorful caravan of hundreds of cars heading any other in a city used to hosting the biggest on a detailed game plan that includes “a little down Interstate 15 with Manny Pacquiao for fights. bit more of a surprise. Stuff he hasn’t seen his showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. So far it doesn’t look like promoters under- before.” “Manny will spar for the last time and after estimated the demand for the fight. The But Roach has echoed Pacquiao’s decision that we’ll break camp and everyone will go to cheapest ticket on the StubHub website to downplay the possibility of a knockout. their cars and trucks,” Roach said. “The Sunday was $5,245, while ringside seats were Mayweather has rarely even been in trouble in entourage used to be about 100 cars, I’d say being offered for as much as $106,950. Even his career, much less stopped, while Pacquiao there might be 1,000 cars this time.” Fight tickets to watch on closed circuit at various hasn’t stopped anyone in his last nine fights week is finally here, and even in a city known MGM-owned properties in Las Vegas - which since 2009. for the outlandish it is shaping up to be some- originally sold for $150 - were being offered at “I can’t count on him knocking this guy out, thing special. The richest fight in history has $620 or more online. because he really has never been a big punch- spawned $100,000 ringside tickets, hotel Everybody will pay for a fight that will likely er at 147 (pounds),” Roach said. “That’s because rooms going for $1,600 a night, and a pay-per- earn Mayweather $180 million and Pacquiao by fight time, most of the guys he’s fighting view price just a nickel shy of a $100 bill. $120 million. Even Roach had to shell out have been 160, and they’re just bigger guys.” Even $10 tickets to see the two fighters at $70,000 for 20 tickets for family and friends, But Roach wants Pacquiao to be ready to the weigh-in are running as much as $700 though he was able to get his at retail prices. fight from the opening bell, something that through online ticket brokers. Everything is “My mother asked for four tickets and my shouldn’t be hard with the likely frenzy in the MGM Grand Garden. over the top for the megafight that was five mother gets whatever she wants,” Roach said. PHILIPPINES: Passengers disembark from an AirAsia Philippines Airbus A320 passenger “For some reason, I have an idea that years in the making. That includes the caravan “My brothers and sister all want to go. I’m hap- plane with the livery of Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao upon arrival from Cebu city. —AP that will bring Pacquiao to Las Vegas, featur- py I can afford to buy them tickets.” (Mayweather) is going to come out really quick ing hundreds of cars and a custom bus While Pacquiao will be arriving in town, tacular performance, you can count on that.” his way to town. A seven-time winner of the on us and try to knock Manny out in the first wrapped in Pacquiao’s image for some of the Mayweather lives here and has been training Ellerbe said he isn’t surprised by the trainer of the year award by the Boxing Writers round,” Roach said. “I think he’s been watching the tape of Manny getting knocked out (by luckier members of his entourage. at his own gym just west of the Las Vegas demand for anything to do with the fight, of America, he said Pacquiao guaranteed him Juan Manuel Marquez). Mayweather does have “I might have the fastest car,” Roach said. Strip. His promoter, Leonard Ellerbe, said which will smash records for biggest gate and a win last week so he would win the award for that big overhand right, or that long right “But if I get one more of those tickets I can’t Sunday that Mayweather will treat the week almost surely set records for pay-per-view an eighth time. hand. I think he’s going to use that against us. drive anymore. I asked the police officer, why just like any other big fight he has been sales. “Everything is out of the stratosphere,” “This will be my biggest win ever,” Roach We’re prepared for that one also. “I think do they make these cars so fast if you can’t involved in. he said. “It shows you the world wide appeal said. “This one really counts, it will be in the of this fight.” history books the rest of our lives. I think my Mayweather will come right after us. I hope he drive that way? I should have shut my mouth.” “It’s a typical fight week, business as usual,” does. We’re ready.” —AP Pacquiao is scheduled to arrive at the Ellerbe said. “Floyd is going to put on a spec- Roach can be forgiven if he speeds a bit on guy is ready for it.” —AP