Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Friday that Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will fight for the fourth time at welterweight — 147 pounds maximum with no catch weight. They will meet Dec. 8 (HBO PPV) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, site of their epic first and third fights.
Pacquiao could have exercised his rematch clause against Timothy Bradley Jr., who claimed his belt with a controversial split-decision on June 9 but Pacquiao picked Marquez because the money was bigger, Arum told ESPN.com on Friday.
Arum said he is guaranteeing Pacquiao $23 million for the fight. Had he faced Bradley again, it would have been “considerably less,” according to Arum, who declined to reveal the figure.
“Because the economics for the Marquez fight were so much greater than for a Bradley rematch, that is what Manny decided to do,” Arum said. “It’s so much greater because of the support Marquez has from the Hispanic community. Look at the past numbers. When Pacquiao fought Marquez (in November), it sold close to 1.3 million pay-per-view. Bradley was about 900,000. That’s a big difference. Plus, the gate goes from probably $8 million to $12 million.”
“There is no sanctioning organization title involved,” Arum said. “We’re going to give that money to charity.”
Pacquiao will kick off a media tour for the fight beginning Monday in Beverly Hills. They will move to New York to meet the media on Wednesday followed by a trip to Mexico City on Friday.
Source ESPN