from www.philstar.com
by Dino Maragay
Pacquiao-Hatton
MANILA, Philippines – With just a little over a week remaining, the live gate for the May 3 megafight between Filipino star Manny Pacquiao and British slugger Ricky Hatton has sold out, promoters announced today.
Nevertheless, those who weren’t able to get tickets to watch the fight live at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas can still catch the action via closed-circuit viewing at Mandalay Bay, Mirage, TI, Monte Carlo, Circus Circus, Luxor and New York-New York.
Tickets for the closed-circuit telecast are pegged at $50, excluding handling fees.
With this development, Bob Arum of Top Rank said the Pacquiao-Hatton fight will likely shatter existing pay-per-view records.
“Given that the live gate for this event is sold out, coupled with the sellout of tonight’s San Francisco Giants baseball game where Manny is the guest of honor, indicates to me that ‘The Battle of East and West’ is on track to break all existing pay-per-view records,” Arum said in a statement.
Top Rank is co-promoting the event with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, which handles Hatton.
De La Hoya, who recently announced his retirement from boxing, also expressed satisfaction with the high interest generated by the bout.
“We’re extremely pleased with the way fans have reacted to this event and I’m really not surprised that this fight is sold out,” De La Hoya said. “You’ve got two of the best fighters in the world in Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao, as well as two of the most exciting fighters, facing each other in their primes. This is going to be a fight to remember.”
