By Kirk Jackson
Last weekend, the world witnessed the biggest boxing event of the year and it did not feature Top Rank’s own, boxing mega-star, Manny Pacquiao. Instead, the night featured up and coming star Canelo Alvarez, the fading Hall of Famer Shane Mosley who probably made his last appearance on the Pay-Per-View capacity, and the event was headlined by boxing’s biggest attractions, and former Top Rank fighters Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto.
Photo: Tom Hogan / Hogan Photos/ Golden Boy
The event was a success, generating an excess of over 1.5 million buys, with the fans definitely getting their money’s worth, watching the exciting although rather one-sided pummeling of Mosley at the hands of Alvarez, with the conclusion of the night capped off with a ventilating performance from both Mayweather and Cotto. Both fighters gave a tremendous effort, and with Mayweather electing to trade and fight the bigger man toe to toe for the majority of the fight, resulting in a terrific action packed fight.
One man that wasn’t pleased is Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum. At one point in time, Arum, former promoter of both Mayweather and Cotto, made a ton of money off the two, especially Cotto. Arum lead both fighters towards big fights and nice pay checks. But under their own guidance, Mayweather and Cotto have maximized their potential and are reeling in even bigger salaries. Since Mayweather left Arum, he has seen nothing but career high paydays. Starting with Carlos Baldomir, then with Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz and against now Miguel Cotto.
This past fight, Mayweather received a guaranteed purse of 32 million dollars, the highest in the history of the sport, and that’s not even including the ppv revenue. He is the biggest attraction in the sport, a distinction he acquired after leaving Top Rank Promotions. Cotto has even benefited from his departure of Arum. He received his biggest payday, a guaranteed 8 million dollars with some ppv revenue as well. The great thing for both fighters is they don’t have to give Arum a cut of their hard earned money, and despite Top Rank having nothing to do with the promotion; it’s going to hold the distinction of being the biggest boxing event of the year. You know Arum is mad he is missing out on this monetary opportunity. Pacquiao should take notes.. He can follow in the same foot steps of De La Hoya, Mayweather and Cotto, and make even more money then he is accustomed to seeing.
