Boxing Pay-Per-View War: Is Mayweather Riding on Pacquiao's Popularity for Buys?

Floyd Mayweather will have 16 months of inactivity by the time he goes up against Victor Ortiz on Sept. 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev.

Due to his long period of inactivity, he may have realized that his ability to generate awareness which could translate into revenues, may not be the same as this time.

His unimpressive pay per view (PPV) take on his fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, which generated roughly 1.0 million buys, could attest to his declining ability to generate more revenues for his fights.  

In his first stop in New York Tuesday to kick off a two-city press and promotional appearances designed to generate awareness and eventual tickets sales for his Sept. 17 showdown with Victor Ortiz, the unbeaten boxer has not forgotten to mention Manny Pacquiao in his promotional spiels.

While in New York, Mayweather mentioned Pacquiao's name at least three times. Although he was responding to questions about the prospects of facing Pacquiao soon, he seems eager to answer questions related to a possible clash with the Filipino boxing star.

The Las Vegas Review Journal has reported on June 29 the New York segment of the press tour and chronicled Mayweather's statement.

"I never said Manny Pacquiao is cheating," Mayweather said Tuesday from New York, where the two-city promotional tour kicked off. Mayweather and Ortiz will be in Los Angeles today.

"I never discredited Manny Pacquiao. I'm not taking anything away from him. All I said is we should take the (Olympic-style drug) tests. If you want to beat me, I want you to earn it. Just take the test.

"Do I want the Pacquiao fight? Absolutely. But it's one step at a time, and I can't overlook Victor Ortiz. He's the world champion."

Mayweather's opponent Ortiz, must have heard enough of Mayweather's constant talk about Pacquiao. He complained he is not given due respect because Mayweather is always talking about Pacquiao instead of himself as the opponent.

In one situation in the Los Angeles segment of the tour, Ortiz confronted Mayweather and poked him in his chest as their respective teams pulled them apart.

“I’m tired of it,” said Ortiz, the WBC champion, who recently beat undefeated Andre Berto a few months ago. “I do feel like I’m being disrespected. Everyone keeps talking about Pacquiao.

"Mayweather keeps saying he’s going to fight Pacquiao next. No. He’s fighting me next. Me, not Pacquiao… And I’ll be damned if I let him or anyone take this belt away from me.”

Again, in the Los Angeles segment, Mayweather said, “We only want to fight the biggest and the best out there, and Manny Pacquiao, yes, you’re next." Again,he made several references to Pacquiao.

Mayweather has a special talent in marketing, especially in promoting a boxing event as evident in many of his past fights.

It is possible he is using Pacquiao to promote the fight to gain awareness in his upcoming fight. He knows Ortiz is less popular and is not a proven in PPV generation.

He also knows he and Pacquiao have been heavily hyped in the media during the last two years and he probably wants to capitalize on the level of awareness they have created.

But using Pacquiao in promoting his fight with Ortiz to generate more revenues could be viewed by the public as a cheap shot if not a desperate effort in maintaining his status as the undisputed pay per view king.

Even if he makes good in PPV sales with Ortiz, the public, especially the loyal Pacquiao fans, could always claim his PPV success was made possible because of Pacquiao.

It may be wiser for Mayweather to rethink his future promotional spiels as he sells his upcoming fight to the the public in order to generate more PPV buys.