Indications are that the pay-per-view result will be around 1.5 million buys, which is a phenomenal number. It’s a tribute not only to De La Hoya’s ability to sell, but it points out the widespread popularity that Pacquiao has obtained. This guy isn’t popular just among his countrymen in the Philippines.
It's an open question how much the recession affects pay-per-view buys, but this figure is a true testament to the selling ability of Oscar De La Hoya. Casual boxing fans are cognizant of Pacquiao and his significance, but he has not historically demonstrated the drawing power to pull in numbers like this. My hope is that Pacquiao's win translates into a star making event where this win acts as a catalyst such that future bouts against high-profile boxers (Hatton, Mayweather) also turn into large pay-per-view buyrates.
I hesitate to say these numbers somehow imply something significant about the popularity of boxing against MMA given how strong the pull of Oscar De La Hoya is. It's also scary now that talk of De La Hoya's retirement is swirling rapidly, thereby robbing the sport of huge PPV purchases in addition to spotlighting less popular fighters like Manny Pacquiao. But it's comforting to know if this was De La Hoya's last fight, he can at least salvage some dignity by pointing to the dollars he's pulled in. His 15 plus year career was pretty spectacular and while Pacquiao worked him over last Saturday, "The Golden Boy" is undoubtedly the most popular figure in combat athletics. Even in declining ability and increasing age, that still counts for quite a bit. Hell, there has heretofore never been a UFC event match or beat this PPV figure. Not too shabby.
Update: HBO announced today that the buyrate was 1.25 million.