Pacquiao-Morales trilogy nets $49.5M

The epic super featherweight trilogy between Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao and Mexican legend Erik Morales has raked in a staggering US$49.5 million (Php2.5 billion) combined anchored on an amazing 1, 060, 000 pay-per-view subscriptions.

HBO Sports announced that the Pacquiao-Morales rubbermatch last November 18 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada has generated an estimated 350,000 pay-per-view buys and $17.5 million in revenue.

Pacquiao put up a stunning closure to their storied rivalry by flooring Morales three times on the way to a devastating third round knockout win during their short, but brutal match.

According to a report by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, HBO PPV's Mark Taffet said the figures for the fight probably will rise once the buys are fully counted.

The first bout in March 2005 generated 350,000 buys and $15.7 million in television revenue. The January rematch did 360,000 buys and $16.2 million.

"It's really remarkable," Taffet told ESPN.com. "Pacquiao-Morales III not only was an outstanding fight in the ring, and a great conclusion to a memorable trilogy, but it was also the highest grossing lighter weight fight in our pay-per-view history. With over a million buys and nearly $50 million in revenue, it's a remarkable achievement for two fighters weighing a combined 260 pounds."