By Rick Reeno
Top Rank has confirmed to BoxingScene.com that only a few hundred tickets are remaining for Saturday's pay-per-view clash between WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and challenger Joshua Clottey. The event, taking place in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was scaled to seat 45,000 fans.
The attendance number is a strong indication of just how popular Pacquiao has become. Clottey is not exactly a household name in the state of Texas. Hell, Clottey is not exactly a household name in New York. This card is being sold on the strength of Pacquiao's name.
Even with all of the controversy, Clottey being a big underdog, criticism about the undercard, and the lack of a 24/7 from HBO - 45,000 tickets are going to be sold. Pacquiao may live in the Philippines, but he is certainly one of the biggest draws in the United States.
