De La Hoya blames Pacquiao and Mayweather for decline in PPV sales

Retired six-division champion and Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya is placing the blame on Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather for the recent decline in boxing's pay-per-view sales.

Both Pacquiao and Mayweather have recently failed to deliver their target sales on pay-per-view. Mayweather did not hit the 1 million mark in 3 of his last 4 fights while Pacquiao on the other hand, sold below half a million in 2 of his last 3 fights.

Another case in hand was the fight between Miguel Cotto and Sergio Martinez that took place this June. According to several reports, the event underperformed with the pay-per-view buys reaching only around the neighborhood of 350,000.

De La Hoya believes that until Pacquiao and Mayweather settle their much-awaited showdown, boxing fans will continue to protest by not buying pay-per-view events.

"People are now fed up and they are tired. They are frustrated. If its not Manny Pacquiao and Mayweather who are going to fight [each other], we are not going to buy pay-per-view. That's the fight that must happen for the sake of the sport," De La Hoya told Boxingscene.com.

"I don't care who wins. I just want to see it happen because its going to be a great fight and it will attract more fans. It will be a huge disappointment to the fans [if it doesn't happen]. [But] boxing will continue, boxing will live and boxing will reinvent itself at some point." - RAF, GMA News