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 Online and front-end retailers are seeing record sales of Pacquiao
T-shirts, boxing gloves, figurines, caps and jackets, with buyers
stocking up on items they believe could at least double in value if
he wins what is seen as the highest grossing bout in history.
"Many are buying because prices might rise further if Manny wins. So
while the fight is still days away, they are already buying these
items," said 50-year-old Carolyn Yap-Tan, who has been selling
Pacquiao items online for four years.
Yap-Tan said her sales via Ebay have jumped 10 times since February
when the megafight, which took five years to arrange, was confirmed.
Prices of Pacquiao-autographed boxing gloves, the best-selling item,
have also risen at least 50 percent, said Yap-Tan, with buyers
coming mostly from the United States, and a few from Australia,
Canada and the United Kingdom.
Team Pacquiao store, owned by the boxer himself with branches in
Manila and the southern Philippine city of General Santos, has seen
its sales nearly triple, a record not seen during Pacquiao's
previous fights.
"If we only had more stocks, we could report more sales," said Team
Pacquiao sales representative Honey Gervacio.
Carlo Libut, an Australia-born Filipino and a Pacquiao fan, bought
4000-pesos ($91) autographed boxing gloves for his collection at the
Team Pacquiao store.
"First of all, I love the sport, boxing. And my whole family loves
it, my dad loves it, and I'm a big fan of Manny Pacquiao," he said.
Even street vendors are making a killing selling lower-priced
Pacquiao T-shirts, with vendors in Divisoria district in downtown
Manila saying customers often buy by the dozens.
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The Philippines widely regard Pacquiao, also an elected congressman,
actor, TV game show host, recording artist, and a player-coach in
professional basketball locally, as a national idol.
Thousands of fans often pack covered gymnasiums and public parks to
watch free screenings of his fights on large LED screens throughout
Manila and May 2 will be no different.
Eight-division champion Pacquiao, 36, is seen as the underdog to
11-times five-division world boxing champion "Money" Mayweather, 38.
Pacquiao's followers, however, are convinced he will make history.
"I believe he will win, he will defeat Mayweather with his speed.
Pacquiao is fast on the ring," Yap-Tan said.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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