Pacquiao Wins In PPV Boxing Return

Manny Pacquiao won an easy, unanimous decision win over Brandon Rios Saturday night, ending his pay-per-view fight losing streak at two.

Pacquiao, who entered the boxing ring for the first time in a year, peppered Rios all night with fast, combination punches to earn an easy victory over the young welterweight contender in the main event of an HBO PPV fight card from Macau, China.

Pacquiao had previously lost his last two big PPV fights: he was KO'd by Juan Manuel Marquez last November and suffered a highly disputed split decision loss to Timothy Bradley Jr. in June 2012.

While it’s too early to determine how many PPV buys the fight generated, Pacquiao’s impressive win certainly will help boost Pacquiao’s already strong PPV appeal. Potential 2014 Pacquiao PPV fights could include a potential rematch with Bradley or a fifth fight against Marquez.  

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.