10 Highest Boxing PPV’s Of All Time
I can’t imagine this list being majorly changed a decade from now as the time of PPV is over. You can catch fights on streaming services and not to mention the gazillion illegal streams roaming timelines worldwide. I love the feeling of a big fight which is on PPV however that’s what I think PPV should be, big fights. Tonight we see Dillian Whye and Oscar Rivas headline a Sky Sports box office card and while it’s a fantastic card, I find myself disagreeing that it’s PPV worthy. Today, we look at the 10 most bought boxing PPV’s of all time.
10) Manny Pacquiao Vs. Juan Manuel Martinez III - 1.4 Million.
Despite this being their third encounter with one another, this wouldn’t be their last encounter. Yes, these two had 4 fights, 4! The first fight was a draw, the second took place 4 years later and it was a split decision win for him, the third fight was a majority decision win but the fourth fight was a Marquez win by knocking pac-man out in the sixth round. However, the third fight went to split decision and many people thought that Marquez actually won the fight but it was Pacquiao’s arm raised at the end of the fight. Still, the fight generated a total of 1.4 million PPV buys, not so shabby for the pac-man.
9) Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs. Miguel Cotto - 1.5 Million
Miguel Cotto who retired back in 2017 after suffering a unanimous decision defeat against Sadam Ali fought some of the biggest names boxing had to offer such as Canelo Alvarez, Manny Pacquiao and even Floyd Mayweather. The once undefeated fighter who once went 32-0 before taking his first loss to Antonio Margarito which wasn’t just his first knockout loss but first loss altogether. Mayweather was already quite an established name at the time as he beat names like Hatton, De La Hoya (who we’ll talk about in just a few moments) and was ready to extend his undefeated streak to 43-0. The fight took place in the MGM grand and generated roughly one and a half million PPV buys which isn’t bad in the slightest for both men.
8) Mike Tyson Vs. Peter McNeely - 1.55 Million
This was Mike Tyson’s first fight back since his infamous rape conviction. Tyson was out for 3 years before coming back to the ring before fighting Peter McNeely who was 36-1 before fighting Tyson. The fight which was purchased by 1.55 million people was stopped due to McNeely’s trainer entering the ring and refusing to exit. Yes, that’s how Tyson’s first fight back went: a disqualification.
7) Mike Tyson Vs. Evander Holyfield - 1.59 Million
This was a fantastic fight and it really showed both men at their best. I loved watching this fight when I watched it for the first time and I just love it as much today. In front of 1.59 million at home, Holyfield beat Mike Tyson by knockout stunning a lot of people.
6) Lennox Lewis Vs. Mike Tyson- 1.97 Million
Fun fact: Manny Pacquiao fought on this card. This was at the time when Pacquiao fought at featherweight and he defeated Jorge Eliecer Julio in the second round. Anyway, this isn’t about Pacquiao but we will talk about him again later, this is about Lennox Lewis and a man who can’t stay away from this list, Mike Tyson. This fight generated a lot of buys for many reasons, one being Tyson and Lewis were big names, also the pre fight build helped as the two literally hated each other with them even rolling on the ground attacking each other which ended up “knocking out” the WBC president, José Sulaimán and did he get big money for that! Tyson ended up threatening to kill him so that’s something else completely. The fight belonged to Lewis as he won by knockout in the eighth round.
5) Evander Holyfield Vs. Mike Tyson 2 - 1.99 Million
Just wait and until you get your teeth into this one! Get it? Because this is the fight that Mike Tyson chomps on Evander Holyfield’s ear like me with a Big Mac on a Saturday night. Love a Big Mac. This fight was even more anticipated than the first fight and it ended worse too as Tyson clinched Holyfield and chomped down on the ear of Holyfield in what is still one of the most shocking moments in boxing history.
4) Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs. Canelo Alvarez- 2.2 Million
This was a big fight. It was undefeated fighter verses undefeated fighter and Canelo was only 23 years old. The up and comer was on the rise as he was trying to put a dent in Mayweather’s record by giving him his first loss. This was a big fight but it was fight which allowed Mayweather to show his masterful defence against Canelo who didn’t do enough for the win.
3) Oscar De La Hoya Vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - 2.4 Million
Back in 2007, Floyd Mayweather fought now turned boxing promoter, Oscar De La Hoya. It was Mexican Vs. American and the fight generated publicity for a lot of reasons. The event even sold out in just three hours and the hype was real for Golden Boy Vs. Pretty Boy. The fight went the distance and it was Floyd Mayweather who picked up the win via split decision.
2) Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs. Conor McGregor- 4.3 Million
Wasn’t this just a crazy time? Back in 2017, it was announced that Conor McGregor would make the jump to boxing and fight the greatest defence boxer of all time and unbeaten, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather was retired but was
more than happy to come back out as long as the pay check was there and it sure was. Mayweather reportedly got over 300 million dollars while his opponent, McGregor earning over 100 million. It wasn’t a bad night for either man but after going through an international press conference including Toronto, London, New York and Los Angeles. The fight was the only thing on people’s minds for the duration of August and it done 4.3 million PPV buys.
more than happy to come back out as long as the pay check was there and it sure was. Mayweather reportedly got over 300 million dollars while his opponent, McGregor earning over 100 million. It wasn’t a bad night for either man but after going through an international press conference including Toronto, London, New York and Los Angeles. The fight was the only thing on people’s minds for the duration of August and it done 4.3 million PPV buys.
1) Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs. Manny Pacquiao - 4.6 Million
4.6 million PPV buys. This fight was going by the tag line “The Fight of the Century” and revenues roughly over 410 million dollars. Insane. The craziest part about this? The fight took place in the MGM grand and there were only 500 tickets offered to the public with the highest being on sale for $7,500 while the lowest was $1,500, the LOWEST. Still, it sold out in under a minute so that’s how big this fight was. As 4.6 million people watched on PPV, Mayweather and Pacquiao went the distance with Mayweather extending his undefeated streak to 48-0.
