Whenever Mike Tyson stepped inside the boxing ring, the fans clustered around the ring and waited for his brute force to produce a knockout. The thunderous sounds of his punches piercing the opponents’ bare skin and his quick movement to come inside and trade blows always produced a spectacle to watch. The American fighter’s devastating knockout power ensured he became a staple attraction whenever he fought, and it resulted in some high-profile fights throughout his career.

With him earning close to $500 million in his career through the fights, the 58-year-old proved to be a hot property in his prime. He sold out arenas and did huge business for his promoters. The fans also flocked to the arena to see him put on a show for them; the numbers back these claims too.

Which Mike Tyson fights have sold the most PPV buys?

Tyson hit the million PPV mark in most of his fights when he started his ascendance. One of the first fights on the list to do splendid business was when ‘Iron Mike’ fought Bruce Seldon in 1996 with the WBA heavyweight title on the line. The first produced a first-round knockout – it culminated in 1.15 million PPV buys, but the fight is more infamous for one of the last public appearances of Tupac Shakur.

The second fight on the list is when Tyson defended his unified crown against Frank Bruno in 1989. The fans remember the fight for an incredible 13-punch combination in the third round, which dropped the challenge face flat on the canvas. What’s more? Bruno could never compete again. But it churned out 1.37 PPV buys. Tyson would then do better on the economic front when he would return from his 4-year-long break after serving in prison. The Brooklyn native’s comeback to the squared circle after a prolonged absence created a buzz and interest among the fans to see whether Tyson was still at his former self.

In the fight against Peter McNeeley, Tyson showcased he was far from over, and the fight only lasted 89 seconds. It was no surprise that the fight did 1.55 million PPVs. That’s not it. This comeback fight grossed over $96 million worldwide, including a US record of $63 million for PPV television. It set both PPV viewership and revenue records. One of the biggest fights of Tyson’s career came against Evander Holyfield as he put his titles on the line. Holyfield rose to the challenge and his aggression handed Tyson his second loss of his career. The fight offered fans fireworks, and the same was reflected in the PPV numbers, which registered 1.59 million PPVs.

The fight marginally ahead of the first Tyson vs. Holyfield encounter is Tyson’s exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr. Both the boxers in their 50s turned back the clock and gave fans a feeling of nostalgia. The two gave fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the fans responded by pushing the PPV numbers to 1.6 million PPVs and over $80 million in revenue. But Tyson’s last blockbuster fight, which came against Lennox Lewis, topped these numbers.

A heated brawl in the presser moved the needle and with a gold strap on the line, it only added allure to their fight. While Tyson lost the fight, he ensured his promoters a hefty business. The fight clocked in 1.97 million PPV buys and $112 million in revenue. But Tyson’s most profitable fight came against Holyfield as a revenge match where his antics of biting the champion’s ear became immortal in the annals of the boxing world and registered 1.99 million PPV buys. This fight generated a total revenue of $180 million, which is equivalent to $342 million adjusted for inflation.

Estimated PPV sales of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson

Interestingly, Jake Paul‘s dream fight against Tyson is free to stream on Netflix, and if you are a subscriber, then you can just tune it and watch it live. But if the fight were to be sold as a PPV, ‘Problem Child’ predicted a couple of years back then that the fight would have sold 3-4 million PPVs. Whether it might have been true or not is something we can’t be sure of now. But you can catch Tyson unleashing his heavy punches when he takes on Paul on November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

What do you make of these details of the PPV-selling history of Mike Tyson? Let us know in the comments below.