Top Five Biggest Pay-Per-Views in Boxing History

In sports, there are certain parameters to measure the revenue generated by specific events. Pay-per-view is one such category that denotes the number of buyers in the country or around the world for a certain event.

#1 Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao (5.77 million)

Till now, the bout between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao in 2015, is the highest boxing PPV of all time. Initially, the PPV estimates of the bout were around 4.9 million, but after two years, the numbers have risen to an astounding 5.77 million.

The bout was one of the most highly anticipated fights of all time, with both fighters being at the very top of the game. While Mayweather was coming off a unanimous decision win over Marcos Maidana, Pacquiao was coming off the same over Chris Algieri. Mayweather won the bout unanimously to maintain his perfect record.

#2 Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor (5.17 million)

In the second place, we have the biggest media spectacles in recent memory. We’re talking about none other than the bout between former UFC two-weight world champion, Conor McGregor, and boxing’s biggest star, Floyd Mayweather.

This fight was the biggest crossover in combat sports history and was promoted as the clash of two different combat styles. The bout took place in 2017 and Floyd won the fight via TKO in the tenth round. The event sold over 5.17 million PPVs.

#3 Marvin Hagler vs Sugar Ray Leonard (3.15 million)

The third highest PPV event took place in 1987 and stands at an impressive 3.15 million. The bout between “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard was termed as “The Super Fight.” Leonard won the bout in a highly controversial split decision, a decision fans debate over even today.

#4 Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson (2.72 million)

The fourth highest PPV bout was a highly anticipated matchup between the unified WBC, IBF, IBO, and The Ring champion, Lennox Lewis and the former heavyweight champion, “Iron” Mike Tyson. The fight sold an amazing 2.72 million PPVs. Lewis defeated Tyson by an eight-round knockout.

#5 Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield 2 (2.67 million)

The notoriously bizarre bout in 1997 between Mike Tyson and his biggest adversary, Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield, comes in at the fifth spot at 2.67 million. Holyfield won the first bout via TKO in the eleventh round, setting up the much-anticipated rematch.

The bout, however, would end in disqualification causing crazy controversy as Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear twice during the fight and cut off a part of his ear. The bout is also infamously referred to as “The Bite Fight.”

All these legendary bouts were special in their own right; however, the “MayPac” bout sits comfortably at the top with “MayMac” coming in close as second. These events solidified Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the Undisputed King of the Box Office. But as they say, records are meant to be broken. Only time will tell whether we will see an event bigger than these two.