BIGGEST PAY-PER-VIEW DRAWS IN BOXING
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 19 Jan 2009
Pay-per-view (PPV) is the scheme by which television spectators can pay for events to be seen on TV for the private live telecast of the event in the convenience of their homes. The first major pay-per-view event took place on September 16, 1981, when Sugar Ray Leonard fought Thomas "Hitman" Hearns for the world welterweight championship.
However, the term "pay-per-view" was not popularly used until the 1990s, when companies like IN DEMAND, HBO, and Showtime started using the system to show movies and some of their productions.
In boxing, the leading PPV seller is Oscar De La Hoya, who has sold 14.1 million units total, giving $696 million in television receipts. Second is Mike Tyson, with 12.4 million units ($545 million). In third place is Evander Holyfield, with 12.6 million units ($543 million).
The top ten biggest pay-per-view draws in boxing history:
No. 1. Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather, May 2007 - 2.4 million PPV buys
Promoted by De La Hoya's Golden Boy Productions, it was an HBO box-office hit. De La Hoya makes $23 million, more than twice Mayweather's catch, despite losing the fight.
No. 2. Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson (rematch), June 1997 - 1.99 million PPV buys
Millions watched Tyson if he can win back the heavyweight crown he lost to Holyfield the previous year. But, they saw one of the weirdest fights in history: Tyson is disqualified for biting Holyfield's left ear. Tyson's career plunged rapidly after the fight.
No. 3. Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson, June 2002 - 1.97 million PPV buys
The 35-year-old Tyson took one last attempt at regaining his championship belt. But Lewis disposed him with an eighth-round knockout.
No. 4. Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson (first match), November 1996 - 1.59 million PPV buys
Holyfield?s career was thought to be dwindling at age 34. But he takes the WBC title aggressively that Tyson was always on the defensive before tiring out. The fight was stopped in the 11th round.
No. 5. Mike Tyson vs. Peter McNeeley, August 1995 - 1.55 million PPV buys
Tyson's return after a three-year prison term for rape draws a big curiosity. But he knocked out journeyman McNeeley in just 89 seconds.
No. 6 (tie). Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad, September 1999 - 1.4 million PPV buys
The biggest-selling non-heavyweight fight in history before the De La Hoya- Mayweather fight came. Trinidad won the welterweight title by coming out a close majority decision.
No. 6 (tie). George Foreman vs. Evander Holyfield, April 1991 - 1.4 million PPV buys
Holyfield won the heavyweight crown from James "Buster" Douglas, who won it with a shocking win over Tyson. Holyfield took a unanimous decision against Foreman, a 42-year-old former champion. But Foreman finished the fight and went the distance against the younger champion.
No. 8. Mike Tyson vs. Frank Bruno, March 1996 - 1.37 million PPV buys
Tyson regains the WBC crown stopping Bruno by a third-round knockout.
No. 9 (tie). Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar de la Hoya, December 6, 2008 ? 1.25 million PPV buys
De La Hoya was pummeled by Pacquiao en route to a possible career-ending eighth-round TKO loss. It is a monstrous total in a tough economy and makes the fight the third biggest-selling non-heavyweight fight in history.
No. 9 (tie). Mike Tyson vs. Razor Ruddock (rematch), June 1991 - 1.25 million PPV buys
Their first bout was controversial, which is a technical knockout win for Tyson, with referee Richard Steele blamed for ending the bout prematurely. In the rematch, Tyson easily defeated Ruddock in a 12-round decision.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Ocum is WBC Asian lightweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 27 Jan 2026Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh Believes he will stop Jarrell Miller this Saturday at Madison Square Garden
Tue, 27 Jan 2026David Ray Sarmiento finishes second place in Cologne January Blitz 2026.
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 27 Jan 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 JANUARY 2026: Raymund Muratalla Edges Andy Cruz; Walsh Outpoints Ocampo
By Eric Armit, Mon, 26 Jan 2026MFPI 5th Mindanao Summit at Mt. Apo on February 19-22
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 26 Jan 2026OLYMPIC BOXING 8: 1948 OLYMPICS AT LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 26 Jan 2026Golden Gloves Launches on Meta Quest Store, Establishing the First Official Esports Competition Pathway for Amateur Boxing
Mon, 26 Jan 2026Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Libranza to fight undefeated Tso for IBF Pan Pacific bantam
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Filipino Cue Artist RJ Bautista Ready to Shine at the Las Vegas Open 2026
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 24 Jan 2026MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
Sat, 24 Jan 2026Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
Sat, 24 Jan 2026Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 24 Jan 2026NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 24 Jan 2026