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:
JOSEPH "JOJO" DIAZ EAGER TO REVIVE CAREER AHEAD OF JUNE 19 SHOWDOWN WITH "H2O" SYLVE
Wed, 03 Jun 2026Charly Suarez is my idol - Jhon Lowie Lastimosa
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Jun 2026Josh “The Hammer” Popper: From Holy Spirit to a Heavyweight Headline at the Tropicana
Wed, 03 Jun 2026600 athletes expected in 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo tourney
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Jun 2026Dagestan rivalry set to ignite Moscow: Khalidov and Yallyev clash on stacked IBA PRO 19 card
Wed, 03 Jun 2026Deep Waters rules inaugural WR Bughouse Championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 02 Jun 2026HE TURKI ALALSHIKH: 'AJ vs PRENGA IN JEDDAH REINFORCES SAUDI ARABIA'S POSITION AS DESTINATION FOR WORLD'S LEADING EVENTS'
Tue, 02 Jun 2026ANTHONY JOSHUA VS KRISTIAN PRENGA TO TAKE PLACE IN JEDDAH ON JULY 25 – LIVE ON DAZN – AS HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF IN LONDON
Tue, 02 Jun 2026Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki Gets a kick out of British sports fans
Tue, 02 Jun 2026GUSTAVO TRUJILLO CONTINUES HEAVYWEIGHT ASCENT WITH DEVASTATING FIRST-ROUND TKO
Mon, 01 Jun 2026Boxing Insider Promotions Brings Regional Card to Tropicana Atlantic City on Saturday, June 13
Mon, 01 Jun 2026Chess, in whatever form, is a great equalizer
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 01 Jun 2026UNBEATEN CRIZTIAN PITT LAURENTE RETURNS TO FACE JING AGUAN IN A LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT HEADLINING SANMAN 101
Mon, 01 Jun 2026Lebosada, Sia rule DSA Open golf
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 01 Jun 2026Davao Chess Eagles in FIDE World Team Rapid & Blitz in Hong Kong
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 01 Jun 2026