LAS VEGAS (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — According to Variety, the fight scored more than 2.15 million pay-per-view buys on HBO, each paying $54.95 to gross a total of $118 million.
“De La Hoya versus Mayweather was a record-setting event from the moment the fight was announced,” said Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports. “We are delighted that sports fans recognized the greatness of these two future Hall of Famers and tuned in for their showdown. It’s satisfying to see that boxing still connects with sports fans throughout the country and we are determined to continue to present high-profile fights that capture the public’s imagination.”
The previous record for pay-per-view buys was 1.99 million, generated by the second meeting between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield in 1997.
De La Hoya was smart to schedule the fight on Cinco de Mayo, a day of Mexican pride. It's a day of celebration, which usually means a day of drinking. Put those factors together and get some impulse pay-per-view buys from boxing and non-boxing fans alike.
