The Biggest Earning Boxing Events of All Time
Boxing, the art of fisticuffs, is a sport that has consistently been ranked among the top elite sports worldwide. The significance of boxing events to culture was so great that, even before streaming platforms, viral clips, and nonstop social media coverage, it was a phenomenon that drew millions of people to their screens. But still, a fight of enormous scale can cross over into the mainstream and, at last, become a show for the entire planet.
It is nearly impossible to pick only a handful from the hundreds of epic battles that have taken place over the years. Still, those fights had the most significant impact on the sport’s financial evolution. These were the events that shattered records for pay per view sales and ticket revenue and set new firsts in global interest. Such a list is the summary of the five most significant earning boxing events at any time, the reasons they got so much attention, and what made them memorable.
1. Mayweather vs Pacquiao
After a long time of pleading, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao met in a ring for a battle on May 2, 2015. It was called the Fight of the Century, and it set the record for the highest grossing boxing match ever.
In the United States alone, this fight generated an insane 4.6 million pay-per-view purchases. To help you understand the magnitude of this, no other event had even been close to this number of buys. The financial results were so strong that the total was estimated to exceed 400 million dollars. The very last amount went even far due to the worldwide broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales.
2. Mayweather vs McGregor
After a two year gap, another blockbuster event rocked the sports world like a bomb. On August 26, 2017, Floyd Mayweather retired the gloves but this time with mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor.
It was more than just a boxing match. It was a crossover show that combined the fanbases of two different combat sports. More than 4 million pay-per-view purchases could have been made simply out of curiosity. The promotional mix couldn’t have been better with McGregor’s provocative character and Mayweather’s flawless record.
This event also attracted regular sports bettors and online entertainment consumers. For instance, fans who are into the Joe Fortune Online Casino platform were particularly drawn to the excitement around predictions, props, and special boxing wagers. The match went far beyond the boxing communities and, thus, a considerable crowd of non sport lovers appeared, aiming at spectacle rather than sport.
Despite the difference in skill levels, McGregor kept up with the first few rounds of the fight before Mayweather’s experience took over. It ended with a tenth round stoppage, a win Mayweather’s arm, and a record breaking financial success, once again.
3. Mayweather vs Canelo
Before he was the main character we are familiar with, Canelo Álvarez was a promising talent undergoing a testing period in his early career. On September 14, 2013, he faced Floyd Mayweather in a fight that was highly anticipated and drew more than 2 million pay-per-view buys.
This event’s pay-per-view revenue exceeded $200 million, a considerable sum at the time. Mexican boxing fans supported Canelo, while Mayweather’s global fan base generated a significant buzz.
As a matter of fact, the fight was a showcase of Mayweather’s almost no-hit defensive skills. Also, his precision and timing were better than Canelo’s strength and passion. The younger fighter took a harsh lesson at home, but the event remains one of the milestones in his development. In the present time, Canelo is one of the biggest names in boxing, and this first encounter is what made him the champion.
4. Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr.
It has been hard for a very long time to picture a fight between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. after their prime years. But in a way that made millions of people very happy, these two icons actually met in a real life exhibition fight in November 2020.
The show was a big hit, making close to 80 million dollars; thus, it was the loudest possible confirmation that a star’s power can hardly fade with old age. Fans watched the fight not to see titles or rankings but to experience nostalgia, respect, and to satisfy their curiosity. Tyson looked sharp, and Jones continued with his typical style of movement, so both could have been brilliant and at a surprisingly high level, albeit only to a small extent.
5. Mayweather vs Cotto
Floyd Mayweather faced Miguel Cotto in a fan loyalty fight in May 2012 that also showcased top level boxing. The outcome was one of the most money making events of the early 2010s, with the pay-per-view sales alone bringing in nearly 100 million dollars.
Cotto was a fighter who was always praised for his durability and heart, and he put on one of the most resilient performances against Mayweather at the time. The fight was charged, precise, and brutal. The fans got to see drama and skill unfold through all twelve rounds, which were instrumental in the event achieving huge commercial success.
Although it is not the biggest in terms of size, this fight is still a historical landmark in the pay-per-view journey and was instrumental in the emergence of Mayweather as a financial giant in the sport.
