Mayweather v Pacquiao Fight Generates Over $550 Million

Fight of the Century becomes highest grossing pay per view event ever.

The boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao has become the highest grossing pay-per-view event in television history, it has been revealed.

The highly anticipated clash, dubbed “The Fight of the Century” did not exactly live up to the billing, with the US fighter winning on points, but when it comes to the amount of money generated by the organisers and television companies, we can safely say it has exceeded all expectations.

Fight Sets Record in PPV Buys

HBO and Showtime have just announced that the match resulted in staggering 4.4 million pay per view buys, easily breaking the previous record of 2.48 million buys generated by the Mayweather vs De La Hoya match back in 2007.

The fight that took place at the MGM Grand Arena on 2nd May earned over $400 million in TV revenue, while another $72 million were generated from live gate receipts as 16,000 fans paid top dollar to watch the boxing match live.

The total revenue from the match has been estimated at between $550m and $595m, with Mayweather and Pacquiao tipped to earn $210m and $143m respectively.

Despite the defeat, Manny Pacquiao was welcomed as a hero in native Philippines, while he later blamed a shoulder injury for his poor performance at the MGM Grand Arena.

This has led to Floyd Mayweather ruling out a rematch, while a host of punters who had backed the Philippine fighter used the admission to try and recoup the money lost in sportsbooks across the United States.

Both Fighters Nearing Retirement

The undefeated champion has already revealed his plans to retire in the near future, stating that he will have another fight before he ends his career.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao says he will only decide his next step after he fully recovers from a shoulder problem, and many believe that the fighter will pursue a career in politics after he quits boxing, having already become a congressman. His compatriots are convinced that Pacquiao will run for presidency in years to come.

The reality is that the boxing match between the two world-class athletes had been long overdue, and there are no doubts the fight would have been much more exciting had it taken place at least few years ago instead now when both fighters are nearing the end of their careers.