Oscar De La Hoya’s fight with Floyd Mayweather set a record for most television buys for a fight, according to figures released Wednesday, surpassing Mike Tyson’s second fight with Evander Holyfield and making it boxing’s richest event.
A total of 2.15 million households paid $54.95 for the fight, generating revenue of $120 million. The previous record set by Tyson-Holyfield was 1.99 million buys.
“This puts to bed this theory of boxing being in trouble or being dead or dying,” said Ross Greenburg, head of HBO Sports.
A source said De La Hoya would end up making about $45 million for the fight and Mayweather just over $20 million. That person requested anonymity because the promoters did not want official figures released.
The $45 million would be the biggest purse paid to a fighter, higher than the $35 million purses Tyson and Holyfield reportedly were paid for the infamous “Bite Fight.”
