The much-hyped fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao easily set a pay-per-view record.
The May 2 Mayweather/Pacquiao fight generated a record 4.4 million pay-per-view buys, HBO and Showtime announced Tuesday, topping the previous record of 2.5 million set by the 2007 fight between Mayweather and Oscar de la Hoya.
Mayweather’s victory ranks as just the third pay-per-view fight to surpass two million buys, joining Mayweather/De la Hoya and Mayweather/Canelo Alvarez in 2013.
If translated into households, the 4.4 million buys would equal a 3.8 rating. Considering the number of watch parties that likely took place, viewership for the fight was likely well in excess of the 4.4 million figure.
(Numbers from HBO/Showtime via TV By the Numbers)
