This weekend saw some big boxing action with Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions going head to head Saturday night with competing PPVs. The main event for Top Rank had Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. succumbing to Sergio Martinez. Golden Boy had Canelo Alvarez winning by TKO victory over Joseito Lopez.
According to the Nevada State Athletic Commission it was a sellout at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas for JCC-Martinez with 16,939 tickets and 751 comps. No tickets were unsold. The gate was estimated at $3 million.
The NSAC also reported that the Alvarez-Lopez fight was a sellout although there was some controversy behind these numbers. It did a gate of $1,618,150 with 12,860 tickets purchase (and 0 unsold) and 1,659 comps. Despite the announcement of a sellout at the weigh-ins, tickets were still available for sale. But, it appears a late surge in ticket purchases made this a true sell out.
Payout Perspective:
Earlier this year, we reported on whether the boxing business could make a comeback. This weekend helped persuade us to believe that it can. The better news is that this weekend did not feature Pacquiao or Mayweather. Which means that boxing had a buzz without its two big draws and there will be boxing after these two big stars. The JCC-Martinez 24/7 episodes on HBO were interesting and drew the viewer in and perhaps it seemed fresher because it was not a rehash of Pacquiao or Mayweather.
Couple this past weekend with last weekend’s Chad Dawson-Andre Ward fight on HBO, and boxing is interesting once again. Realistically, many still will clamor for Pacquiao and Mayweather but this past weekend showed that boxing is on its way back.
What happened to boxing is a dying sport? We’ve been hearing this from Dana and Rogan for years, but all I keep hearing from others is how boxing does massive TV ratings, boxers are the best paid athletes and how boxing fights fill soccer stadiums is Europe. UFC hype is what’s dying, obviously not boxing.
The UFC has had a positive impact on boxing. Showtime has begun to televise the earliest fights on Showtime Extreme and the fights on the main card were great – which is a rarity in boxing. The JCC-Martinez card (which was worth every penny) also had good fights on the main card. I hope this is a trend that continues.
What I didn’t like is the fact that there were two good cards on the same night. But it’s better than no good cards on a given night.
I do think that Mexican Independence did help in this big weekend. Also, Ward-Dawson scored a 1.3M viewer average on HBO which is not a huge bump for a usual fight on HBO but still shows that interest is there.
Ward is not considered an exciting boxer – though he’s one of the top three or four P4P. Dawson just hasn’t been able to push his name. Not enough people know (or seem to care) who he is.
I think Ward will get a boost after that fight and his marketability should increase.
This doesn’t take into account the reported 500,000 buys for Martinez-Chavez or the 1.036 mil peak generated on Showtime for Alvarez-Lopez.
Showtime is only in 21 million homes across the U.S.
TV ratings in Argentina were really strong with a combined 40 percent of TV viewers tuning into the fight: http://www.google.com/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Felsolonline.com%2Fnoticias%2Fview%2F147782%2Fla-pelea-entre-maravilla-martinez-y-chavez-jr-tuvo-excelente-rating
Word has it that on TV Azteca and Televisa in Mexico combined generated something akin to 60 million viewers for both events.
How you like them apples?
That’s great news for boxing. Glad to see it. I had been a little worried about the sport’s health in the U.S. after Mayweather and Pacquiao are gone, but it’s looking more and more like it should remain healthy. Good stuff. As a fan of MMA and boxing I like seeing both succeed here and internationally.
Does anyone know how much Martinez stands to make based on a 500k PPV buy rate? I know he gets $1.4M guaranteed, but I’m wondering about the payout structure on the PPV side.
It’s being reported as a 600k buy rate now.
On top of that there was a PPV option in Mexico as well so it likely snagged some big numbers there too. 600k is only the US PPV buyrate.
Ratings are in from Mexico and both fights combined did an incredible 34.3 million viewers. That’s very impressive and second only to the third Pacquiao-Marquez fight. (Source: http://theboxingtribune.com/2012/09/canelo-beats-chavez-jr-in-mexican-tv-ratings-war-fights-generate-astounding-numbers/ )
Saul Alvarez had the higher ratings and has become quite a star in Mexico.
Boxing will be dead after:
Ali retires
Ray Leonard retires
Tyson retires
Oscar Delahoya retires
Floyd and Manny retire
In the next few years it will be after Canelo retires…
A little damper on this weekend as JCC tests positive for marijuana.
Dude, you are out of this world. Donnie Nietes is a protected fiehtgr? Can you please check where he fought his last few title defenses. And you’re idea of PPV is twisted.. PPV is an option to boxings fans who want to watch the fight LIVE on TV.. If you don’t want to pay and settle with the replay the next day, then fine. That’s your choice Reply