New research has revealed the highest-grossing fights of all time. The team at ICE36 looked at factors such as the pay-per-view revenue data of each fight and the live gate ticket revenue to determine the fights with the highest revenue. The study also determined the most-watched, searched-for and highest-grossing fights of all time.
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao’s epic showdown, famously tagged the ‘Fight of the Century,’ wasn’t just a big deal – it was the deal. This clash of titans pulled in an astonishing £336.7 million (that’s about $411 million, folks) and attracted a whopping 4.6 million pay-per-view fans. The face-off in May 2015 saw Mayweather, the undefeated champ across five divisions, and Pacquiao, the eight-division legend, go toe-to-toe. End of the day? Mayweather reigned supreme, winning hands down.
Now, cast your eyes to the blockbuster Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor. This was the spectacle of the century in the ring. They squared off at the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada, and trust me, the excitement was off the charts! The fight bagged a cool £325.2 million in PPV revenue (hey, that’s about $397 million). Named ‘The Money Fight,’ it lived up to every penny of its name with 4.3 million PPV buys. Mayweather strutted out with his 50th win, still the undefeated king, after sending the completely overrated MMA slapper McGregor packing with a technical knockout.
Don’t miss out on the third big hitter: Mayweather’s rumble with Canelo Álverez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This clash was no small potatoes, amassing £123.2 million (around $150 million) in PPV revenue.
Digging deeper, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao reigns as the most-viewed fight, pulling in an audience of 4.6 million. Mayweather, with his flawless record of 47 wins, no losses, just amped up the drama when this fight dropped. And about Mayweather’s riches? The man’s sitting on a fortune – an estimated net worth of £328 million (close to $400 million). Retiring undefeated with 15 major world titles under his belt, Forbes named him the world’s top-paid athlete in 2018, raking in a jaw-dropping £234 million, including endorsements (that’s a cool $286 million). That’s how you make a knockout in and out of the ring!
The highest-grossing fights of all time
|
Rank |
Fight |
Date |
PPV Buys |
PPV Revenue |
|
1 |
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao |
02.05.2015 |
4,600,000 |
£336.7 Million |
|
2 |
Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor |
26.08.2017 |
4,300,000 |
£325.2 Million |
|
3 |
Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Álverez |
22.09.2013 |
2,200,000 |
£123.2 Million |
|
4 |
Floyd Mayweather vs. Oscar De La Hoya |
20.05.2007 |
2,480,000 |
£111.7 Million |
|
5 |
Mike Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis |
08.06.2002 |
1,950,000 |
£92.0 Million |
|
6 |
Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia |
22.04.2023 |
1,205,000 |
£84.1 Million |
|
7 |
Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield II |
28.06.1997 |
1,990,000 |
£82.3 Million |
|
8 |
Mike Tyson vs. Peter McNeeley |
19.08.1995 |
1,550,000 |
£78.8 Million |
|
9 |
Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto |
05.05.2012 |
1,500,000 |
£77.2 Million |
|
10 |
Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. |
29.11.2020 |
1,650,000 |
£70.2 Million |
View the full study here: icepr/fight-list-the-worlds-