The epic (and epically disappointing) Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao fight is expected to top a record $500 million in gross worldwide receipts, including revenue from MGM Grand ticket sales, international television distribution, sponsorships, closed-circuit broadcasts in bars and merchandise sales.
The May 2 title fight generated a record 4.4 million pay-per-view buys, HBO and Showtime announced Tuesday, bringing in more than $400 million in domestic TV revenue alone.
The live gate (ticket sales) accounted for $71 million, smashing boxing’s previous record of $20 million (2013’s Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez). The event also sold nearly 46,000 closed circuit admissions at MGM Resorts International properties in Las Vegas alone and was available at more than 5,000 bars, restaurants and commercial establishments throughout the U.S.
Distributed in 175 countries, the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight was available in essentially 75 percent of the world’s territories, setting the revenue record for international distribution as well.
Mayweather’s welterweight championship fight nearly doubled the previous record of 2.48 million buys generated by the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather event in 2007, and nearly tripled the record $150 million in U.S. PPV revenue generated by Mayweather-Alvarez, HBO and Showtime said.