NEW YORK (March 5, 2017) – CBS was the No. 1 network in prime time on Saturday night, according to Nielsen overnight ratings, with the live broadcast of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The broadcast, which was produced by SHOWTIME Sports, featured a welterweight world championship unification fight between undefeated champions Keith Thurman (WBA) and Danny Garcia (WBC). Thurman won a close split decision to unify the belts.
The broadcast earned a 2.2 rating from 9 p.m. – 11:15 p.m. ET, up 22% over the previous June 25, 2016 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS broadcast featuring Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter (1.8 rating).
*Full data including viewership for the boxing broadcast on CBS will be available in the coming days.
BOXING DETAILS:
Keith Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) of Clear Water, Fla., defeated Danny Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs) of Philadelphia via split decision to become the Unified Welterweight World Champion. The main event aired live on CBS and took place at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.
The broadcast was produced by SHOWTIME Sports® for the CBS Television Network. The event was held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, before a record-setting crowd of 16,533, the largest crowd for a boxing event in that arena.
The close fight, which was only the third time undefeated champions came together to unify the 147-pound division, was scored 116-112 Thurman, 115-113 Thurman and 115-113 Garcia.
