Τhe trend hasn't been the friend in recent PPV efforts, of the persons putting together Ward-Kovalev 1, Golovkin-Jacobs and a few other efforts that didn't do gangbusters business being left scratching their heads and re-tallying their outlays after numbers didn't pop.
But Canelo Alvarez proved on Cinco De Mayo that the model in the boxing sphere isn't dead, it's more so a matter of who is the person or people being featured in the PPV presentation.
Canelo and a compelling B side/perpetual joker Julio Cesar Chavez Jr conjured up a strong degree of interest, and combined to make a meh fight, but the market responded in healthy fashion.
Here is the release from Canelo promoter Golden Boy, crowing about their cash-churning middleweight:
ONE IN A MILLION: CANELO CEMENTS STATUS AS TOP DRAW IN BOXING AS PAY-PER-VIEW NUMBERS FROM MAY 6 FIGHT SET TO ECLIPSE SEVEN FIGURES
CANELO TO BECOME YOUNGEST A-SIDE FIGHTER IN HISTORY TO DRAW ONE MILLION PAY-PER-VIEW BUYS
LOS ANGELES (May 18, 2017) – The Canelo Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. fight on Cinco De Mayo weekend will generate more than one million buys on HBO Pay-Per-View, locking in Canelo's status as the brightest light in boxing, Golden Boy Promotions announced today.
“Everything I do is for the fans, and I want to express my gratitude for everyone who watches my fights and shows their support,” Canelo said. “My fans are the greatest in the world and this year in September on Mexican Independence weekend, everyone can look forward to another incredible performance.”
Some facts about Canelo's PPV performance:
- Canelo will be the youngest A-side fighter in history to generate a seven-figure pay-per-view audience;
- This will be the largest Pay-Per-View audience to watch in a boxing match in two years;
- Canelo will be the first A-side fighter in 15 years not named De La Hoya, Mayweather or Pacquiao, to draw a million buys.
“These numbers solidify Canelo as the undisputed biggest name in the sport of boxing-simple as that,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “At 26 years old, there is no limit to Canelo's star power as he continues to cross over to mainstream audiences. Canelo only wants to take on the best and the biggest, and we're confident he will continue to shatter records as boxing's new pay-per-view king.”
