• Loading stock data...
Friday, August 29, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Get your ticket now!

The Most Watched Boxing Matches Ever

  • Floyd Mayweather or Mike Tyson are featured in every boxing match among the most-watched ever.
  • Floyd Mayweather’s fights averaged 3 million PPV buys.
May 2, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Referee Kenny Bayless (center) separates Manny Pacquiao (left) from Floyd Mayweather during their boxing bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

At its height, boxing has been one of the most-watched sports worldwide. Marquee fights between superstars drove record viewership from pay-per-view purchases.

Today, boxing is increasingly relying on celebrities — and a proposed joint venture out of Saudi Arabia — to generate hype around the sport.

During boxing’s better days, star fighters like Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson could almost guarantee record viewership and attendance anytime they fought.

Both boxers dominate the list of the most-watched boxing matches ever. 

Mayweather competed in five fights among the most-watched boxing matches, totaling 15.04 million PPV buys. Tyson has five fights featured, adding up to 8.7 million PPV buys. 

The most-watched boxing match was the 2015 bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao which drew 4.6 million PPV buys.

“The Fight of the Century” had been brewing for years, but was delayed several times due to breakdowns in contract negotiations. Once the fight finally materialized, both boxers were past their respective primes.

Mayweather won by unanimous decision and the fight generated $410 million in revenue. But it failed to live up to all the hype as fans were disappointed in a mostly defensive approach by Mayweather. 

Second with 4.3 million PPV buys is Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor

Both men had been going back and forth with words. But it wasn’t until Mayweather announced he would come out of retirement to fight McGregor that things became real. 

Finally, a fight was set up for August of 2017. A three-day international press tour in July helped hype up the fight.

Mayweather was guaranteed a fight purse of at least $100 million, and McGregor at least $30 million. Both men made substantially more as the fight became second only to Mayweather’s Pacquiao fight. 

In the end, Mayweather showed he was a class above McGregor in the boxing ring and earned a win by TKO in the 10th round.

“Money” Mayweather participated in the top four most-watched boxing matches, averaging 3.385 million PPV buys between them.

Mike Tyson’s five fights among the most-watched boxing matches averaged 1.74 million PPV buys. 

Ranking The Most Watched Boxing Matches

Here is the list of the top 10 most-watched boxing matches based on pay-per-view buys in the United States. The list was compiled using historical data from Planet Sport.

*The Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight on November 15th, 2024 did not use traditional PPV metrics, but was reported to receive 108 million viewers on Netflix.

  • Updated: April 22, 2025
RankingDateMatchupWinnerReported U.S. PPV Buys
1May 2, 2015Floyd Mayweather vs Manny PacquiaoMayweather (Unanimous decision)4.6 million
2August 26, 2017Floyd Mayweather vs Connor McGregorMayweather (TKO)4.3 million
3May 5, 2007Floyd Mayweather vs Oscar De La HoyaMayweather (Split decision)2.44 million
4September 14, 2013Floyd Mayweather vs Canelo AlvarezMayweather (Majority decision)2.2 million
5June 28, 1997Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield IIHolyfield (DQ)1.99 million
6June 8, 2002Mike Tyson vs Lennox LewisLewis (KO)1.97 million
7November 28, 2020Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr.Split draw1.6 million
8November 9, 1996Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield IHolyfield (KO)1.59 million
9August 19, 1995Mike Tyson vs Peter McNeelyTyson (DQ)1.55 million
10May 5, 2012Floyd Mayweather vs Miguel CottoMayweather (Unanimous decision)1.5 million

Related lists:

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Who Are the Richest MLB Owners?

MLB owners are among the wealthiest people in the U.S.
Aug 25, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Venus Williams (USA)after losing to Karolina Muchova (Czech)(not pictured) on day two of the 2025 U.S. Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Which Tennis Players Have Made the Most US Open Appearances?

Venus Williams has the most US Open appearances of any tennis player.

Every Regular-Season NFL Exclusive-Streaming Game in 2025

Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, ESPN+, Peacock, and YouTube have exclusive games

Featured Today

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
August 22, 2025

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.

NFL Preseason Sees 17% Jump in TV Ratings, Best Since 2018

Average audiences for the exhibition games increase sharply from last year.
ESPN
August 27, 2025

Disney Sues Sling TV Over $5 Day Passes Granting ESPN Access

Newly introduced short-term subscriptions spark a legal challenge.
Tom Brady
August 27, 2025

NFL Continues to Loosen Tom Brady Restrictions

Brady will be able to attend production meetings–remotely–this season.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
August 27, 2025

FCC Chair Joins Fox–YouTube TV Fight With Big Game on the Line

The Trump appointee is now involved in another media carriage fight.
Aug 24, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Tommy Fleetwood holds the FedExCup Trophy on the 18th green after winning the TOUR Championship golf tournament.
August 26, 2025

PGA Tour TV Ratings: Fleetwood’s Breakthrough Caps Playoff Surge

Sunday’s final round drew nearly 4.5 million viewers on NBC.
August 26, 2025

NFL Sunday Ticket Debuts Monthly Plan—but at a Steep Cost

Previously, fans had to purchase the service for the entire season.
August 21, 2025

Fox Enters Streaming Wars With Leaner, Sports-Heavy Approach

A different strategy marks the arrival of the network’s streaming service.