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8 of the biggest boxing gates in Las Vegas history

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8 of the biggest boxing gates in Las Vegas history

As a long-time boxing enthusiast and someone who has followed the sport closely for decades, I can confidently say that the top five highest grossing pay-per-view (PPV) fights in boxing history are truly iconic moments that have left an indelible mark on the sport.

For several decades, Las Vegas, Nevada has held the title of fight hub for the globe, drawing crowds with its boxing and UFC events. Lately, however, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has begun to lure high-stakes bouts thanks to its substantial financial resources.

die-hard boxing fans are already familiar with some of the top earning boxing matches in Las Vegas history. However, determining which fights rank third to eighth may not be straightforward. Michael Benson has helpfully analyzed each of these top eight events for us. Here they are, listed starting from number:

8. Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. – $19 million

The fight was billed as “The World Awaits” and was a super welterweight super fight. The event took place on May 5, 2007, at MGM Grand Arena. At the time. De La Hoya was the six-division world champion and Mayweather was a four-division champion. It generated over $130 million in revenue, including a $19 million gate, which at the time was the biggest ever. Mayweather won the fight via split decision and won the WBC super welterweight title. Tickets to the fight sold out in three hours. The fight knocked the rematch between Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson out of the water as that live gate was just over $16 million.

7. Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez – $20 million

On September 14, 2013, in MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mayweather went head-to-head with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a highly anticipated light middleweight championship match, famously named “The One.” The bout was broadcasted on Showtime. Weighing in at a catchweight of 152 pounds, Mayweather pocketed an impressive $41.5 million prior to pay-per-view sales. In the end, Mayweather secured the victory through a majority decision, with two judges scoring it 114–114 and the third judge ruling it as a draw (114-114, 112-112, 114-114). The referee decided to call it quits after the contest, sparking significant backlash over the scoring.

6. Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford – $21 million

On a breathtaking July 23, 2023, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, I had the privilege of witnessing history unfold before my very eyes. Terence Crawford, a fighter I’ve long admired, clinched the undisputed championship in not one, but two weight classes. His impressive victory against Errol Spence Jr., secured via a ninth-round TKO, marked a first in the four-belt era. This momentous event reportedly drew an astounding number of over 700,000 PPV buys and raked in a staggering revenue of $59 million.

5. Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia – $22.8 million

On April 22, 2023, at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, the much-anticipated clash between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia went down. Billed as a can’t-miss matchup, “This Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This,” the catchweight bout at 136 pounds came with a 10-pound rehydration clause. The seventh round saw Davis deliver a knockout to the promising newcomer. Showtime broadcasted this PPV event for $84.99, resulting in over 1.2 million purchases.

4. Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin 2 – $23.5 million

In September 2018, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin faced off in a highly anticipated rematch, dubbed “The Final Judgement.” This boxing event unfolded at the T-Mobile Arena. The build-up to this bout was filled with drama as Alvarez failed a drug test, forcing a postponement from May to September. The Ring magazine later declared it as the best fight of the year. In a closely contested match, Alvarez emerged victorious through a majority decision.

3. Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin 1 – $27.1 million

It’s not unexpected that their initial clash would make our list since we’ve recently discussed their rematch. Their first encounter took place on September 16, 2017, during an event named “Supremacy.” At stake were the unified WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, IBO, Ring magazine, and lineal middleweight titles. The fight ended in a debated split draw, leading to their second bout.

2. Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor – $55.4 million

The face-off between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor in the world of combat sports was an unprecedented event. McGregor, a UFC champion, ventured into boxing for the first time, creating massive hype around a bout that seemed unlikely. The highly anticipated match went down at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on August 26, 2017. Mayweather pocketed a guaranteed $100 million, while McGregor received a guaranteed $30 million paycheck; however, both fighters likely earned significantly more than reported.

I was thrilled to witness Mayweather’s victory in the 10th round, securing a Technical Knockout and extending his unbeaten record in professional fights to an impressive 50. After such an achievement, he made the surprising decision to retire from competitive boxing. However, if you’re looking for more action from Mayweather, be prepared to watch him in exhibition matches instead.

1. Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao – $72.2 million

The Mayweather vs. Pacquiao boxing match on May 2, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was an unprecedented event in boxing history. Known as the “Fight of the Century,” it broke records with the largest live gate attendance. Mayweather emerged victorious, winning through a unanimous decision by the judges.

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2024-07-18 01:13

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