The Observer - 9 March 2014 - 15
Mayweather-Alvarez Bout Is Richest Fight Ever
F
LAS VEGAS (AP)
loyd Mayweather Jr.’s
dominating win over
Canelo Alvarez was the
richest fight ever, a boxoffice smash at the arena and on
television.
Showtime said Thursday that at
least 2.2 million homes bought the
pay-per-view for the bout, second
only to the 2.44 million homes in
Mayweather’s 2007 fight against
Oscar De La Hoya.
With the highest pay-per-view
boxing price — at an average of
more than $70 — the fight will
generate nearly $150 million in
revenue in TV sales alone.
Nevada boxing regulators say the
gate for the bout was just more than
$20 million, also a record. A total of
16,146 seats were sold for the event
at an average price of almost $1,240
per ticket.
Promoter Richard Schaefer said
total revenues would approach $200
million upon final count, surpassing
the $165 million generated by the
Mayweather-De La Hoya fight.
“You sort of reach for the stars
but you don’t always catch them,”
Schaefer said. “I was reaching for
the stars but the way this fight
caught fire surprised everyone.”
Mayweather earned a guaranteed
$41.5 million for the fight, while
Alvarez was guaranteed $5 million.
Both will make more based on a
percentage of the pay-per-view
revenue.
“It will make big paychecks even
bigger,” Schaefer said. “I don’t
know how big but certainly bigger.
Much bigger.”
Mayweather was as impressive as
the ticket sales, outclassing Alvarez
and winning nearly every round on
his way to a majority decision. He
remained unbeaten in 45 fights,
while Alvarez lost for the first time
in 44 professional fights.
The fight was a hot ticket from
the time it was announced, even
with ringside seats selling for $2,000.
Those proved a bargain in the
days leading up to the event when
some tickets in the resale market
were being offered for as much as
$29,000.
Nevada Athletic Commission
executive director Keith Kizer said
that the total gate of just over $20
million eclipsed the $18.4 million
earned from 17,000 tickets for the
Mayweather-De La Hoya fight.
Both bouts were held at the MGM
Grand arena.
Only 50 comp tickets were
distributed, and promoters said
before the fight that tickets were in
such short supply that celebrities
who normally watch for free were
offering to pay.
Showtime said that the 2.2 million
PPV figure was a conservative
number, based on preliminary
reports from cable and satellite TV
distributors. When fully reported,
the network said, the total buys
could challenge the record set by
Mayweather and De La Hoya.
Schaefer, head of Golden Boy
Promotions, said he knew from the
crowds attending the opening press
tour in June that the fight was going
to be big. Golden Boy spent nearly
Moyes pens open
letter to fans
U
UNITED KINGDOM
nder-fire boss David Moyes
(Pictured) has penned an open
letter to Manchester United’s
fans in which he admits he is
finding his first season at Old Trafford to be
more challenging than expected.
However, the Scot, who was hand-picked
by his predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson in
the offseason, is adamant he can match
expectations in the future.
“While I knew that this job would be a
challenge when I took it on, the difficult
season we have experienced was not
something that I envisaged, which I am sure
is the case as well for you supporters,” wrote
Moyes.
“My players, staff and I are desperate to
compensate for that.
“You are accustomed to seeing a successful
Manchester United and the backing you
have given the players and me throughout
the season has been incredible. Away from
home the travelling fans have remained the
best in the country while at Old Trafford
your unwavering faith has been noticeable
and hugely welcomed.■
$10 million advertising the fight,
and promoted it heavily in Hispanic
markets
“It just shows you that the health
of the sport is good,” Schaefer said.
“There’s not too many other sports
than can generate $200 million in
revenue in one night.”
Golden Boy said previously that
the fight generated the highest rating
in Mexican television history, with
nearly eight out of 10 households
in Mexico tuning in to the free
broadcast by Televisia.
“What I kept on saying to all
those negative voices out there is
boxing is still big,” Schaefer said.
“Bigger today maybe than it has
been in a long time.” - Associated
Press
Fergie reveals
Ronaldo regret
F
ormer Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed
he asked the club to place a £150 million price tag on Cristiano
Ronaldo’s head when Real Madrid came chasing after the attacker’s
services.
Ronaldo (above in orange) became the most expensive footballer in history
when he traded United for Real for 80m in 2009 - a mark which was bettered
last year with Gareth Bale’s 85m switch from Tottenham to Los Blancos.
“I told [then United chairman] David Gill to ask for £150 million. [Real
president Florentino] Perez would have paid,” Ferguson, who left the Red
Devils hotseat in the offseason, told AS. “The only thing that hurt me, and I
said this repeatedly to David Gill, was that we didn’t demand enough.
“I told David, ‘Ask for £150 million’. He said: ‘Don’t be silly. They’ll never
pay £150 million’.”
Ronaldo, the 2013 Ballon d’Or holder, has plundered a staggering 238 goals
in 233 games for Real. Before that he scored 91 goals in his final three seasons
at Old Trafford.
“Supporting your team when they are winning is easy but much harder
when things are not going as well, and the loyalty you have shown us has been
magnificent.
“Everything we have been through will make us a better, stronger team and
club in the future.
“Over the years you have seen great winning sides here and, in time, I have
absol