10 Biggest Earning Boxing PPV Events in History Ranked

Boxing has always been more than just a sport. It is a show that draws fans and makes stars rich. Pay-per-view or PPV has changed the way people watch fights. Fans pay to see the action live at home, and this has turned top bouts into huge money events. Over the years, the PPV system has given boxing some of the most sold fights in sports. Many of these events are still talked about today. In this guide, we will look at the ten biggest earning boxing PPV events in history. We rank them and see why each fight made such huge cash.

This fight was sold as the bout of the century, and it lived up to the hype in terms of money. The fight had been teased for many years as both Floyd and Manny were at the top of the sport. Fans wanted to see who would win in a clash of skill and power. When the fight was made, it broke all records. More than 4.6 million homes paid to see it on PPV. The sales alone went past 400 million, which was unheard of at that time. The full money with ads and gate went past 600 million. Floyd won with ease on the cards, but Manny fought hard with heart.

This fight was more of a show than just a boxing bout. Floyd was retired but came back for this one fight. Conor McGregor was the top star in UFC and wanted to test his skills in the ring. The hype was insane as fans from both boxing and UFC came to watch. It sold more than 4.3 million PPV buys and made more than 370 million in sales. Floyd was in full control, yet Conor showed heart and made it to round ten before the ref stopped the fight. The bout gave Conor the biggest payday of his life. It also proved that cross-sport bouts can draw just as much as true boxing fights.

Oscar De La Hoya was the golden boy of boxing and had a huge fan base. Floyd May was the fast-rising star who many thought was the best of his time. When these two met, the PPV numbers set a new mark. The fight sold more than 2.4 million buys, which at that time was the highest ever. The sales went past 130 million in PPV. The bout was close, with Floyd winning by a split decision. Some fans thought Oscar had done enough, but Floyd showed skill and speed to take the win. This fight was the one that made Floyd the face of PPV for the next decade. It also proved that Oscar was still one of the biggest draws in boxing.

This fight is not just known for the cash but also for the drama. It was the rematch after Holyfield had beaten Tyson in the first fight. The hype was huge as Tyson wanted to get revenge. The bout sold 1.99 million buys and made more than 100 million in sales. The fight turned wild in round three when Tyson bit the ear of Holyfield not once but twice. The ref had no choice but to stop the fight and give Holyfield the win by DQ. Fans were in shock, and the scene is still one of the most talked about moments in all of sports. Even with the chaos, the event proved that Tyson was still one of the biggest names in boxing.

By the time these two met, Tyson was past his best, yet the star power was still there. Lennox Lewis was the champ and one of the best heavyweights ever. Fans from all over the world wanted to see how Tyson would do. The fight sold 1.95 million buys and made more than 110 million in sales. The bout was held in Memphis, and the hype was massive with huge press tours. In the ring, Lennox was too strong and too skilled. He won by KO in round eight. Even though Tyson lost, the event was still a mega cash hit. This fight showed that, even late in his career, he was still able to pull fans and break sales marks.

This fight had youth vs skill. Canelo was the young star from Mexico, and Floyd was the unbeaten king. Fans thought this was the fight that could give Floyd a loss. The event sold 2.2 million buys and made more than 150 million in PPV sales. Floyd used his speed and mind to win easily on the scorecards. Canelo had no real answer but he showed heart and learned from the fight. This bout gave Canelo fame on a global scale. He went on to be the face of boxing after Floyd left the sport. Fans still see this fight as a key point in the growth of Canelo.

Floyd May fought Miguel Cotto in what was one of his toughest fights. Cotto was a strong champ and gave Floyd real heat in the ring. The event sold 1.5 million PPV buys and made more than 90 million in sales. The fight was full of action as Cotto landed more shots than most of Floyd’s other foes. Still, Floyd was sharp and won clearly on the scorecards. Fans loved the bout as it had both skill and drama. This fight showed that Floyd was not just a star for hype but also could take on true champs and still win. It added more proof that Floyd was the king of the PPV era. Cotto also got respect as he gave Floyd one of his hardest bouts.

This fight was the return of Mike Tyson after years in jail. Fans had waited for him to come back. The hype was so big that the fight sold 1.58 million buys and made more than 90 million in sales. The bout itself was short as Tyson won in just 89 seconds when McNeeley’s corner threw in the towel. Still, fans did not care. They just wanted to see Tyson again in the ring. The event proved that star power alone can drive sales even if the fight does not last long. Tyson was still the most feared and loved star of the sport. His return fight was one of the most sold PPV bouts in history and showed how strong the Tyson name was at that time.

This fight was a clash of two fan bases. Floyd had the US fans and Ricky Hatton had a huge crowd from the UK. The arena in Vegas was full of UK fans who sang and cheered all night. The event sold 1.45 million PPV buys and made more than 70 million in sales. The fight was close in the first half, but Floyd took over and stopped Hatton in round ten. The bout was huge as it showed how boxing could pull fans from around the globe. Hatton may have lost, but his fans made the night one to recall. Floyd once again proved his skill and his draw.

This was the fourth bout between these two great rivals. The past fights were all close, and fans wanted to see a clear end. The hype was huge, and the fight sold 1.4 million buys, making more than 70 million in PPV sales. The bout was back and forth with both men landing hard shots. Then, in round six, Marquez landed a huge right hand that knocked Manny Pac out cold. The scene was shocking, and fans still talk about it today. This fight showed the value of rival bouts as fans will pay to see two men settle a long fight story. Pac lost but stayed a star, and Marquez had the best win of his career.

The sport of boxing has always been tied to money and star power. The PPV system made it easy for fans to pay and see the fights live at home. This gave the sport some of the biggest cash nights in all sports. From Floyd May and Manny Pac to Mike Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya, each name brought in fans and sales. Some fights gave skill, others gave drama, and some gave shock. Yet all of them made huge amounts of cash. These ten events are the biggest earning boxing PPV fights in history, and they still hold their place at the top. They show how the mix of hype, skill, and star power can turn a fight into a global show that fans will pay for again and again.