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Mayweather-Pacquiao sets PPV mark with 4.4 million buys

FILE - In this May 2, 2015 file photo, Manny Pacquiao, left, from the Philippines, trades blows with Floyd Mayweather Jr., during their welterweight title fight in Las Vegas. Pacquiao lost his biggest fight in the ring, but that won’t stop him from plotting a bigger comeback - in the political arena that is. Some fans still want a rematch because they felt cheated by the lackluster Pacquiao-Mayweather bout billed by promoters as the “Battle for Greatness,” though boxing analyst Ed Tolentino calls it the “Fiasco of the Century.” (AP Photo/John Locher, File) FILE - In this May 2, 2015 file photo, Manny Pacquiao, left, from the Philippines, trades blows with Floyd Mayweather Jr., during their welterweight title fight in Las Vegas. Pacquiao lost his biggest fight in the ring, but that won’t stop him from plotting a bigger comeback - in the political arena that is. Some fans still want a rematch because they felt cheated by the lackluster Pacquiao-Mayweather bout billed by promoters as the “Battle for Greatness,” though boxing analyst Ed Tolentino calls it the “Fiasco of the Century.” (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

By Associated Press May 12, 2015 1 min read

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao proved a box office smash, obliterating the pay-per-view record with 4.4 million buys for their welterweight title fight.

Showtime and HBO officials say Tuesday the May 2 fight generated more than $400 million in television revenue, which was also a record.

The bout nearly doubled the previous record of 2.48 million buys generated by Mayweather’s 2007 fight with Oscar De La Hoya and nearly tripled the record $150 million in pay-per-view revenue generated by Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez in 2013.

The Nevada Athletic Commission says the live gate for the fight was a record $72,198,500 million, far eclipsing the previous mark of $20 million set by Mayweather and Alvarez.