As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, the Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin middleweight title fight on Sept. 16 generated $27,059,850 from 17,318 tickets sold, according to figures released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
According to the commission, 934 complimentary tickets were handed out at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena.
The figures represent the third-biggest gate in boxing history, trailing only the May 2015 welterweight fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao ($72,198,500), and Mayweather's bout in August with Conor McGregor ($55,414,865.79).
Canelo's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, believes his boxer will only get bigger as time goes on.
"By drawing the third-largest gate in (boxing) history, Canelo has demonstrated once again that he is the top draw in our sport," De La Hoya told ESPN.
"And the scary thing is that he's still only 27 years old. As he continues to engage in the kind of hard-fought battles he had with GGG, Canelo's popularity will only continue to soar."
Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) and Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) fought to a controversial split draw. Judge Dave Moretti scored the fight 115-113 for Golovkin, Don Trella saw it 114-114, and Adalaide Byrd had Alvarez ahead 118-110 - an extremely wide margin for what most saw as a competitive, seesaw battle.
The outcome allowed Golovkin to retain the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight belts. The sanctioning bodies are going to hang back before ordering any mandatory fights.
There is a rematch clause that Canelo plans to exercise. The two sides have already begun discussing the idea of a second fight. It would likely take place, if a deal is finalized, on May 5th as part of Cinco De Mayo weekend. Las Vegas would have to be the frontrunner to host the rematch, with Texas being the second candidate in the running.
Golovkin, who many believe is showing signs of age, will be 36 years old by the time the rematch comes around.
