TV Ratings For HBO, SHO Mayweather-Pacquiao Coverage

Apr 25, 2015 • 2:22 AM ET

By Jake Donovan

In addition to HBO and Showtime going head to head with separate live boxing telecasts on April 18, both networks offered competing coverage of the upcoming May 2 superfight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

The two cable giants are working together in a joint Pay-Per-View telecast, but have produced separate series dedicated to the most anticipated event of the 21st Century.

HBO offered Mayweather/Pacquiao: At Last on a night that also included 2014 Fighter of the Year Terence Crawford and a highly anticipated showdown between Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov.

Showtime presented the first installment of its Inside Mayweather-Pacquiao series alongside its televised tripleheader that featured the network debut of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

In terms of ratings, HBO's coverage nearly quadrupled that of Showtime. Mayweather/Pacquiao: At Last delivered 735,000 viewers, while Inside Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Episode One drew 202,000 viewers.

Both networks will feature fresh content on Saturday.

HBO presents Mayweather/Pacquiao: The Legends Speak , which airs at 12:15am. The segment immediately follows its live doubleheader from Madison Square Garden, topped by Wladimir Klitschko in a heavyweight championship defense versus unbeaten contender Bryant Jennings. Replays will be offered on HBO and HBO2.

Showtime offers the second installment of Inside Mayweather vs. Pacquiao . Episode two of the series airs at 7:30pm ET/PT on its flagship station, and will repeat throughout the night and all of fight week.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox

Jake Donovan Profile

Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.

See all interviews