Will Donaire/Nishioka and Rios/Alvarado card draw more ratings than Ward/Dawson?

Andre Ward vs. Chad Dawson drew over 1.3 million viewers but will Donaire/Nishioka and Rios/Alvarado do better tv ratings? Andre Ward draws 1.3 million viewers to HBO for his TKO of Chad Dawson By Kevin Iole | Boxing – 1 hour 21 minutes ago Email Andre Ward attracted 1.3 million viewers to HBO for his win over Chad Dawson (AP) Super middleweight Andre Ward had a big night on Saturday in more ways than one. Not only did he retain his WBA and WBC titles with a 10th round stoppage of Chad Dawson in a career-best performance at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., Ward also drew a whopping 1.3 million fans to his fight on HBO Sports, according to Nielsen Media Research figures. That came despite going head-to-head with a Showtime offering that featured Lucas Mattysse against Ajose Olusegun. That fight, which was at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas, attracted 344,000 viewers. It was also a major gain for Ward from his previous fight, in which he decisioned Carl Froch on Dec. 17 in Atlantic City to win the Super Six World Boxing Classic title. According to Nielsen figures, the Ward-Froch fight on Showtime peaked at 580,000 viewers. So, by jumping networks, Ward more than doubled viewership of his fights. His performance also continued a strong run for HBO, which has attracted a million or more viewers for each of its World Championship Boxing shows in 2012. Also, Saturday's second and final episode of "Chavez-Martinez: 24/7" on HBO turned out to be an unexpected hit, drawing 747,000 viewers. That made it the fifth-most watched episode in series history. It trails only three episodes of De La Hoya-Mayweather from 2007 and the debut episode of Cotto-Margarito. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. defends his WBC middleweight title against Sergio Martinez on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Comments (18)

_original_

Alvarado-Rios would have been a hell of a 24-7, why HBO isn't putting much stock behind this one is beyond me. It has the making of a gruesome classic. It probably won't beat Ward-Dawson's numbers, which were pretty strong. People try to make Donaire into some superstar, but he's far from it. The dude is not only overrated as a fighter (high p4p ranking) but also as a "star".

13y ago

El_Angel

It's not being pushed as hard by HBO, but it is a hell of card. I don't think it'll get more, but it'll be close.

13y ago

warp1432

No, it'll probably be around 1 million. Donaire's done lower ratings when he hasn't had a marquee name to fight. When he fought Montiel, it did around 1 million. Nishioka isn't a bigger name, but Rios-Alvarado will help that card. Keep in mind that HBO is spending a lot less money for this card too, so if it does less, than that'll be okay. 1.3 is the average on the year, so hopefully it meets that, but I'm skeptical.

13y ago

DoktorSleepless

Donaire has been on HBO for a while now, including in Chavez undercards. And Rios/Alvarado will bring the hispanic viewers. I think it could match the ratings at least. You don't need a 24/7 to get 1.3 million viewers. Khan vs Garcia got that much. Filipinos don't care for Donaire like they care for Pac. Donaire-Montiel did 800K I believe. Donaire-Montiel did over a million. The Narvaez fight did 800k. The Mathebula fight got close to a million. I think Rios/Alvarado could give it the 300k boost.

13y ago

hatershate

Filipinos don't care for Donaire like they care for Pac. Donaire-Montiel did 800K I believe.

13y ago

devildg

coutning viewers in Japan and the Philippines.....HELL YES this fight is huge in Japan, probably the most significant title bout involving a Japanese boxer this century

13y ago

Phantomas

No way, average Joe probably have not even heard of them ever.

13y ago

The_Tase

ward/dawson had a 24/7 episodes and a faceoff these fights don't that & ward dawson are american. the mainstream doesnt really care for lower weight fighters let alone non american ones.

13y ago

SkillspayBills

It's a better card so it should get better views. Damnit I love boxing. So many good fights coming up.

13y ago

kiaba360

i dont think ggg ratings where good. That wouldn't surprise me though. It was his HBO debut, and the average person doesn't know who the hell Golovkin or Proksa is. What did Nonito's past ratings look like? What about for Rios?

13y ago

codey

Rating will be sky high!!

13y ago

_JSFD26_

I think it will draw more viewers and will be interesting to see if it draws more in attendance as well. Anyone know how many tickets Ward-Dawson sold?

13y ago

paulf

Popular Mexican fighter? Check. Popular Fillipino fighter? Check. I think this card will produce very similar numbers to Dawson/Ward.

13y ago

deuce_drop

it should draw more, it's by far a better card than the dawson card... besides that fight was junk.

13y ago

onechance87

absolutely at least one million will tune in HBO has yet to have a show in 2012 do less than a million viewers which is a very positive sign. I can see this show getting 1.6 million viewers. i dont think ggg ratings where good.

13y ago

Fetta

I dont care if im the only one tuned in but I know i will be watching.

13y ago

HUGEBOXINGFAN

absolutely at least one million will tune in HBO has yet to have a show in 2012 do less than a million viewers which is a very positive sign. I can see this show getting 1.6 million viewers.

13y ago

Hougigo

All I know is at least a million will tune in.

13y ago