Pacquiao-Horn a massive ratings hit, even with the often-elusive younger crowd

[Mike D]

I'm just excited for the future with ESPN being committed to the sport. It will suck a bit because ESPN will not cover the sport the way it would if there was not a corporate partnership, but having more programming on and liftng the sports profile is a trade off I can make.

Yeah for sure, but the hope is, so long as the ratings succeed (still a big if as this was just one fight) then maybe that will open their eyes which hopefully will lead them to taking the entire sport of boxing (beyond just their TR relationship) more seriously.

[The Big Dunn]

Yeah for sure, but the hope is, so long as the ratings succeed (still a big if as this was just one fight) then maybe that will open their eyes which hopefully will lead them to taking the entire sport of boxing (beyond just their TR relationship) more seriously.

Agreed. No reason UFC and WWE should be treated better than boxing. ESPN could really do some good here, especially if they make Friday Night Fight cards with better fighters.

Start with a prospect but headline with guys we know in fights that matter. Cruiser, 122, 126 all have GREAT fights that can be made a relatively good price.

[Boxfan83]

Most American youths are pre-gaming at a bar before the club and guess what channel is on at every bar? ESPN!!!

[BWC]

It's crazy how many people that I am contact with that would NEVER go out of their way to watch a fight on HBO or Showtime (who do have these channels), much less a PPV fight...but are faithful ESPN heads and ended up watching Pacquiao/Horn. Just because of the heavy promotion that ESPN was running all week leading up to it. I got a bunch of texts right after the fight (because they know I'm a hardcore boxing fan) concluded from people that have told me in the past straight up that they think boxing is a joke. But they tuned in anyway.

And that's obviously just a tiny sliver of a sampling of people. But the ratings prove it -- when a powerful giant like ESPN really (and I mean really) get behind something, the sky's the limit. Now yeah of course Pacquiao's name was a huge ingredient in this, but I really believe that if ESPN promotes the hell out of the Lomachenko and Crawford fights in similar fashion, that those fights can do extremely well also. The key is getting the casual ESPN viewing public to get to know who these guys are. Because most of them have no clue. But if ESPN runs stories on them on Sportscenter, leading up to their bouts, then people will tune in.

Younger people actually take what the talking heads and outlets like ESPN more seriously. I know I did (I am 40 now). When ESPN and the media constantly say "boxing is dead, UFC taking over" they parrot that.

If ESPN, FS1 all of a sudden start to promote boxing, it WILL sell with the younger crowd because they have authority and credibility..

[Mike D]

Younger people actually take what the talking heads and outlets like ESPN more seriously. I know I did (I am 40 now). When ESPN and the media constantly say "boxing is dead, UFC taking over" they parrot that.

If ESPN, FS1 all of a sudden start to promote boxing, it WILL sell with the younger crowd because they have authority and credibility..

Yuuuuup. ESPECIALLY the part about their faithful viewers parroting what ESPN says.

[Big_L]

I just hope espn covers lomo and Crawford as much as they covered Pac. They can become stars with the right push.

And I hope Arum doesn't get greedy and try to come back with Pac/Horn 2 on ppv. The rematch could do bigger ratings than the first one.

[al-Xander]

Like I have always repeated. Boxing can be huge if it wants to be huge. I mean really huge. Bigger than any sport.

The tragic thing is making young fighters in their prime fight once a year. People talk about PBC being broke. Well, it can recover quickly IF ONLY they let these stars of theirs fight often. Nobody knows why they keep putting their fighters on the shelf for long periods of time.

Where is Garcia, Spence, Porter, Peterson, Jacobs, etc?

[.:: JSFD26 ::.]

Pacquiao, who was the biggest star in boxing at one point, fighting on FREE TV averaging 2.8m is a big success somehow? He used to do 1m on PPV but 2.8m on FREE TV is a massive hit?

People's standards in boxing get lower and lower with every passing year.

Did I mention these are like PBC type numbers?

[Mike D]

Pacquiao, who was the biggest star in boxing at one point, fighting on FREE TV averaging 2.8m is a big success somehow? He used to do 1m on PPV but 2.8m on FREE TV is a massive hit?

People's standards in boxing get lower and lower with every passing year.

Did I mention these are like PBC type numbers?

It peaked at 4.4 million viewers. And it was the highest rated boxing event on cable since...was it 05'? 06'? And according to the article the fight did as well as anything that aired all weekend long. It's pretty rare when a boxing fight can say that they drew among the best ratings of the weekend.

[GorillaDog]

Horn vs Canelo superfight make it happen. Horn is the new A side in boxing.