Martinez-Chavez Fight On HBO Gets 475,000 PPV Buys, Almost Doubling Expected Numbers

The Sept. 15 Sergio Martinez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fight on HBO “generated 475,000 pay-per-view buys,” according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. The PPV total, “consisting of 250,000 buys from satellite services and 225,000 buys from cable and telco systems, generated nearly $25 million in domestic television revenue for the fight.” HBO Senior VP/Sports Operations & PPV Mark Taffet said, "It's an extremely solid number. I expect the figures to go up as we collect more of them." Rafael noted the figure is “particularly strong considering it was the first time Martinez ever has been on pay-per-view and it was the first time Chavez has headlined a major pay-per-view card.” Taffet: "It significantly exceeded our original expectations of 250,000 buys” (ESPN.com, 9/21).