Evander Holyfield's TKO of Michael Moorer on Saturday
"drew about 700,000 pay-per-view purchases," according to
Scott Hettrick of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The buy number,
from PPV programmer Showtime Sports and Event Programming,
equals "about one-third" of the Holyfield-Mike Tyson II
fight in June. Showtime Exec VP/Corporate Marketing Mark
Greenberg said that the number "may be the highest the
industry will see for Holyfield-vs.-anybody in the near
future -- unless, of course, a Holyfield-Tyson III can be
arranged." Greenberg also said that the 700,000 buys "was
on the low end" of SET's expectations for the fight, which
cost between $40-50 in the U.S. (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 11/11).
SUNDAY MORNING FIGHTS: In Philadelphia, Bernard
Fernandez writes under the header, "Late-Night Fight Put
Sleeper Hold On PPV Audience." Fernandez: "More than a few
East Coast boxing fans shelled out the $49.95 fee ... only
to nod off before the main event." The Holyfield-Moorer
fight started at 12:58 a.m. ET. Showtime VP/Communications
Marina Capurro said the PPV consumer "wants four
championship fights." Normally, one of the undercard fights
is shown on tape delay after the main event, but Showtime
was "still in rehearsals for the telecast" when the fight
would have been taped. In addition, all three undercard
fights went the distance. Capurro: "Nobody wanted it to be
this way" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 11/11).
