Boxing site fighthype.com, quoting multiple industry sources, is reporting that the Golovkin-Lemieux fight made approximately 150,000 buys, which is low compared to the first PPV fights of Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Maywetrher, Jr. that reached 300,000 buys.
The low PPV sales turnout was compensated by the huge gate revenue from the fully sold out tickets at Madison Square Garden.
Still, the PPV buys could have been bigger if the promoters picked a PPV veteran like Antonio Margarito or the likes of Sergio Martinez, who had good PPV sales turnout in their prime.
Golovkin could still make a breakthrough in the PPV market if Miguel Cotto wins over Canelo Alvarez in their upcoming fight — and if their promoters agree to the terms of the fight.
A Cotto-Golovkin match could be more salable than the Alvarez-Golovkin fight because Cotto has been a longtime PPV attraction.
Cotto’s first entry in a PPV event was in 2007 in a fight against Zab Judah, which made 225,000 buys. Cotto has figured in about eight more PPV fights including one with Manny Pacquiao which made 1,250,000 buys and against Floyd Mayweather at 1.5 million buys.
In contrast, Alvarez has figured only in three PPV fights, though he was instrumental in the 2.3 million buys under CBS/Showtime event against Floyd Mayweather in 2013,
Golovkin has what it takes to become a PPV attraction because he isn’t a boring fighter to watch. While Mayweather, who is an undisputed PPV star, has his own shoulder roll defense to brag about, Golovkin is known for his accurate body (liver) shot which accounts for many of his knockout wins.
Compared to Mayweather, Golovkin is more exciting and entertaining to watch which is what the PPV audience wants to see in a boxing fight.
