Floyd Mayweather vs. Andre Berto: Latest on Ticket Sales, PPV Pricing and More
Fears that the final fight of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s distinguished career will be hugely underwhelming are starting to materialise in earnest, with reports revealing tickets and television subscriptions for Money’s upcoming bout with Andre Berto are proving to be a tough sell—especially in direct comparison to his previous fight against Manny Pacquiao.
According to the Daily Mail (via the Daily Telegraph), although the event will be considerably cheaper to view than Mayweather’s fight against the Filipino, sales are well down. As reported by Bryan Armen Graham of the Guardian, the Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown made $400 million (£260 million) in domestic pay-per-view revenue and received 4.4 million buys.
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The Daily Mail's report (h/t the Daily Telegraph) elaborates on the how the numbers for the upcoming Berto bout shape up by contrast:
"Those tickets [Mayweather-Pacquiao] cost up to $10,000, whereas the most expensive seats for the Mayweather-Berto bout cost a 'mere' $1,500. Only the cheapest seats - in the upper levels of the MGM Grand Arena, costing around £80 - are close to being sold out.
Subscriptions to watch Mayweather v Berto have also plummeted from the record levels attracted for the Pacquiao bout. According to a report in the Daily Mail, subscriptions are just a third of the 400 million that tuned in for the 'Fight of the Century' four months ago.
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Mayweather, who is hoping to make it 49 wins from 49 professional fights, isn’t fussed by the numbers. “Nobody's forced to watch,” he said, per the report. “Watch if you want to watch. If you don't want to watch, don't watch.”
The reasons for the lack of interest are clear. Mayweather’s name attached to a fight typically means the bout is going to be an easy sell, but in this instance, the gulf in quality between Money and his opponent means there are few expecting the unbeaten champion to have much trouble at all picking up an easy win.
If tickets are proving tough to shift, sales to watch the event on television are also going to struggle. As ESPN.com’s Todd Grisham notes, there’s little appealing about shelling out a substantial amount to watch Mayweather forensically dismantle his opponent:
Unfortunately, Berto just doesn’t seem to have any hope of securing a shock win. He’s a diligent performer and will ensure he’s in tremendous shape for the fight, but he’s lost on three of his previous six outings, none of which were against genuine top-class opposition.
Had Mayweather opted for a fighter like Amir Khan or Keith Thurman, at least boxing fanatics would consider the prospect of an upset.
As noted here by FightNights.com, there certainly hasn’t been a buzz in the buildup to the event which compares to Money’s previous fights:
Like him or not, there are few who will deny Mayweather has had an incredible career. But to end it like this, in front of a half-full MGM Grand against a mediocre opponent, doesn’t seem befitting of his legacy.
There are plenty who aren’t buying the fact this will be Mayweather’s final bow. Although he’s been adamant he’ll walk away for good after the Berto bout, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, you do wonder whether or not a man who craves the spotlight will be content with this underwhelming finale being the final chapter of his astonishing professional existence.
Perhaps the chance to go 50-0 against a quality fighter, surpass Rocky Marciano’s record and sign off with a roar rather than a whimper will be too tantalising an opportunity to turn town.
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