After years of waiting, boxing fans witnessed Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr face off to crown a four-belt undisputed champion in the welterweight ranks and, in the eyes of many, the best fighter in the sport of boxing.
The two titlists bypassed the business side of things and kickstarted the successful negotiation process by getting on a call together. They would go onto star in a PBC event broadcast by Showtime PPV.
Despite being billed as – and believed to be – a pick ’em fight, Crawford handily dealt with the come-forward Spence, dropping him in the second round and then again twice in the seventh.
By the ninth, the referee had seen enough and waved it off in ‘Bud’s favour after a hurtful flurry of shots went unanswered. Crawford was crowned undisputed and praised for a once-in-a-generation performance.
Veteran boxing journalist, Dan Rafael, has now reported that the pay-per-view buys touched 650,000 in the US and have the potential to reach 675K.
He went on to break down the numbers, with the event generating $75 million combined from PPV buys and the gate at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Each fighter has made ‘at least’ $25 million.
Per sources, #SpenceCrawford PPV generated at least 650k domestic buys, grossing $55M with it quite possible to get to 675k range. Add in gate of more than $20M and fight was a huge success. Both fighters will make at least $25M apiece. Spence was entitled to a slightly higher %.
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) August 3, 2023
Whilst the box office buys as reported won’t break any records, it’s positive for a match-up that had questions surrounding it on whether or not a ‘casual audience’ would be captured.
Spence is entitled to activate a rematch clause now, and has made it clear that he would like that to happen up at the super welterweight limit of 154lbs.
Crawford will honour the contract, and is open to the division change – a decision that lies with him as per the contract.