When Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr step foot in the boxing ring this Saturday it is expected to be the biggest box office event in sports history.
This is expected to be Mayweather’s final fight, heading into the match with a 49-0 record, compared to McGregor’s 0-0 record.
The Irish fighter is set for his professional boxing debut, but heads into the match with a 21-3 Mixed Martial Arts record to boast. McGregor has never been knocked out in his career; all three of his losses have been by submission.
Mayweather’s experience, winning record and the fact he is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time has seen the bookmakers make the Mayweather McGregor odds heavily in favour of the American.
Whichever way the fight goes it is expected to smash the previous pay-per-view buy-rate record. Here are the five biggest buy-rates of all-time:
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao
Two of the greatest fighters of all-time finally got into the ring together on 2nd May, 2015 after many boxing fans had been dreaming of this showdown for years.
The undefeated Floyd Mayweather came into the match with a 47-0 record compared to Pacquiao’s 57-5-2, of which two of those defeats had been in his last five fights.
Mayweather won by unanimous decision after 12 rounds with a buy-rate of 4.6 million.
2. Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Mayweather was also involved in the previous highest pay-per-view buy-rate when he took on Oscar De La Hoya back in May, 2007 when 2.4 million tuned in.
De La Hoya had entered the match with a 38-4 record with 30 KOs, and Mayweather 37-0 with 24 KOs.
Mayweather won by a split decision in 12 close-fought rounds, capturing the World Boxing Council (WBC) title.
3. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Canelo Álvarez
The light middleweight championship super-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Álvarez on 14 September, 2013 saw a buy-rate of 2.2 million.
Mayweather received $41.5 million for this fight before even taking into account pay-per-view sales.
The fight was won by Mayweather in a 12-round majority decision, though many believe it should have been a unanimous decision but for CJ Ross surprisingly calling it a draw.
4. Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson II
The biggest pay-per-view buy-rate of the 90s was the much-anticipated rematch between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.
Holyfield had shocked the world with his victory in the first fight on 9 November, 1996 with a TKO in the 11th round. Tyson had been the overwhelming favourite with both the bookmakers and journalists.
A rematch was set up for 28 June, 1997 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It drew a buy-rate of 1.99 million.
It turned into one of the most controversial fights of all-time as Tyson twice bit Holyfield on the ear earning a disqualification in round three.
5. Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson’s last huge draw before his career came to an end was his title match with Lennox Lewis on 8 June, 2002.
It drew a buy-rate of 1.97 million with several celebrities in attendance, including Samuel L. Jackson, Britney Spears and Tom Cruise.
They watched as Lennox Lewis controlled the fight, busting Tyson open above both eyes before knocking him out in round eight.
Betfair are excited about this weekend’s super-fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather and have created the below graphic highlighting some of the biggest knockouts: