LAS VEGAS (AP) — Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s win over Robert Guerrero was an artistic success, but not a box-office smash.
The Showtime network said Friday that early tallies show the fight will exceed 1 million pay-per-view buys. That’s short of the 1.5 million buys for Mayweather’s previous fight against Miguel Cotto.
The fight last Saturday was the first for Mayweather on Showtime under a six-fight deal that lured the boxer from his former home at HBO. Mayweather won a unanimous 12-round decision to remain unbeaten in 44 fights.
Showtime Sports head Stephen Espinoza says the lack of a big-name opponent and Guerrero’s arrest on gun charges in New York were factors in the fight not doing better.
The fight drew 15,880 fans for a live gate of $9.9 million.
