Fans in the United States now know how much they’ll have to fork out to see what its promoters are calling ‘The Fight of the Century’.
Conor McGregor faces off against Floyd Mayweather Jr. for the first time, on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of their August 26 bout in Las Vegas.
‘The Notorious’ and ‘Money’ kick off their four-city world tour in Los Angeles and there are plenty of fight fans already in a thrall.
Madelyn Flax, a spokesperson for Showtime Sports, has told USA Today how much fans in America will have to put up to see the pay-per-view event. Details on the European broadcaster are not set to be confirmed until later this week so fans in the UK and Ireland will have to hold tight [and keep saving].
Flax stated that the regular package will set fans back $89.95 [just under £70] while fans wanting to see the bout in all its High Definition glory can do so for $99.95 [approx £78].
Asked about that figure by TMZ, on Monday, McGregor remarked:
“It should be $120!”
Those figures are in line with how much fans splashed out for the previous ‘Fight of the Century’ between Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio two years ago. Mayweather was reported to have made $220m from that fight, which he won on a unanimous points decision.
UFC president Dana White has confidently predicted McGregor-Mayweather will take in excess of five million pay-per-views, which would mean both fighters are set for nine-figure pay days.
Fans of the UFC would regularly pay between $50 and $60 for a PPV event but White believes the $90 start-off fee is justified. White said:
“When you talk about superfights, this is a superfight – two different guys from two different sports going in and putting it on the line.
“Obviously, you can’t charge what you would normally charge for a pay-per-view… it’s the biggest fight ever in the history of pay-per-view.”
We will post details of the PPV options in the UK when we have it.
