Daily Mail

FLOYD MAYWEATHER v SAUL ‘CANELO’ ALVAREZ

MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Sep 14, 2013

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In the final part of a 12-fight series, our Boxing Correspond­ent recalls how the Money Man pushed the sport into a new era... NOT so much a fight, more a masterclas­s in the art of boxing delivered by Mayweather to Alvarez, the defending world light-middleweig­ht champion and rising star of the Mexican ring. Its significan­ce lies in the accountanc­y, especially for the man who now nicknames himself ‘Money’. Mayweather’s victory over Oscar De La Hoya six years earlier had establishe­d records for pay-perview buys (2.48million), TV revenue ($136.9m), live gate income ($18.4m) and individual purse (De La Hoya $52m against Mayweather $25m). The Hispanic fervour for Canelo (Spanish for cinnamon in reference to his red hair) helped Mayweather drive most of the numbers even higher. Pay-per-view buys 2.25million; TV revenue $150m, live gate $20m, additional gate $2.62m. Mayweather’s purse was an estimated $75m, while Alvarez settled for $12m — and a boxing lesson. After taking a steady 12-round beating from Mayweather, the master of defence, he said: ‘Floyd’s so great I did not know how to get to him to land a punch.’ Ludicrousl­y, Mayweather’s victory was by mixed decision. Judge C J Ross scored it a draw — against comfortabl­e wins for Floyd carded by Dave Moretti and Craig Metcalfe — and such was the mockery that she has not officiated at ringside since. Tonight, back at the MGM, this fight’s place in history will be blown away. Mayweather and Pacquiao will earn upwards of $180m and $120m respective­ly. Pay-per-view buys are predicted to surpass four million, generating $400m towards the first half-billion dollar fight. The live gate, with tickets priced up to $10,000, will reach over $70m. But it was Mayweather-De La Hoya and Mayweather-Alvarez which opened the floodgates to this unpreceden­ted wealth.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Taught a lesson: Mayweather lands a huge punch on Alvarez
GETTY IMAGES Taught a lesson: Mayweather lands a huge punch on Alvarez

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