Golovkin and Canelo jousted to a hotly-debated split draw on September 16 in Las Vegas and the vast majority of boxing fans are keen to see a rematch happen on May 5, 2018.
As the dust settles and potential negotiations get underway for a second helping, WBN looks at where boxing’s best fight of 2017 ranks on the all-time list.
Floyd Mayweather obviously leads the way with the top four earners and five of the top 10, whilst ex-‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson has four spots from his solid run in the mid nineties to early 2000’s.
As well as sharing top spot with Mayweathr, Manny Pacquiao‘s third helping with arch-nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez has been pushed down to 10th, whilst Canelo’s loss to Mayweather now drops to fourth after Conor McGregor spoiled the party.
Evander Holyfield covets three of the top eleven places, whilst Oscar De La Hoya is another 1990’s star who’s a prominent member of the PPV brigade.
Canelo held a further position in the top 20 until the ‘GGG’ encounter ousted his May fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. as this month’s HBO blockbuster crashes the list at number 16.
PPV boxing events of all-time – Top 20:
1. May 2, 2015 Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao
Mayweather Jr. wins by UD (116–112, 116–112, 118–110)
HBO/Showtime 4,600,000
2. Aug 26, 2017 Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor
Mayweather wins by TKO in round 10
Showtime 4,400,000
3. May 5, 2007 Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather Jr. wins by SD (116–112, 115–113, 113–115)
HBO 2,400,000
4. Sep 14, 2013 Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Canelo Álvarez
Mayweather, Jr. wins by MD (117–111, 116–112, 114–114)
Showtime 2,200,000
5. Jun 28, 1997 Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson II
Holyfield wins by DQ in round 3
Showtime 1,990,000
6. Jun 8, 2002 Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson
Lewis wins by KO in round 8
HBO/Showtime 1,970,000
7. Nov 9, 1996 Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield
Holyfield wins by TKO in round 11
Showtime 1,590,000
8. Aug 19, 1995 Mike Tyson vs. Peter McNeeley
Tyson wins by DQ in round 1
Showtime 1,550,000
9. May 5, 2012 Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Miguel Cotto
Mayweather Jr. wins by UD (117–111, 117–111, 118–110)
HBO 1,500,000
10. Nov 13, 2011 Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Márquez III
Pacquiao wins by MD (115–113, 114–114, 116–112)
HBO 1,400,000
11. Apr 19, 1991 Evander Holyfield vs. George Foreman
Holyfield wins by UD (116–111, 117–110, 115–112)
HBO 1,400,000
12. Sep 18, 1999 Oscar De La Hoya vs. Félix Trinidad
Trinidad wins by MD (115–113, 115–114, 114–114)
HBO 1,400,000
13. May 1, 2010 Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Shane Mosley
Mayweather Jr. wins by UD (119–109, 118–110, 119–109)
HBO 1,400,000
14. Mar 16, 1996 Frank Bruno vs. Mike Tyson II
Tyson wins by TKO in round 3
Showtime 1,370,000
15. May 7, 2011 Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley
Pacquiao wins by UD (119–108, 120–108, 120–107)
Showtime 1,340,000
16. Sep 16, 2017 Gennady Golovkin vs. Canelo Álvarez
Split draw (118–110, 115–113, 114–114)
HBO 1,300,000
17. Sep 17, 2011 Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Victor Ortiz
Mayweather Jr. wins by KO in round 4
HBO 1,250,000
18. Nov 14, 2009 Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto
Pacquiao wins by TKO in round 12
HBO 1,250,000
19. Jun 28, 1991 Mike Tyson vs. Donovan Ruddock II
Tyson wins by UD (113–109, 114–108, 114–108)
Showtime 1,250,000
20. Dec 6, 2008 Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao wins by RTD in round 8
HBO 1,250,000