While we’re not sure how good August’s fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor will be, we know one thing. It will be expensive.
Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times reported that the bout will cost HD viewers just under $100, while SD prices are $10 fewer.
The @FloydMayweather @TheNotoriousMMA pay per view price will be $89.95 — same as the Pacquiao fight – $10 more for HD.
— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) July 10, 2017
As Sam Robinson of FanRag Sports detailed, this is the same cost of Mayweather’s fight against Manny Pacquiao in May of 2015, which was also highly touted but generally considered disappointing.
“So despite Mayweather having far better odds of defeating McGregor than he did Pacquiao, McGregor’s MMA name is upping the price,” Robinson noted. “If Mayweather were a minus-550 favorite to beat a regular boxer, it’s highly unlikely the event would cost nearly $100. Mayweather’s most recent bout, a September 2015 one-sided decision over Andre Berto, cost viewers $74.95 for an HD broadcast.”
If you decide to purchase this fight, the best advice would be to go into it with low expectations.
Training videos of Mayweather and McGregor were recently released, and they show how much quicker and more precise Mayweather is. Additionally, Mayweather’s bouts are generally not that entertaining. He’s without question a fantastic boxer. But his fights usually feature far more covering up and grabbing than fast-paced action. While obviously effective, it doesn’t really provide bang for the buck for the viewer at home.
If you’re interested in the pure spectacle of the fight, then by all means, buy it. Just don’t expect much.