Boxing Superstar and Unified Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin’s, (36-0, 33KO’s), fifth round stoppage of previously undefeated UK Superstar, “The Special One” Kell Brook, (36-1, 25KO’s) was viewed by a combined 1,436,000 viewers on HBO World Championship Boxing this past Saturday, September 10, marking it as the most watched HBO boxing event in 2016 and the highest rated HBO international boxing telecast in many years viewed live by 843,000 fans and same-day rebroadcast by 593,000 viewers.
The thrilling victory by Golovkin was also viewed live on TV Azteca by 1,560,000 viewers in Mexico on Saturday afternoon. Golovkin’s fights are broadcast in over 100 countries which all reported strong viewership numbers for this event.
Golovkin’s 23rd straight knockout and his 17th world title defense took place at The O2 in London, England in front over a capacity crowd of over 19,000 fight fans as he retained his WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO Middleweight World Titles.
Also on Saturday, Consensus #1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, (46-0, 38 KO’s) thrilled the crowd of 6,714 at The Fabulous Forum in Los Angeles, with a unanimous decision over former WBC Super Flyweight World Champion and previously undefeated Carlos “El Principe” Cuadras, (35-1-1, 27KO’s). The fight viewed by 833,000 fight fans on HBO World Championship Boxing earned Gonzalez his fourth divisional world title in a clash that is a certain 2016 “Fight of the Year” candidate according to many of the international media in attendance at The Fabulous Forum.
The memorable victory by “Chocolatito” was also telecast in Mexico on Saturday night and was viewed by 2,300,000 viewers.
“We’re proud of these viewership numbers and we are happy to provide these great fights for the fans worldwide,” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions. “Fight fans saw four undefeated world champions, among the best in their weight classes and the attendance and viewership numbers validated this day as the biggest international telecast of boxing this year.”
“Gennady’s fight in London sold out in one day and his viewership numbers continue to distinguish him among the biggest international stars in boxing and one of the most marketable athletes in the world, selling out his third arena in a row.”
On October 17, 2015, Golovkin’s ninth round stoppage of then IBF Middleweight Champion David Lemieux was fought in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden crowd of 20,548. On April 23, 2016, Golovkin knocked out mandatory challenger Dominic Wade in the second round at The Fabulous Forum before a capacity crowd of 16,353.
Continued Loeffler, “Additionally it was a huge night for Roman winning his fourth divisional world title in an outstanding fight against previously undefeated champion Carlos Cuadras. His viewership numbers are some of the very highest for an HBO World Championship Boxing main event debut. Fight fans clearly want to see more of both “Chocolatito” and Cuadras from their valiant efforts in the ring.”
