According to PPV expert Dave Meltzer, the original 1.3 million PPV buys number is someone, “just making stuff up.”
You can’t believe everything you read when it comes to news on the Internet, and that goes double for anything about YouTuber / Influencer boxing.
Two days after Misfits Boxing’s “The PRIME Card” aired on DAZN featuring KSI vs. Tommy Fury and Logan Paul vs. Dillon Danis, anonymous sources informed Happy Punch that the event had sold 1.3 million pay-per-view (PPV) units. That’s wildly impressive — those are approaching Conor McGregor numbers!
The only problem? According to long-time PPV number wrangler, Dave Meltzer at Wrestling Observer Radio, they’re false.
Meltzer reports that The PRIME Card did 10,000 domestic buys in the United States on cable television, and the final number of American buys are closer to 100,000 than 1 million. He added that the 1.3 million figure is “just making up numbers,” even factoring in big United Kingdom numbers.
So, who to believe?
KSI-Fury/Paul-Danis did roughly 1.3M PPV buys, sources tell Happy Punch pic.twitter.com/sJd6o5dw1f
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) October 16, 2023
Meltzer does have an impeccable track record for accuracy on stuff like this. But, over the years his ability to actually see hard numbers on PPVs has decreased. He gets his data from cable companies and estimates from there. When it comes to an event featuring KSI and Logan Paul, that’s a pretty out-of-date way to do it. Only dinosaurs still have cable, let alone buy PPVs through it. The kids? They buy the stream (okay, they pirate the stream).
But, those who pay do so over the Internet.
KSI and Logan Paul have managed to pull some massive numbers in the past. The original Influencer boxing event between the two did 1.3 million buys back in 2018 (at $10 a pop). Logan Paul vs. Floyd Mayweather did 1 million buys (at $50).
So, they’ve cracked seven figures before.
Whatever the case, let’s be clear: 100,000 buys at $55 is nothing to sneeze at. PFL would be thrilled to sell 100,000 PPV units. Is it worth it for KSI and Logan Paul, who are practically printing money with PRIME sports drink?
Following the event, KSI has said he’s taking a break from boxing. Paul, meanwhile, is concentrating on World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). According to Misfits Boxing co-founder, Mams Taylor, a second PRIME card will land sometime in 2024.
For complete Misfits Boxing: “Prime Card” results, coverage and highlights click HERE.