As final number emergers, showtime calls Mayweather-McGregor "massive" pay-per-view success

The "one-time-only" boxing match between a 40-year-old who retired two years ago and an Irishman making his pro debut in the sport is positioned to become the greatest-selling pay-per-view fight of all time Friday. Showtime Executive Vice President Stephen Espinoza said "it's too early to declare a hard number" but Saturday's Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Conor McGregor fight is "tracking in the mid-to-high 4 million pay-per view buys." "If we don't reach the record, we're going to be very, very close," and "we consider it a massive success." "It was an exciting, entertaining fight and there was massive interest," in it, Espinoza told The Times, crediting strong digital sales to boost the overall domestic sales. The bout is also expected to surpass the $600 million generated in total revenue by Mayweather's less-entertaining unanimous-decision triumph over seven-division champion Manny Pacquiao, with final pay-per-view numbers expected by next week.