Klitschko scores highest rating for HBO Boxing since 2012.

[ikorolev]

I can't believe that more people watched this boring fight than the Matthysse vs Provo one. Casual fans are so dumb !

[vovazilvova]

Its sad that there was no Knock out in Klitschko's first fight in seven years in US but that is an expected number especially since most of the fans tuned in to see Klitschko loose,

I expect Klitschko vs. Fury to have similiar viewers.

[SNG]

I can't believe that more people watched this boring fight than the Matthysse vs Provo one. Casual fans are so dumb !

They go for recognisable names, and unfortunately neither Matthysse or Provodnikov are those things. Plus, the lighter weights always struggle to attract the viewers, the heavyweight division carries a special cache that isn't there in the lower weights. Look at all the great Asian fights that barely get coverage in the west.

[klitoris]

Man these are good numbers considering Jennings was not a big name at all.
I wonder if Klitschko-Wilder in 2016 can be PPV worthy.

[Freedom2013]

I can't believe that more people watched this boring fight than the Matthysse vs Provo one. Casual fans are so dumb !

Klitschko is an ATG HW with 53 KOs and is certain to go to the HOF. Both Jennings and Klitschko are very athletic and have excellent boxing skills.

Matthysse is a decent boxer, but not great. Provodnikov is just a tough unskilled brawler.

For me, Jennings-Klitschko was a far more interesting fight than Provodnikov-Matthysse.

[ikorolev]

I can't believe that more people watched this boring fight than the Matthysse vs Provo one. Casual fans are so dumb !

Klitschko is an ATG HW with 53 KOs and is certain to go to the HOF. Both Jennings and Klitschko are very athletic and have excellent boxing skills.

Matthysse is a decent boxer, but not great. Provodnikov is just a tough unskilled brawler.

For me, Jennings-Klitschko was a far more interesting fight than Provodnikov-Matthysse.

Seriously ??? Klitchko is an excellent boxer ? Is he using angles ? Is he moving his head and body enough ? Does he have punch diversity ? Hell, no. Even Provo looks better as a boxer, and Matthysse is just a head above Klit as a boxer. Of course, Wlad is a HW, so he can't be as good as a welter, but even taking this into account, he is not showing elite level boxing skills.

More importantly, most fans don't care about skills. They want to see boxers FIGHT and not hang on each other for 2/3 of a fight which is exactly how Wlad's fights look.

[Freedom2013]

Seriously ??? Klitchko is an excellent boxer ? Is he using angles ? Is he moving his head and body enough ? Does he have punch diversity ? Hell, no. Even Provo looks better as a boxer, and Matthysse is just a head above Klit as a boxer. Of course, Wlad is a HW, so he can't be as good as a welter, but even taking this into account, he is not showing elite level boxing skills.

Let's not forget, Klitschko is age 39.

He was more fluid and seemed more athletic when he was younger.

[MP]

With all due respect to Deontay Wilder, Klitschko is the champion, Wilder just picked up a secondary title. So, unification bout does not really pull too much status.
Wilder needs a big KO win vs another top 10 guy to get the public clamoring for it. And it needs to be on free tv (or HBO) so lots of people see it.

And Klitschko trained w Emmanuel Stewart forever, and you don't rule a division for 10 years with bad boxing skills. I'm not saying that he has the best skills of everybody out there, but he definitely has solid boxing skills.

[Tanzio]

I can't believe that more people watched this boring fight than the Matthysse vs Provo one. Casual fans are so dumb !

Klitschko is an ATG HW with 53 KOs and is certain to go to the HOF. Both Jennings and Klitschko are very athletic and have excellent boxing skills.

Matthysse is a decent boxer, but not great. Provodnikov is just a tough unskilled brawler.

For me, Jennings-Klitschko was a far more interesting fight than Provodnikov-Matthysse.

+1