Loma-Pedraza Averaged 2,013,000 Viewers; Ranks 2nd In 2018

[Ruthless-RKO]

Vasiliy Lomachenko-Jose Pedraza was the second most-watched boxing match on American cable or network television this year.

Nielsen ratings released Tuesday indicated that ESPN’s Lomachenko-Pedraza fight attracted an of 2,013,000 viewers Saturday night from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The entire three-fight telecast averaged 1,865,000 viewers over three hours and 23 minutes.

The only boxing show to out-draw Lomachenko-Pedraza in terms of ratings in 2018 was headlined by Terence Crawford and Jose Benavidez Jr. That two-bout broadcast, in which the unbeaten WBO welterweight champion stopped Benavidez in the 12th round, drew a peak audience of 2,800,000 and averaged 2,245,000 viewers October 13 from CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford’s hometown.

The precise peak viewership for the Lomachenko-Pedraza was not yet available late Tuesday afternoon, but it went over 2,100,000 viewers at some point during the course of Lomachenko’s victory.

Lomachenko’s win over Pedraza also drew more viewers than the three-division champion’s previous performance on ESPN.
That fight, Lomachenko’s 10th-round knockout of Jorge Linares, peaked at 1,749,000 viewers May 12 from Madison Square Garden. That two-fight show drew an average of 1,024,000 viewers.

Lomachenko-Pedraza was No. 2 as well in terms of overall viewership on all of cable television Saturday among males ages 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, demographics coveted by advertisers. That No. 2 ranking includes all sports and non-sports programming on basic and premium cable.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I’m glad they started putting Loma and Crawford fights on regular ESPN rather than the app.

[Mexi-Box]

That's amazing numbers.

[gilgamesh]

Really cool that he's becoming a solid draw for the sport. A talent like him deserves it.

[jamamb]

too bad most of the fight was a stinker

[gilgamesh]

too bad most of the fight was a stinker

I thought it was solid. Not the most exciting fight you'll ever see, but not dull either. A good exhibition of skill from both guys.

[Ruthless-RKO]

too bad most of the fight was a stinker

I thought it was solid. Not the most exciting fight you'll ever see, but not dull either. A good exhibition of skill from both guys.

It was a tactical affair. I think although Loma was 100%, he was still a bit cautious with his shoulder.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Really cool that he's becoming a solid draw for the sport. A talent like him deserves it.

To think his fight with Marriagga did around 700k on ESPN.

[victor-romeo]

too bad most of the fight was a stinker

I think it was a great fight. Although Loma was edging the rounds, he was not edging them by much and through most the fight Loma felt vulnerable to me and that a big punch by Pedraza could really turn the tide of the fight. Pedraza fought great and skillfully with his size advantage kind did a lower imitation of what Linares did. I thought it was a very a good fight, with the side intrest of watching Loma and seeing how his shoulder was. Loma was constantly probing in the showing much skill as was Pedraza the skill level in this fight was very high.

The first fight with Tefimo Lopez the one punch KO was dramatic, and the Dogboe vs Navarrete was a good fight also though it should have been stopped about 2 rounds before it's conclusion.

on side note on ESPN+ Welter Weights Besputin and Abreu putting on great scrap for USBA title.

It was a great night of boxing for hardcore boxing fans and boxing casuals, I am sure the sport grew some new fans that night.

[jamamb]

i thought it was mostly a patty cake match and pedraza had woeful accuracy and didnt land 1 notable punch, i dont get the stuff a lot are saying about him giving loma a tough fight, yet i dont think loma really shined either

bring on berchelt 2019!!

[victor-romeo]

I think Pedraza slightly buzzed or got Loma's attention twice, for sure an uppercut in the 10th round, where Loma nodded at him in acknowledgement, and a couple body shots along the way, all you have to do is see Loma's face to know that there was contact. I still thought Loma won most of the rounds, but the fight was competitive, it was way better than say Sosa vs Loma where Loma dominated but was boring, This fight was better than some pay per views I saw in recent years... that where really boring..

[Ruthless-RKO]

I think Pedraza slightly buzzed or got Loma's attention twice, for sure an uppercut in the 10th round, where Loma nodded at him in acknowledgement, and a couple body shots along the way, all you have to do is see Loma's face to know that there was contact. I still thought Loma won most of the rounds, but the fight was competitive, it was way better than say Sosa vs Loma where Loma dominated but was boring, This fight was better than some pay per views I saw in recent years... that where really boring..

Yeh. The body shot in round 10 was definately his best punch and the one that got Loma’s attention. Then Loma came out in round 11 and nearly stopped it.

[jamamb]

loma always marks up, thats his face, even marriaga did it to him, you can mark a guy with 1 shot

pedraza had virtually no meaningful offense imo, he missed like 90 percent and almost never landed clean. to me he won 1-2 rounds and not by much

but hey better if ppl disagree and did enjoy it

[Ruthless-RKO]

loma always marks up, thats his face, even marriaga did it to him, you can mark a guy with 1 shot

pedraza had virtually no meaningful offense imo, he missed like 90 percent and almost never landed clean. to me he won 1-2 rounds and not by much

but hey better if ppl disagree and did enjoy it

A lot of boxers mark up. I hate when people say ‘someone lost and to prove it just look at his face at the end’.. it’s just not true.