Errol Spence-Leonard Bundu sets rating record for PBC

Sunday’s aren’t typically associated with boxing programming, but this past weekend’s PBC on NBC headlined by Errol Spence vs. Leonard Bundu set the bar high in the ratings department. Spence’s sixth round knockout of Bundu drew a mighty 4.6 overnight rating, which roughly translates to about 6 million viewers.

Now it should be noted that this PBC on NBC telecast had an optimal time slot, airing directly after the U.S. men’s basketball team won Olympic gold over Serbia. There’s no doubt that Spence-Bundu profited mightily from thy Olympic coverage, but what was most promising was that the fight retained about 75% of the viewers from the gold medal game.

“Haymon was thrilled — that’s the biggest audience for PBC, day or night,” fight promoter Lou DiBella said Monday.

“The viewers could have departed, but they went from an excited event in Rio to an electric event at Brooklyn,” PBC spokesman Tim Smith said of the DiBella-promoted card that took place with an estimated 4,000 fans at an outdoor venue.”

For Spence, the result is simply great exposure for a young up-and-coming star. To be seen by 6 million people, most of whom aren’t devote boxing fans, can only be beneficial to his brand and marketability. But don’t expect to see ratings quite like this again anytime soon.