Keith Thurman-Shawn Porter does big ratings for SHO on CBS

If anyone needed proof that compelling fights draw a crowd, look no further. Per a Showtime press release, Saturday’s Showtime on CBS card headlined by Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter was a massive success, drawing a 1.8 overnight rating for the 2.5 hour telecast.

Ratings for the show increased every thirty minutes between 9-11:30pm, with the main event beginning with a 2.0 rating and ending with a 2.6 in the final half-hour. By comparison, the overall 1.8 overnight rating was roughly 80% higher than the Errol Spence-Chris Algieri show which aired on NBC this past April.

While there are still some viewership numbers trickling in, it’s already anticipated that Thurman-Porter was the most watched boxing card this year. And when you add in the fact that the bout was undoubtedly a Fight of the Year candidate, these numbers are well-deserved.

Hopefully we can continue to get marquee match-ups like this on a much more regular basis, which is good for just about everyone – including the sport itself.