One week after Mayweather vs. Pacquiao annihilated pay-per-view and gate records, Saul Alvarez vs. James Kirkland became one of the most watched cable TV boxing matches in the past decade. Canelo's 3rd round KO over Kirkland was seen by more than 31,000 fans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, and an additional 2.1 million viewers per HBO officials. The main event peaked at just under 2.3 million. It's a number the premium subscription network (and cable TV* in general) hasn't seen since 2006, when Bernard Hopkins beat Antonio Tarver and Jermain Taylor drew Winky Wright in a middleweight doubleheader.
Canelo vs. Kirkland averages 2.1 million viewers in HBO's highest rated fight since 2006
