TV executive expects bout to set sales record

      Talk about must-see TV.
      Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson, the two finest heavyweight boxers in the world, are set to play television star tonight at the MGM Grand Garden. And the battle for Holyfield's World Boxing Association heavyweight championship is likely to put up record-breaking television ratings that would make Jerry Seinfeld envious.
      "It's much too soon to tell what the numbers will be, because we won't know for two or three days after the fight, but we're pretty optimistic," said Jay Larkin, senior vice president and executive producer for Showtime Event Television. "The way it's tracking right now, it should surpass the first Tyson-Holyfield fight."
      That would make it the largest-selling pay-per-view event in history.
      "The first Tyson-Holyfield fight was the biggest, followed by Tyson-Peter McNeeley," Larkin said. "We expect those to drop to second and third, with this one at the top."
      Smashing ratings records is nothing new for either fighter, particularly Tyson. Four of the top five pay-per-view events (all heavyweight bouts) have involved Tyson. The first Tyson-Holyfield bout, in November 1996, reached 1.6 million buys and stands as the all-time PPV champ.
      Tyson-McNeeley sold to 1.58 million homes, followed by Tyson-Frank Bruno (1.39 million), Holyfield-George Foreman (1.36 million) and the second Tyson-Razor Ruddock match (1.36 million).
      Of the top 10 pay-per-view events in history, nine have involved either Tyson or Holyfield. Only the 10th-best-selling fight (Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Pernell Whitaker) is a non-heavyweight bout, and only the heavyweights have cracked the 1-million sales mark.
      "This is going to be the biggest fight ever in terms of pay-per-view," promoter Don King said. "It's worldwide. There hasn't been any fight as big as this. It's unparalleled and unprecedented."
      Saturday's fight is available locally through Prime Cable for $59.95. It's also available for closed-circuit viewing at various locations, including the MGM Grand, which is charging $75 per ticket.
      This only underscores the fact that, in boxing, particularly heavyweight championship boxing, there is plenty of money floating around.
      "The heavyweights, particularly Mike, are the kings of pay-per-view," Larkin said. "Mike has brought an abundance of attention to Showtime, as well as a lot of money."
      Through Don King Productions, Tyson has more than a year left on an exclusive three-year contract with Showtime.
      "We're constantly in negotiations with Don King," Larkin said. "We also have Evander under contract after he suffered a momentary lapse of reason."
      Holyfield was originally under contract with Showtime before moving over to Home Box Office, but is again back with Showtime.
      "We've had many of Evander's early fights," Larkin said. "Now we've got eight of the top 10 fights of all time, and the future looks really good."