Tyson-McNeeley Might Set Pay-Per-View Mark

File the Mike Tyson-Peter McNeeley fight TV report under S, for sucker, as in one born every minute.

Early indications are that the pay-per-view telecast will generate about $50 million, the most for any pay-per-view event, according to McAdory Lipscomb Jr., the head of Showtime Event Television (SET), which televised Saturday night’s 89-second debacle.

The $50 million would exceed the current pay-per-view record of $48.9 million for Evander Holyfield and George Foreman in April, 1991.

Lipscomb said that overall, counting gate receipts and international television rights, the fight will gross more than $80 million.

Lipscomb said the estimates are based on reports from fewer than 10% of the cable systems that carried the telecast.

As for the fight, which ended when McNeeley’s manager, Vinny Vecchione, stepped into the ring in the first round when McNeeley wobbled briefly, Lipscomb said, “We were as frustrated as everyone else, but this was still a major event.”

There has been speculation that Tyson’s next fight might not be shown on pay-per-view, but rather on Showtime.

“Mike Tyson is a pay-per-view fighter,” Lipscomb said. “You can never say never, but Mike Tyson in all likelihood will continue to be a pay-per-view fighter.”

About the price of the fight, which went to $49.95 the day before the fight on most systems and higher on some, Lipscomb said, “The price structure will be given serious review.”

Saturday’s card will be shown on Showtime next Saturday at 8 p.m. and again Monday at 11 p.m.

Tyson’s next fight, against an undetermined opponent, is scheduled Nov. 4 in Las Vegas, the same night Holyfield is scheduled to fight Riddick Bowe on pay-per-view in the same city.