HOLYFIELD, EVANDER-GEORGE FOREMAN BUDWEISER TVKO POSTER (1991)

HISTORY: On Friday, April 11, 1991 at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield defended his title against former champion George Foreman. Foreman put up a terrific fight, but lost a unanimous 12 round decision. The fight marked the launching of TVKO, which is now called HBO Pay-Per-View.1.45 million households paid an average of $37.50 to watch the fight on TVKO, generating about $55 million in revenue. With 16.5 million homes having access to pay-per-view in 1991, the buy rate for the fight was 8.8 percent. It is still the highest buy rate of any pay-per-view event in history. Adding to the pay-per-view pot was money from closed circuit showings ($6 million), foreign sales ($2 million), sale of rebroadcast rights to HBO ($4 million) and the live gate ($8 million). Despite the high level of interest, the fight fell about 2,000 seats short of selling out the 19,000-seat Atlantic City Convention Hall. Kathy Duva, publicist for Holyfield and Main Events, cited two factors: extraordinarily high ticket prices, even by boxing standards, and a shortage of hotels. "A large share of the tickets were expensive ($800 or $1,000) because Donald Trump originally priced them that way to support his rights fee," Duva said. Trump's deal was later altered, lowering the site fee, but the ticket prices did not change. Duva said Atlantic City hotels ran out of rooms on the afternoon of the fight, reducing the usual influx of last-minute ticket-buyers. She asked rhetorically, "Who would want to spend a few hundred dollars to see a fight and then have to drive home the same night?" Holyfield was a 3-1 betting favorite. Holyfield was guaranteed $20 million. Foreman was guaranteed $12.5 million. Holyfield was stunned in rounds two, five and seven. Foreman was hurt in rounds three, seven and nine. Someone in the crowd set off a smoke bomb during the third round. It forced many of the spectators in the $1,000 ticket section to vacate their seats for a couple of rounds. Foreman had a point deducted in round eleven for a low blow.HBO's Harold Lederman scored the fight 119-108 for Holyfield, giving Foreman only the sixth round. The Associated Press had it 118-110 for Holyfield, giving Foreman rounds three and five. The Ring had the fight much closer, calling it 116-113 for Holyfield. Offered here is an original, Budweiser TVKO poster to this event.

FULL DESCRIPTION: This is an original, paper, Budweiser, TVKO poster which names the fighters, date and venue. Bold color and print. No tack holes. Light creasing. Minor edge and surface wear. 19" x 29."