The recently concluded International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Championship Bout that was staged at the Diamond Stadium on May 25 in Beijing, China reportedly attracted more than 200 million viewers via CCTV-5 and LE SPORT.

According to statistics from China's CCTV-5, the audience rating of the IBF World Championship Bout on the 25^th of May reached 4.6 percent. This means that more than 200 million Chinese viewers in the whole country watched the fight. LE SPORT, as IBF China's strategic partner, also opened live webcasting service for its 12 million paying members.

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The live audience attendance rate at the stadium was also very good. With more than 85 percent attendance, thousands of fans filled the funnel-shaped stadium to see the boxing action in real time.

Several former and current IBF champions attended the boxing event including the legendary boxer Mike Tyson, Katsunari Takayama, Phillip Holiday and Roy Jones Jr. Many of the China's movie stars and popular celebrities were also present to watch the bout live. Lang Lang, who is an internationally renowned pianist, showed respect for the fighters by performing Lage Armani's First Piano Concerto.

Over 100 local and international media outfits made covered the said event. The IBF China and IBF World Championship Bout has been listed among the top 3 on the hot search list on Sina Weibo for the past one week. 

"The game is really well-prepared. I can feel that Chinese boxing industry is full of energy, it develops very fast and IBF China is a robust and effective organization," Australian senior boxing photographer Jeff Hunt said.

Among all three major competitions, the bouts between China's Cai Zongju and Thailand boxer Samson Tor Buamas and compatriot Xiong Chaozhong against Columbian pugilist Jose A. Jimenez drew the most interest from the Chinese audience.

TagsIBF, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr, cai zongju, john niel casimero