Lomachenko-Sosa Most Watched Cable TV Bout of 2017 To Date

He was a smash it at the box office and in the ring. With final Nielsen numbers in from his latest ring appearance, Vasyl Lomachenko can proudly claim to be must-see TV as well.

The reigning 130-pound titlist strengthened his case as one of the sport's elite fighters following a nine-round dissection of perennial Top 10 contender Jason Sosa. The HBO-televised main event - which played in front of a standing room only crowd at the newly erected National MGM Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland - drew an average of 832,000 viewers, landing atop the list of Boxing's most-watched cable TV events of 2017 to date.

The figure - enhanced by peak viewership of 882,00" viewers - is nearly a 10% improvement from Lomachenko's one-sided stoppage of previously unbeaten Nicholas Walters last November.

All told, it was a night to celebrate for Ukraine, for whom Lomachenko won two Olympic Gold medals while earning accolades as arguably the greatest amateur boxer ever. Just nine fights into his accelerated pro career, he has already emerged as high among the best 10 fighters in the world regardless of weight class.

Joining the prodigious talent on the televised triple header were countrymen Aleksandr Usyk and Oleksandr Gvozdyk, both of whom emerged victorious to remain undefeated in the pro ranks.

Usyk made the second successful defense of his cruiserweight crown with a 12-round decision over a game Michael Hunter in a matchup of unbeaten cruiserweights and 2012 Olympians. The bout averaged 679,000 viewers, more than a 20% improvement from last December's HBO debut for Usyk, when the 2012 Olympic Gold medalist at heavyweight stopped a reluctant Thabiso Mchunu in nine rounds.

The evening's co-feature saw the debut of a light heavyweight star in the making as Gvozdyk tore through the usually durable Yunieski Gonzalez inside of three rounds. The brief affair averaged 690,000 viewers, with a peak of 702,000 viewers.

All ratings data provided by Nielsen Media Research.