NEW YORK — Boxing and the economy may both be struggling, but Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao proved the biggest fights can still create a buzz.

Pacquiao's complete domination of De La Hoya last Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas generated about 1.25 million pay-per-view buys, according to numbers released Wednesday by HBO. It's only the fourth time a non-heavyweight bout reached at least 1 million, and De La Hoya has been involved in all of them.

The pay-per-view take generated about $70 million in revenue, HBO said, making it the most successful pay-per-view event in 2008. It was helped by a four-part "24-7" reality show that gave viewers behind-the-scenes access to both fighters leading up to the bout.

"Boxing fans across America showed tremendous support for this event and we're pleased that they tuned in," Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View said.

The MGM Grand Garden was packed, with an announced attendance of just over 15,000.

Considered the top pound-for-pound boxer and a hero in his native Philippines, Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) moved up two weight divisions to fight at welterweight. The one-sided bout was stopped after the eighth round when, with the fighter bruised and swollen, De La Hoya's corner threw in the towel.