SKY have loads of money from subscriptions. They have millions to pay boxers, even star boxers. The "necessity for pay-per-view" is a fallacy. Just have a look at the fights now ..... it's not all "top level". It's Dereck Chisora, it's Dillian Whyte and Oscar Rivas (who no casual had even heard of !) ...... I'm not against the PPV model. But it's a nonsense to extend that model to any bog standard 'world level' fight. And then increase the price ! I'm fairly confident it will crash soon anyway.
The reality is it takes a pretty special fighter in his division to be a worthy PPV fighter. How many Brit PPV fighters would there realistically be? Not too many ! I can't have Callum Smith or Saunders... They have not been active enough. Joshua and Fury are in the glory division and they are arguably the only two current PPV worthy Brits (as long as the undercard is acceptable). Clearly, they need to be matched right to make it acceptable. The problem lies with likes of Chisora, Whyte and the rest thinking that they ought to be PPV only fighters. Usyk whilst clearly a fantastic World Class fighter is not a Brit and does not have the casual Brit following to make him PPV over here. Under a normal situation, where crowds are allowed in we could argue that it's a chance to see Usyk live in the UK and the PPV money makes him come here.
Yes it's a good point. I have watched some of the MTK shows and enjoyed them. I make a point of supporting Hennessey and C5 when they bring free to air boxing back to terrestrial tv.
I can see the argument of 'if they can charge it then why wouldn't they?' Matchroom are clever how they market themselves. Just go on social media and look at the amazing job they have done. You have people saying they will still begrudgingly buy the AJ PPV! Hearn must be pissing himself. He has these people hook line and sinker.
To be fair to Channel 5 they have been solidly behind boxing for almost a decade now- I make no secret of my admiration for Mick in getting decent well matched fights on free tv regularly on a tight budget. I have no issue with PPV for the likes of Joshua but anyone lower than him in Hearn’s stable really needs to be fighting a world class fighter for it to even considered for PPV. The DAZN UK price of £2 a month does mean that hopefully fans start to question the value in plonking down £25 for a Matchroom PPV.
Oh yeah, he was quickly trying to shoot Benn down by saying well Kelly needs to get past Avanesyan first, then you will need a fight back out there and if all is well..... It's a Hearn PPV with a stacked undercard at the O2 - Dave Allen returning from the dead vs The Savage Babic.
The PPV model has been going strong for 24 years here. People cannot go out, so do have more cash, and thus are quite willing to pay the extra. I admire your faith that the model will crash, but I do not think the evidence is there to say it will. Plus I will hunt you down Unforgiven if it does happen, and I have to start going back to the local Town Hall to watch a closed circuit production with 150 people expected to share a few loos!
Eddie Hearns used the pandemic and having no fans as an excuse for having the price at £24.99, surely he lowers the price back to £19.99 seeing as fans are now allowed?
The 200 people on this forum will make no difference sadly. None of us will buy it but the casuals will. That have no interest at all but want to go in the office on Monday and tell everyone about how they stayed in and ordered it
Hearn put out a open letter to the Government today asking them to back grass roots boxing I do agree but maybe he could used that extra fiver per sale to help them?
Well the last boxing I watched on C/Circuit, wasn’t in a Town Hall, but on a large Vue cinema screen in glorious technicolour for £9.99. Far better than than watching with casuals elbowing past in a bar. Only letdown was a preposterously unprepared blob lumbering after a scampering retreating, Joshua.
He’s put in money to save boxing clubs and maybe be happy he’s raising awareness for it? After all, he’s got nearly a million followers on Twitter. I’m sure you’re now about to list all the other fighters and promoters saving boxing through their own pocket? Look forward to that.