Fans say ‘this is gonna save boxing’ as new price for PPV fights is proposed
SAUDI supremo Turki Alalshikh wants to overhaul boxing’s pay-per-view structure and LOWER prices – and fight fans are over the moon.
Prices for the premier fights in the sport have shot up in recent years, much to the frustration of fans worldwide.
Boxing fans in the UK once paid a cool £19.95 to watch fights from the comfort of their homes, but broadcasters bumped up the price to £24.95 in December 2019 for Anthony Joshua rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr.
American fans have it even worse, regularly paying between $69.99 (£53.31) and $84.99 (£64.72) to watch the elite throw down, fees which have led to an increase in illegal streaming.
But Alalshikh plans to combat the rise in dodgy streaming by working with broadcasters to lower their prices to a less than £20 in the UK and $20 in the USA.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, he said: “You mention the PPV, I think this is my next big fight and I want your advice also.
“I dream of a PPV with a good price to make the fans happy and subscribe and get them to watch it legally.
“Usually when I see a high PPV, a lot of people go and watch the fight illegally and this is not healthy for boxing and the platform.
“What I will try to push is to have our Riyadh Season shows at less than £20 in England and less than $20 around the world…
“I would prefer to have one million fans subscribe and buy the PPV for £20 than less than 500,000 [for £40].
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“The people go around it illegally because the price is high. In the future, this will not build boxing.
“If I give the fans good fights at a good price then I will increase the fanbase.”
Alalshikh’s plans were well received by fight fans, one of whom said: “Salute!!”
Another said: “Man of the people.”
And another said: “This man might be the saviour.”
One remarked: “This is gonna save boxing.”
Another chimed in: “There goes my hero!”
Brit boxing fans had to pay £24.99 in May to watch the historic undisputed heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, while Americans forked out $69.99.
They will, however, pay considerably less for this month’s IBF heavyweight title fight between defending champion Daniel Dubois and former titleholder Anthony Joshua.
TNT Sports have slapped a £19.95 price tag on the domestic dust-up, which will take place in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.