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‘When he fights Fury they’ll put it up again – the precedent’s been set’: Some fans angry at £24.95 PPV price for Anthony Joshua’s bout against Kubrat Pulev… after promoter Eddie Hearn said ‘we won’t see that price again’ after Andy Ruiz rematch
- Anthony Joshua will fight for the first time in over a year against Kubrat Pulev
- The WBA, WBO and IBF titles will be on the line on December 12 at the O2 Arena
- But boxing fans will have to pay £24.95 to watch it live on Sky Sports Box Office
- Eddie Hearn said last year that that price-point would not be used again
Some boxing fans have been left angry at the £24.95 pay-per-view price-point for Anthony Joshua‘s heavyweight contest against Kubrat Pulev on December 12.
AJ takes on the Bulgarian, his mandatory challenger, in his first fight for over a year at the O2 Arena in just over three weeks.
But despite taking part in his first UK fight since 2018, the bout has a price point of £24.95 on Sky Sports Box Office – above the customary £19.95 price – which Eddie Hearn said last year would likely be a one-off for the Andy Ruiz Jr rematch in Saudi Arabia.
Anthony Joshua’s fight against Kubrat Pulev on December 12 will have a £24.95 price-point
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said last year that hefty PPV price would not be used again
‘It wasn’t my decision, I understand it, it’s the biggest fight of the century, it’s one of the biggest fights of all time,’ Hearn told Boxing Social, as reported by talkSPORT, in 2019 ahead of the Ruiz rematch.
‘It’s not a reflection of the future of pay-per-view, I think this is a one off fight where you may not ever see a fight like this again.
‘So that was a decision they made, they always control the price point Sky, sometimes they consult in me, sometimes I’m told what it is.
Joshua’s rematch victory against Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia saw the PPV price go up by £5
‘I don’t know what to tell you, this is a freak event that is one of the biggest heavyweight fights of all time.
‘I think you will not see £24.95 again for some time.’
But upon hearing that the price for the December bout this year would remain at £24.95, some users on social media reacted with disappointment and dismay.
One quipped: ‘As much as I like watching AJ I won’t be paying that for it, it’s ridiculous #greed’ while another said ‘When he fights Fury they’ll put it up again to £24.95. The precedent’s been set now.’
Joshua was meant to face Pulev back in 2017 but the Bulgarian was forced to withdraw then
However, some fans did point out that the circumstances are very different a year on due to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the fact no spectators will likely be allowed inside the O2 Arena due to a ban on supporters at live sporting events, meaning no gate receipts.
Joshua puts his WBA, WBO, and IBF belts, which he claimed back against Ruiz a year ago, on the line against Pulev in London.
A win should mean a mega-unification fight against fellow Brit Tyson Fury materialises next year.
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