Boxing fans are outraged after promoter Frank Warren let slip that the Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk undisputed heavyweight title fight will cost a record amount on pay-per-view.
The heavyweight division hasn't had an undisputed champion in the four-belt era and it's been over two decades since Lennox Lewis held all the gold. However, it appears that a deal is about to be struck between Fury and Usyk to set up one of the biggest fights in the sport for early next year.
There will be massive money on the line for the event, which is likely to land somewhere in the Middle East despite rumblings of a potential Wembley Stadium date. However, the monstrous payouts along with the magnitude of the event will likely mean that the price is pumped up, beyond the £27.95 that it cost for Fury's last outing against Derek Chisora.
"It depends what the structure of the deal is," Warren explained during an appearance on talkSPORT. "If [the broadcaster] has put up some sort of guarantee then obviously they're looking to recover the guarantee which will determine the price. If there isn't a guarantee and it's done on a share basis, then that determines what the price will be."
Asked directly if there will be a hike in price from the already record-setting Fury vs Chisora trilogy, Warren responded: "I mean, with the four belts on the line, without discussing it with anyone, I'm sure the price will go up. The same with if Tyson has fought AJ [ Anthony Joshua ], the price would have gone up. They are the two big money fights."
What do you make of the latest PPV price increase for Fury vs Usyk? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Fans were outraged upon hearing the news, noting on Twitter that they were charged just £15 for Ricky Hatton's famous fights with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. "This isn’t good, not comfortable with the way this is going," one fan wrote. "Getting ridiculous and keep pushing the price up, not gonna buy."
Another disillusioned Twitter user added: "Crazy stuff...the £27.95 price point didn't even pass the litmus test - how can it conceivably increase?" Others noted that it will be an easy event to stream illegally, particularly if the price for purchasing it is set at such a high amount during a cost of living crisis.
"Hard to justify most people paying £30 in a cost of living crisis when the fighters come out with £80million each," one said. "Think most of us will be streaming this one." Another fan was similarly annoyed, adding: "Ugh, price increases with the state of Queensbury undercards. Nope."
