The pay-per-view prices for boxing’s biggest fights have been a painful sight for many across the globe. This has led to a rise in illegal streams, which has cost millions in lost revenue for TV rights holders. With the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois fight on the horizon, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh came in as the save and grace, as he promised to lower the prices to combat the issue. 

The added benefit was people would have to spend less than the going rate to catch the Joshua-Dubois fight. Interestingly, the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fight earlier this year saw a reported 20 million people illegally streaming the undisputed clash, which cost £95m in lost revenue. The PPV price in the UK was £25, which was too much for 18% of the people illegally streaming it, who were from the UK. So, the question is, what are the new prices?

Punching down prices: Turki’s new PPV play

According to a tweet from talkSport editor Michael Benson, the updated prices for the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois fight would be £19.95. The fight will be available to stream on TNT Sports PPV and DAZN PPV in the UK. Interestingly, in a conversation with talkSport off late, His Excellency said, “I dream of a PPV with a good price to make the fans happy and subscribe and get them to watch it legally.”

He explained that he has noticed that fights with high pay-per-view prices see a lot of illegal streaming, which the Saudi Royal feels is not healthy for the sport of boxing. “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…,” His Excellency said. 

It’s worth pointing out that while the UK PPV prices for the Joshua-Dubois fight are confirmed, the same hasn’t happened yet for the prices in the US or the rest of the world. Seeing this, many boxing fans rejoiced on social media, sharing their thoughts in the comment section of the post. 

Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois bout still expensive in the States?

Many saw this as a step in the right direction, as lowered pay-per-view prices may entice people to choose the legal route. One user praised the move while claiming the new prices were fair for the card. “That’s a very fair price for the card. Well played all,” the user wrote. Notably, the bout is special for the UK as both boxers hail from the UK.

While people did indeed celebrate the new prices, there were those who were indifferent to the update. This user wrote, “Free in my local pub.” In such a scenario, the establishment’s owner pays for the fight to attract more customers to the restaurant/pub. 

The next user speculated on how much the fight may cost in the United States. The user wrote, “They’ll charge $80 here in the states.” However, the good news is that His Excellency has hinted at $20 PPV prices even in the states.

Meanwhile, this user seemed opposed to paying to watch a boxing match regardless of the price. The user wrote, “If you pay to view u a fool.” Warning: This could land people in a lot of trouble with the law. 

Another user praised His Excellency, claiming it wouldn’t have happened without his involvement in the sport. “£19.95 for that card is great. Wouldn’t normally happen if Turk wasn’t involved. The way he’s overpaying these promoters/fighters, they’re happy to drop the price slightly,” the user wrote. Interestingly, HE has also promised to start a boxing league, as he expressed frustration with all the sanctioning bodies. 

Alright, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has done it once again. Whether this will help combat the illegal streaming issue is yet to be seen, but it definitely is a step in the right direction. What do you think about the move? Will it reduce illegal streams?