By: Sean Crose
The upcoming Pay Per View event on September 21st featuring Anthony Joshua against Daniel Dubois will be available for Americans to watch for just $19.99. Yes, that’s right, only about twenty dollars for viewers in the US to enjoy the action-packed battle between the two British heavyweights at Wembley Stadium as they vie for the IBF heavyweight championship title. Compared to the usual steep price of over a hundred dollars for most pay per view events, the cost for watching Joshua-Dubois is a great deal for American fans. Even the UFC, which is typically more affordable than boxing pay per view events, can’t match this offer.
It’s clear why Turki Alalshikh, the General Entertainment Authority for Saudi Arabia, is regarded as “His Excellency.” He has a strong passion for the sport of boxing and is demonstrating his commitment through actions. Alalshikh is not only reducing pay per view fees but also promoting Joshua-Dubois in both fighters’ home country of England. With significant boxing matches taking place in Saudi Arabia, including the upcoming highly anticipated Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk rematch in December, Alalshikh’s dedication to revolutionizing the sport is evident.
In a recent interview with talkSPORT, Alashikh shared his vision, stating, “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.” Alashikh recognizes the issue of illegal streaming during high-priced pay per view events and aims to address this challenge. He emphasized, “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.”
Forbes highlighted that if Alashikh’s strategy succeeds, “it will be interesting to see how or if the UFC adjusts its prices moving forward.” Alalshikh’s proactive approach indicates that he is a strategic thinker set on enhancing the boxing landscape. His belief is that by offering fans exciting fights at affordable prices, the sport’s fanbase will grow. One of the prevalent problems in boxing is the high cost of pay per views and the lack of top-tier matchups. Lower prices and high-quality matchmaking could trigger a significant shift in boxing’s landscape.
