Eddie Hearn responds to PPV fury forward of Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte
Eddie Hearn has been pressured to defend a Pay Per View value improve for Anthony Joshua’s forthcoming combat in opposition to Dillian Whyte. The two heavyweight stars will go head-to-head at London’s O2 Arena on August 12, having beforehand confronted one another eight years in the past when Joshua gained through knockout handing his opponent a primary profession defeat.
The long-awaited rematch shall be proven dwell by broadcaster DAZN, however followers have been aggravated by the per-per-view value for the occasion, which has been set at £26.99.
Followers of the game had been in a position to watch Tyson Fury’s combat in opposition to Whyte in April of final 12 months for £24.95, which had the world title up for grabs.
Joshua’s common promoter Hearn was grilled on the sudden value improve by talkSPORT presenter Andy Goldstein on air however was fast to minimize the importance of the upper value.
Highlighting the state of affairs, Goldstein requested: “Fury against Dillian Whyte was £24.95, this one is £26.99. Can you explain why it has gone up and has that got anything to do with the undercard?”
Heard replied: “No, different broadcasters, firstly. All broadcasters have a different pay-per-view price. There will be a fantastic undercard that will be announced at the press conference on Monday.
“I feel the final pay-per-view, I feel it was Oleksandr Usyk, I feel it was £29.99. Something like that? It is all the time round £24, £26, pay-per-view is pay-per-view. We have been there one million occasions.
“This fight is pay-per-view on any platform. The fact that it is on DAZN, it will be available on Sky as well and obviously, talkSPORT will be carrying it.
“It is a large combat. It could have a large undercard. We may have completed it in a stadium, tickets go on sale subsequent week. Good luck and we look ahead to seeing you there.”
Joshua last stepped into the ring in April, when he ended a run of two consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk with a victory against Jermaine Franklin. AJ will be hoping to make it two on the bounce against his former amateur rival Whyte, as he eyes up a proposed big-money showdown with Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia in December.
Speaking about his forthcoming August bout with Whyte, Joshua said: “I’ve been clear that my plan is to be lively this 12 months. August 12 is the date – I’ll be able to combat. I look ahead to coping with enterprise.”
Whyte, who beat Joshua in their first ever contest as amateurs, said: “I’m wanting ahead to returning to the London O2 on August 12 and going to warfare. It’s 1-1, so that is the decider.”
Hearn added: “The rivalry runs deep and there’s something about these two the place they may by no means again down from one another. It is an absolute must-win for each. Get prepared for fireworks.”