Frank Warren defends Eddie Hearn over Anthony Joshua ppv price

In the build-up to the biggest all-British fight of the year, Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce which takes place this Saturday, show promoter Frank Warren has found time to empathise with rival Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing. The latter parties have come under fire, along with broadcast partner Sky Sports, for charging £24.95 to watch Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev on December 12.

The price point appears to have caused quite the consternation in some quarters, despite it matching the cost of Joshua’s last fight, the rematch with Andy Ruiz last December. There seems to have been confusion over whether that initial price rise (from £19.95) was designed to be permanent for all AJ fights, of if it was down to the magnitude of that particular contest. Warren, who levied the same amount for the Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury rematch on BT Sport Box Office, but has made this weekend’s domestic megafight available at no additional charge, defended the Joshua vs Pulev price.

"We’ve got no live gates, where are we going to get the income? It’s got to come from somewhere," explained Warren, who could not confirm if Fury’s next contest would stay at £24.95, in an interview with our YouTube channel. "We have no live gates so I can’t blame Matchroom for charging what they’re charging. It’d be very easy for me to say ’It’s a liberty’ and so forth, but there’s no live gate. Where are you going to generate the money from? You’ve got to generate it from somewhere."

In the interview, Warren also reflects on his 40 years in boxing as we approach the anniversary of his entering the sport, next week.