EDDIE HEARN has defended the decision to price Anthony Joshua’s upcoming bout with Kubrat Pulev at £24.95.
Fans have fumed online at the fee, which equals the British PPV record set by AJ’s win over Andy Ruiz Jr last year.
But Hearn has attempted to justify the price, pointing to the lack of gate revenue.
The Matchroom Boxing supremo said: “We had 70,000 people at Tottenham that are no longer coming so we decided to keep the PPV price the same as his last fight.
“No price increase, despite the fact there are millions and millions no longer coming into the fight.”
The decision, however, means that AJ fans will have to shell out nearly £25 to watch their hero in action for the first time in 12 months – just 13 days before a Christmas in which people are already feeling the strain of a tough financial year.
Joshua, 31, had initially been pencilled in to face Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in June, in front of a capacity crowd in North London.
But with the coronavirus pandemic having swiftly KO’d that plan, Joshua will now face the 39-year-old Bulgarian at an empty Wembley Arena.
The lack of crowd could see AJ miss out on up to £8million.
But fans are still upset at what they are being asked to pay.
One reasoned: “I’m not anti-PPV by any stretch, but £25 quid? For Kubrat Pulev?
“Americans have just had Brook-Crawford and Lopez-Loma for free man.”
While another called it ‘robbery’.
The undercard will feature Tyson Fury’s cousin Hughie in action against Mariusz Wach and Lawrence Okolie’s world title shot against Krzysztof Glowacki.
