ESPN+ has set a premium price tag of $79.99 for the anticipated Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou bout, slated for October 28th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While many fans were initially eager to watch the event, the price, coupled with a perceived mismatched main event and a poor undercard, might discourage potential buyers. The sole glimmer on the undercard seems to be Arslanbek Makhmudov, albeit he faces a lesser-known opponent. A fight between Makhmudov and Fury would have been far more intriguing, considering Makhmudov’s potential to challenge Fury.
Still, Ngannou, despite being a novice in boxing, has a dedicated fan base from his MMA days. Many believe that if Ngannou can land a clean shot, he might test Fury’s resilience. The usual tactics Fury employs to evade powerful shots might not work if Ngannou targets the midsection, a vulnerable area that most of Fury’s opponents neglect.
The undercard for the Fury-Ngannou PPV includes bouts featuring Fabio Wardley, David Adeleye, Joseph Parker, Simon Kean, and the aforementioned Makhmudov. These fighters, while talented, might not be sufficient to justify the PPV’s high cost for many fans.
Saudi Arabia has been aggressively hosting major boxing events, a move that Frank Warren, renowned boxing promoter, sees as positive. While the shift of major boxing events from the UK to Saudi Arabia is disappointing for local fans, it represents the global pull the sport currently holds. Warren remains optimistic, hinting at many more such significant events in Saudi Arabia, a boon for the sport and its global viewership.
Image Credit: Sky Sports