Fury promoter explains what ‘justifies’ Chisora PPV fee after backlash

Queensbury Promotion’s George Warren has responded to the outrage expressed at the British record-levelling pay-per-view price for Tyson Fury vs Derek Chisora III. Tonight’s contest will cost UK viewers £26.95 via BT Sport Box Office, the same price as Anthony Joshua’s rematch against Oleksandr Usyk – which broke the record in August.

The fight has received a largely negative response from most boxing fans with few giving Chisora much of a chance after two convincing losses to Fury in 2011 and 2014. And when the premium price was put on the event, many were left incensed by the decision.

One fan wrote: “Feels like you’re fleecing fans for as much as possible. How is that price point valid. It should have been £9.95 at the very most. Boxing has become about making money from the fans and not about the sport or the competition.”

Another added: “This has to be the biggest insult. A current living crisis and now BT Sport expect us to £26.95 for a fight just 3 weeks before Christmas. Is it just me or is this taking the p***???” 

“I think the card justifies it because you’re watching the number one heavyweight in the world and if Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk can justify a price point that’s been set and that’s the market setting that, that’s not us setting that,” he told iFL TV. “That’s BT replicating what that market price is. I think that without a doubt, Tyson is at that level if not a higher level than these guys.

“He’s the number one in the division by a country mile. He’s the most popular heavyweight in the UK currently, in terms of box office sales, in terms of what we are doing at the gate, and what we’re seeing in terms of how he tracks and how people engage with him as a boxer.”

Fury and Chisora make their way to the ring tonight at 9pm due to strict stadium curfews at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The fight itself is expected to start no later than 9:30pm.