10/30/2024
The October 12 DAZN pay-per-view undercard, which was headlined by a short-lived but intense rematch between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke, has reportedly delivered disappointing results, generating fewer than 1,000 buys in the United States. The fight ended quickly in a first-round knockout victory by Wardley over Clarke, in what was their second encounter following a March 31 bout.
Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
In contrast, the true main event of the night, the highly anticipated undisputed light heavyweight title bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, was offered to ESPN+ subscribers at no additional cost. This decision to make the main fight available on ESPN+ without extra charges in the U.S., while DAZN chose to price the undercard PPV at $19.99, sparked confusion amongst boxing fans and media alike.
Initially, DAZN had assured U.S. subscribers that the undercard would not require a PPV fee, which would make it more accessible to viewers. However, in a last-minute reversal, DAZN opted to price the undercard at $19.99—a notable jump from the originally planned $14.99 for the card when it was set to feature a WBC Lightweight Championship title defense by Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson was initially scheduled to headline the card against former super featherweight champion Joe Cordina, but an injury that left Stevenson with a torn tendon in his knuckle derailed those plans. DAZN’s subsequent move to reassign the undercard as a standalone PPV at a higher price, even after public assurances it would remain free, generated significant backlash among the boxing community.
Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Critics and fans alike voiced frustration over the unexpected price hike, which many saw as an attempt by DAZN to compensate for the loss of a marquee headliner by charging extra for an undercard lacking in widespread appeal. The response from boxing fans in the U.S. was swift, with many opting to boycott the undercard entirely.
As DAZN faces backlash over the event’s performance and its approach to marketing the undercard, questions remain about the streaming platform’s handling of last-minute pricing changes and transparency with subscribers. The low buy numbers send a clear message: fans expect more from their PPV dollars, and abrupt adjustments and underwhelming lineups won’t go unnoticed or unrewarded.
A contributing factor to the event’s poor performance was the absence of any North American fighters on the card, which limited its draw for U.S. viewers. The primary bouts, featuring European fighters in headlining roles, struggled to capture the interest of American boxing fans. The decision to press forward with a price hike only fueled criticism from fans and analysts who pointed to DAZN’s failure to adjust the card to appeal to a North American audience.
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