As expected, the new date for Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury’s heavyweight clash dropped today [Fri], although the rescheduled November 28th date now leaves UK broadcaster Sky with a giant PPV headache.
Fury confirmed the news of the new date on his social media accounts, writing;
“GREAT NEWS! Just heard from my team @HennessySports @peterfury that @Klitschko has had the all clear to box on Nov 28 Dusseldorf. #LETSGETITONNNN”
The original October 24th date for the fight was all set to be a Box Office televised split with the Kell Brook/Diego Chaves card from Sheffield, and fans on social media reacted angrily when it appeared that Sky – along with promoter Eddie Hearn, whom they have an exclusive broadcasting deal with – were reluctant to climb down on the PPV charge following Klitschko/Fury being struck from the date. This despite a lukewarm public reaction to the Brook fight card in the first place.
With Hearn also set to make his December 12th Anthony Joshua/Dillian Whyte card in London a PPV event, one now wonders how Sky tally up the three dates – October 24th, November 28th and December 12th? It is more than unreasonable to expect fans to shell out for 3 PPV’S in as many months on top of their regular Sky subscription, especially when it’s entirely open to debate whether the Brook and Joshua cards carry enough depth to warrant them being PPV in any case.
With regard to the latter bill, while two untested heavyweight prospects would never normally make for a PPV on it’s own, Hearn has promised “something special” for that card and looks to be working on making a WBC lightweight eliminator between Kevin Mitchell and Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell – amongst other things – although this is officially unconfirmed and the bill is decidedly “lightweight” at the moment.
A tweet from Matt Christie, editor of British publication ‘Boxing News,’ this morning alluded to the fact that Sky and Eddie Hearn are at least acknowledging the headache the Klitschko injury has left them with, prompting some to suggest online that a flat fee to encompass all three events could be the most appropriate course of action.
“Just spoke to @EddieHearn regarding PPV. He is working on a solution to the October 24, November 28 and December 12 conundrum. #boxing,” Christie wrote.
Looks to be a case of ‘Watch this space,’ as they say…
Twitter @Undilutedpoison
