Joshua vs Ruiz 2: Sky Sports Box Office confirms fans will have to pay record fee to watch rematch in Saudi Arabia – The Sun
SKY Sports Box Office has left fans furious after charging a record £25 to watch Anthony Joshua's rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr.
Former heavyweight king Joshua, 30, is looking to reclaim his WBA, WBO and IBF titles after his shock defeat in New York six months ago.
Fight fans forked out the usual £19.95 pay-per-view fee to watch that bout.
But the price of the mouthwatering rematch on December 7 has surged to £24.95 – some £15 more than the cost of watching KSI's win over Logan Paul earlier this month.
At least it won't be too late a night, with the ring walks confirmed for a 10pm start time in the UK – 1am in Saudi Arabia.
But still fans are furious at having to pay the inflated fee.
One fumed: "Ruiz vs AJ II £24.95 scandalous. Not getting a penny from me even if I could afford it I wouldn't pay it out of principle.
"I remember watching Lewis and Tyson £14.95 since then the price PPV has rocketed week in week out. No wonder people illegally stream."
Another wrote: "For £24.95 I was expecting a visa and a flight."
A fellow user said: "Hearn and Sky are robbing b******s.
"AJ – who I am a supporter of – got well battered so why rip customers off with a £5 increase. F*** you Hearn and Sky Sports box office."
One comment read: "Think I'll make illegal streaming the norm moving forward."
And another said: "Just going to have to stream it."
Getting fans to stump up the extra fiver might not be the only issue organisers have.
Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith shared a video of what looked like a half-built venue for the fight.
He captioned the clip: "All this done in just 6 weeks! December 7 is going to be one to remember!"
However fans were left unimpressed by the venue, as one user quipped: "It looks like Southend-on-Sea's Victoria Circus car park."
Joshua will look to prove the doubters – who include WBC champ Deontay Wilder – wrong in the Middle East.
Wilder believes Joshua was too mentally weak to hold on to his titles in the first clash against Ruiz Jr.
Joshua has slimmed down significantly for the rematch, ditching the usual muscular frame in favour of a leaner one.
And Ruiz, 30, showed he looks ready for business by almost knocking out his trainer in sparring.
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