"Megafights only on PPV" - Eddie Hearn defends DAZN PPV

Eddie Hearn has defended Matchroom Boxing and DAZN over the introduction of PPVs to the broadcasting platform.

After Hearn and Matchroom Boxing left Sky Sports for DAZN, they claimed that PPV was dead. On Twitter, the DAZN account also previously reassured subscribers that PPV would not be introduced on the platform.

Consequently, Hearn has received criticism from fans for the introduction of PPV to the platform of DAZN. Defending his U-turn, Eddie said:

“When we talked about DAZN PPV, mega-fights only on DAZN PPV. Benn-Eubank would break all PPV records on Sky, [so] no one can argue about that being a PPV. What we have to do is put the schedule together, which will be announced shortly, where we have to make those big fights with those big names." [sic]

The fight between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. will be the first UK –based DAZN PPV to be promoted by Matchroom.

Hearn believes that the fight will break all PPV records and is the biggest fight in the United Kingdom, and as a result, the bout will reportedly cost £24.98 for new subscribers of DAZN.

Fans have also been upset by the content that DAZN is offering outside of PPV. In the month of August, the two non-PPV bouts on DAZN have been Vergil Ortiz vs. Michael McKinson and Dalton Smith vs. Sam O’Maison, neither of which were met with any notable fanfare.

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Eddie Hearn has had to justify PPV in the past

When Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing had an exclusive contract with Sky Sports, their PPVs were often criticized. Sky Sports had a set amount of these cards per month, so when Hearn left, he claimed that he would now make those fights non-PPV on DAZN.

This was pointed out by fans disgruntled with the DAZN service:

Further defending his backtracking, Eddie Hearn said in his interview with Sky Sports:

“Outside of Cleverly Bellew II, there wasn’t really a PPV event that we put out that didn’t provide value for money.”

The rematch between Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew was one of the most criticized bouts on DAZN PPV. It was a domestic clash that was not contested for a world title, and the rest of the card featured fighters from the Matchroom stable in fairly non-competitive fights.

The main event itself did not live up to the billing as a grudge match between the pair. Both fighters were exceptionally cautious in what was a rather dull affair. Tony Bellew was given the fight via split decision.

Check out Hearn's full interview with iFL TV below: