By Robert Segal: Eddie Hearn says the $85 price tag for this Saturday’s trilogy between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin on DAZN is justified because it’s the biggest fight in boxing.
(Photo credit: Matchroom Boxing)
For some fans, it’s hard for them to get excited about paying $85 for a fight with Canelo (57-2-2, 39 KOs) following a loss to Dmitry Bivol and Golovkin looking old and weak against Ryota Murata.
American fans have complained about the price of the Canelo-Golovkin III fight, as they don’t think it’s worth paying so much for an outdated fight that is past its sell-by date.
Interestingly, Hearn is predicting a million pay-per-view buys for Canelo-Golovkin III. He can’t blame Hearn for being optimistic, but it will be surprising if the buy rate gets anywhere near that number. Even if the price were $60 more manageable, it’s a tall order to generate a million purchases.
People would rather pay to see Canelo fight Jermall Charlo or David Benavidez on pay-per-view than the 40-year-old Golovkin.
Golovkin has fought only a handful of times in the past four years against weak opposition, and his popularity has arguably plummeted.
Some would say that the huge fan base Golovkin once had disappeared due to the way he stopped fighting elite opposition after his loss to Canelo in 2018.
“The media obligation has been enormous this week, and the face to face. They are ready to fight and give us one of the best fights of our generation,” Eddie Hearn told iFL TV about Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin.
“I think he will really compete on Saturday night, and it will be a very close fight. It is already tracking huge [pay-per-view] numbers. The billboard is fantastic. We have the billboard tomorrow.
Hearn defends PPV price of $85
“Wait until you see the scenes outside of T-Mobile. I am sure they will meet for the last time. There are going to be big numbers on Saturday. No one can deny that Canelo-GGG is a pay-per-view fight.
“It’s been pay-per-view before, and it’s made over a million purchases both times. It is the biggest fight in boxing. What I’m talking about is people are still putting on pay-per-view events at £60, £70 and £80.
“I’m talking about Ruiz versus Ortiz. I am talking about Ruiz against Arreola or Ortiz against Charles Martín. These types of pay-per-view events are $50, $60, $70, and I don’t think that’s right.
“You’re going to have fights like Canelo-Golovkin, which are pay-per-view highlights, and that’s not going to change.
“Don’t forget, he has shared 24 rounds with Canelo Alvarez. He knows how to fight him. It’s not like he goes in there, ‘Is he good enough to compete?’ We know that he can compete.
“The rivalry is probably the best rivalry in boxing of this generation, and they will do it again on Saturday night.
“They will pick up where they left off in round 12 of #2, and I think Canelo Alvarez will get ahead all night, as will Gennadiy Golovkin. I think they will have an absolute war.
“I don’t see him lasting 12 rounds this time, but I could be wrong because they both have granite chins. It’s going to be a brilliant fight,” Hearn said.
Canelo and GGG under lock and key
“I wonder if they tried to control him today, especially since I feel like Gennadiy Golovkin wants Canelo to lose his emotions in this fight,” Hearn said of today’s peaceful final press conference. “He wants him to be reckless, and I think he will be.
“I think he will take risks in this fight, but at the same time, you can’t be too reckless against Gennadiy Golovkin. The way he boxed in the second fight was a surprise to everyone, honestly.
“I think he will fight the same way, and that is why we will have an amazing fight. I don’t think the number of pay-per-view purchases you make necessarily dictates the scorecards. Of course, when you have a whole stadium cheering you on, that can happen in a close round.
“That’s the benefit of being home and away in terms of bringing fighters into your backyard. Ultimately, both fights were very, very close. I had Canelo Alvarez win the second fight. The first fight was very close. He had it in a draw.
“You can easily make an argument for Gennadiy Golovkin in that fight and Canelo Alvarez. But that was a very close fight. I think the fight that Canelo Alvarez boxed in the second fight was outstanding.
“No one expected him to fight like this. That’s how you win a fight. I think this fight is going to be very close. I think 168 pounds will really suit Gennadiy Golovkin,” Hearn said.
