How much to watch Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor in the UK? Probably not as much as you've read
Reports claimed the 'superfight' could cost as much as £100
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Your support makes all the difference.Boxing and UFC fans fearing that they may be priced out of watching the hotly-anticipated bout between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor can breathe a sigh of relief, as long as they live in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Reports emerged a few weeks ago on social media that fans could be charged up to £100 for the right to watch the fight between the unbeaten boxer and the two-time UFC world champion, with those across the Irish Sea hoping to see it facing pay-per-view fees of as much as €130 [£116].
However, there appears to have been crossed wired somewhere along the line. Those figures are closer to what viewers in the United States will have to fork out in dollars, where pay-per-view events command a much higher fee than in the UK.
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who heads up Matchroom Boxing that provides the bulk of Sky Sports’ boxing events, hinted that he would be surprised if it was more than £19.95 if Sky Sports win the bidding war to host the grand event on 26 August.
Fans would not have to wait long to receive confirmation though. After announcing that they had secured the rights to the 'superfight' at 17:00 on Monday, Sky Sports confirmed that Floyw Mayweather vs Conor McGregor will be sold to UK viewers for £19.95, with Irish fans able to purchase it for £24.95.
“This is surely one of the most anticipated and intriguing contests we've ever seen on Sky Sports Box Office,” said Sky Sports head of boxing Adam Smith.
"Can the charismatic Conor McGregor, so formidable in the octagon, make the switch to the ring and create history? What will it mean for Mayweather's legacy - one of the greatest fighters of all time but coming out of retirement and facing a man at the very top of his game? It's set to be a huge night in Las Vegas - one you won't want to miss."
It’s worth noting that Sky did increase the price for the fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in May 2015 to £24.95, though despite Hearn’s concerns about increasing the fee, it would still be significantly less than the American price.
US fight fans will have to pay $89.99 [£69.95] for the fight on standard definition alone, and shell out an addition $10 [£7.60] to see it in high definition.
Sky are up against ITV Box Office and BT Sport for the bidding rights, with the latter two relative newcomers to the market. BT Sport have paired up with Boxnation to delve into the world of boxing and will broadcast the anticipated clash between Gennady Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on 16 September.
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