Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko: The Richest Fight in Boxing History – or certainly the most expensive

By James Slater - 12/16/2016 - Comments

Boxing history could be made on April 29th at Wembley in London, in a number of ways. The heavyweight title clash between reigning and defending IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua and former lineal king Wladimir Klitschko – which will also contest the vacant WBA belt – could smash the record for most tickets sold for a boxing match. The current record of almost 80,000 tickets sold was set by Carl Froch and George Groves a couple of years back, but now there are realistic expectations of 90,000 tickets being shifted for the clash of generations next April.

If Klitschko wins he will be one of the very few three-time heavyweight champions in history, and as far as ticket prices go for the big fight, the record for the most expensive ringside seat will be broken next April. How much for a VIP ringside seat? £800? No. £1,000? No. £1,500? No again. A VIP seat at ringside can be yours for, get this……£2,000 (approx $2,490 US). A regular ringside ticket will set you back the considerable sum of £800.

Some of us, in fact plenty of us, will say that NO FIGHT is worth such a huge amount of money, and is there any guarantee Klitschko’s challenge of the much younger and undefeated Joshua will result in a great fight, or even a good fight? Klitschko, who, by the time the big fight rolls around will not have won a fight for two full years, might have next to nothing left. If Klitschko’s punch output is as miserable as it was the last time he boxed, back in November of last year when losing to Tyson Fury, fans will in no way get a two-sided, value for money fight.

A cheap seat can be yours for £40 (get your binoculars ready!) and the pay-per-view fee will be the usual £16.95. Again, this one will be the richest and the most expensive prizefight in history. Let’s just hope, A: the fight delivers in terms of action, and, B: fans get the solid and stacked under-card they deserve.