At last, some good news for beleaguered boxing fans after the big announcement of a CUT-PRICE PPV for that massive ‘Day of Reckoning’ Saudi bill featuring Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.
The two heavyweight greats will top an incredible show in Riyadh on Saturday December 23 with a host of the sport’s top heavyweights all in action in mouthwatering fights. It had been expected that the show would come with a hefty pay-per-view price for fans watching around the world, but not so fast…
Turki Alalshikh, the brains behind the astonishing ‘Riyadh Season’ – which is bringing big-time boxing to the Middle East in a spectacular way – revealed that broadcasters have been asked to lower their price for the show. And guess what, it has happened.
DAZN will broadcast the incredible bill (more to come on exactly who is fighting further down this article) and will charge only $39.99 in the United States and Canada, and just £19.99 in the UK. Expectations were that the price would be closer to double that amount – particularly in the US.
Writing on his X account, Turki Alalshikh revealed: “We are proud to be hosting one of the most exciting nights of boxing that has ever been seen. Every single fight on this card could be the headliner ! We want all boxing fans to be able to join this evening with us, so we have requested that all of our broadcast partners reduce the Pay per view to these prices to offer exceptional value for the fans : . US + Canada: 39.99 USD • UK: 19.99 GBP • Rest of the World: 21.99 USD.”
Who is fighting on ‘Day of Reckoning’ show?
Not only will fans get to see both Joshua and Wilder in action on December 23, but a slew of other top heavyweight names as well. These are the bouts scheduled:
Anthony Joshua (26-3) vs Otto Wallin (26-1)
Joshua bids to take a step closer to the summit of the heavyweight division once again with an intriguing pre-Christmas matchup against dangerous Swede Wallin in Saudi. The pair head a mouthwatering card on a night when AJ could set up a blockbusting showdown with Deontay Wilder in 2024. Wallin will be no pushover though – remember he took a certain Tyson Fury to the brink when had ‘The Gypsy King’ badly cut in their Las Vegas showdown in September 2019.
Deontay Wilder (43-2-1) vs Joseph Parker (33-3)
That Joshua vs Wilder blockbuster is so close, but first ‘The Bronze Bomber’ must overcome the tough former heavyweight king Parker in another massive showdown on that pre-Christmas card in Saudi Arabia. Deontay has not been out since a first-round KO of Robert Helenius in October 2022, while Parker has enjoyed three comfortable wins over lesser opposition since that bruising loss to Joe Joyce. Wilder will start a hot favourite – can Parker deal with his concussive power?
Filip Hrgovic (16-0) vs Mark De Mori (41-2-2)
Hrgovic has been one of the most avoided men in the heavyweight division in recent years, and he gets another chance to impress on a big night when he features on the Joshua vs Wallin/Wilder vs Parker undercard in Saudi. Hrgovic of course defeated Zhilei Zhang last year, a performance which drew criticism at the time. But after ‘Big Bang’ notched back-to-back wins over the aforementioned Joyce, it now looks pretty impressive for the Croatian star. He has since laboured to a win over Demsey McKean, but expect him to be champing at the bit to impress here against 41-year-old Aussie De Mori.
Daniel Dubois (19-2) vs Jarrell Miller (26-0-1)
Dubois returns to the ring after that unsuccessful world heavyweight title challenge against the great Oleksandr Usyk back in August. ‘Dynamite’ appeared to be on the brink of a famous win when he decked Usyk with a body shot, but it was ruled a low blow. Now he must start to rebuild again, with a bout vs ‘Big Baby’ Miller in Riyadh. Miller of course was the man due to face Joshua at Madison Square Garden in 2019, before he failed multiple drug tests. A certain Andy Ruiz then stepped in to dethrone AJ on an incredible night in Manhattan.
Frank Sanchez (23-0) vs Junior Fa (20-2)
That incredible Riyadh card features YET ANOTHER major heavyweight contender in the shape of ‘Cuban Flash’ Sanchez. Frank has looked might impressive in building a perfect 23-0 resume so far, including a highly competent defeat of another exciting young heavy in Efe Ajagba in October 2021. Now Sanchez gets a chance to feature on another major card with a showdown vs Fa – who has dropped two of his last three in defeats to Parker and Lucas Browne.
Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-0) vs Agit Kabayel (23-0)
ANOTHER huge heavyweight showdown on that monumental card between two contenders in boxing’s marquee weight class. Both men are unbeaten and looking to take the next step on their journey to potential title shots. Kabayel possesses wins over the durable Dereck Chisora and Kevin Johnson, while Makhmudov owns a decision over another tough heavy in Carlos Takam.
If all that heavyweight excitement was not enough, the show also includes light-heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol defending his titles against Lyndon Arthur.
‘Riyadh Season’ of course does not stop there either. On February 17, we have the little matter of that eagerly-awaited Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk world heavyweight title unification blockbuster.
