Boxing
DAZN Ultimate’s first six PPVs rated – is the $539.88 plan really worth it?
Published
2 weeks agoon
Six months after the DAZN Ultimate experiment ended, boxing fans finally have a clearer picture of what the platform says justifies the $44.99 monthly fee.
The subscription – costing $449.99 upfront or $539.88 over twelve monthly payments – was marketed as the next step in boxing’s evolution, promising access to at least twelve premium events per year.
When DAZN introduced this package, World Boxing News was already questioning how a service built on claims of ending pay-per-view could suddenly offer fans a premium tier with a price tag of more than $500 per year. The fine print only intensified the backlash, and the idea of providing a year-round premium experience seemed even more ambitious when the numbers were compared to boxing’s own pay-per-view history.
Now, with the first six main fights of 2026 on the schedule, the question is no longer theoretical.
Do they really justify the cost?
Cost to fans
One thing becomes obvious from the very beginning. It’s difficult to ignore the difference between what US and UK subscribers pay.
DAZN Ultimate costs viewers in the UK the equivalent of around $33 a month – which is over ten dollars less than the price in the US – even though there is no significant difference between the events themselves.
Three of the first six cards are clearly aimed at a European audience, with American names appearing on the schedule to raise recognition around the world.
However, it is the American subscriber who pays the highest price.
If a US fan pays a monthly fee but skips the UK-specific cards, the math quickly becomes awkward. In this situation, the viewer actually pays Either way, $67.99 for a single pay-per-view moviewhich makes the value proposition increasingly complex to defend.
Promise to end PPV
DAZN originally entered boxing promising to disrupt the pay-per-view model with a cheaper subscription alternative. Over time, however, this strategy evolved into something completely different.
The platform signed contracts with promoters from across the sport and concentrated the most critical events in one service. Whether they are marked as pay-per-view or not, fans who want to catch up on the biggest fights now have no choice but to subscribe.
As the rankings below show, the bigger issue is whether there are really twelve fights per year that deserve a PPV tag at all.
Even during HBO’s golden era – when stars like Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley dominated the industry – HBO rarely hosted more than eight pay-per-view events in a single year.
This lack of truly blockbuster fights may also explain some of the unusual pairings appearing on the calendar – including the spectacle of the reigning heavyweight champion stepping into the ring with a kickboxing star. Concerns were already raised when questions were raised about whether the Moses Itauma vs. Jermaine Franklin fight could become part of the DAZN Ultimate sales, and the same issue continues to hang over the schedule even though it did not ultimately materialize.
One fight that really stands out is David Benavidez vs. Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. A fight that probably wouldn’t have happened without the financial incentive of a premium event. Even then, the difference in weight between the two films is indicative of the promotional engineering required to justify a pay-per-view headline.
Overall, the first six fights scheduled for 2026 don’t fully justify the pay-per-view tag, especially considering Turki Alalshikh previously told fans he intended to make these types of pay-per-view fights free.
For boxing fans who want to watch these events legally, the reality is straightforward. This sport currently costs over $500 per year.
In an ideal world, the number would probably need to be closer to half that amount to represent true value.
WBN’s rating of the first six “best” DAZN events
Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson – 7/10
A high-level match between elite fighters, but still the type of fight that would traditionally headline a main network card rather than a premium standalone fight on pay-per-view.
Ryan Garcia vs. Mario Barrios – 6/10
To appear on a pay-per-view, you need two recognizable names. When the event is centered primarily around one star, that athlete must be in form and undoubtedly worthy of attention.
Deontay Wilder vs. Derek Chisora – 4/10
This fight was never considered a pay-per-view event, even when Wilder held the WBC title and Chisora was closer to his peak. Fans should receive these matchups as part of their subscription.
David Benavidez vs. Zurdo Ramirez – 8/10
The only fight on the schedule that could really make a pay-per-view case – though even in the more PPV-friendly era of boxing a decade ago, it still may have struggled to justify the price tag.
Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley – 3/10
American subscribers are surely wondering why this fight counts towards their twelve annual pay-per-view subscriptions at $44.99 per month. Extremely complex to justify at this level.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven – 2/10
A fight that probably shouldn’t have happened at this point in Usyk’s career, let alone for a world title. It looks more like a $9.99 novelty than a $44.99 hit.
WBN’s overall rating of the first six “best” DAZN events
5.0/10
After six fights in the experiment, DAZN still has six months to deliver the twelve premium events promised under the Ultimate plan.
However, if the first six are a benchmark, the platform may find that filling the remaining fights with actual pay-per-view-level fights is much more complex than the marketing suggests.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
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Boxing
Gervonta Davis accused of avoiding undefeated rival: ‘He said he would never fight’
Published
48 minutes agoon
April 23, 2026
Gervonta Davis’ return appears imminent, but it’s unclear whether the now-hiatus WBA lightweight champion will fight at 135 pounds, and the team of his expected lightweight opponent says “Tank” is avoiding them.
Davis, a three-division champion, has held the WBA title since delayed 2023 and defended it twice, defeating Frank Martin and then drawing with Lamont Roach Jr during his last trip, over a year ago.
However, in January, Davis lost his champion status and was instead named halftime champion, meaning he will likely get a chance to regain the belt after his first fight at 135 pounds.
Although despite rumors that the Baltimore-born knockout puncher will fight at super lightweight and face Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz upon his return, no modern lightweight champion has yet been crowned or a free-for-all title fight ordered.
Floyd Schofield is currently the man to benefit from this situation, but his team is growing increasingly frustrated with the slowness of the process as they wait to be promoted to champion or ordered to fight for the title – against Davis or an alternative challenger.
I’m talking to Boxing in Mill City“Kid Austin”‘s father and trainer, Floyd Schofield Snr, expressed his belief that Davis was avoiding his son and revealed plans to fight for the “Tank” title against a slimmed-down version.
“You need to drop the belt! They’re breaking the law now, federal law. Do I think ‘Kid’ is ready for ‘Tank’?” “The Kid” is ready for them all. There’s a reason why Tank said, “I’ll never get in the ring with that kid. There’s a reason his trainer went online and said Tank will never get in the ring with him.”
“Tank said it out of his own mouth and Tank’s trainer said it on the internet in an interview and said that ‘The reason Tank said it is because he looks at him like an older brother.’ The thing is, Tank can’t go down to 135 and fight Kid, Tank would be at a disadvantage.”
“We want to suck him arid and fight him at 135 pounds, that’s the biggest advantage we have right now. If we let Tank get used to it, he would be on fire, and we let Tank get used to that weight? No!”
“He weighs around 175 pounds now, he needs to get down to 135 pounds and get ready to get in the ring to fight, and the WBA will just do it.” [rehydration clause] where it can only go up to 152 pounds.
Negotiations for Davis-Cruz II are believed to be ongoing, and once confirmation is announced, the WBA will likely make its own announcement regarding the modern lightweight champion.
Boxing
Jermell Charlo is negotiating a fight with Sebastian Fundora
Published
3 hours agoon
April 23, 2026
He also claimed that future options are already planned for Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence Jr.
“We are talking to Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence. All three have agreed to fight me.”
This is an ambitious statement from a fighter who has not competed since his defeat to Canelo Alvarez in 2023. Charlo turns 36 on May 19, and many fans believe the long break should mean tuning in or fighting a challenger first rather than immediately fighting for the champion. Charlo, however, made it clear that he still sees himself as the best man in the division.
The problem is that Jermell is essentially trying to cash his 2022 check in a completely different economy. PPV prices on PBC have increased to over $75, and asking fans to pay that for a guy who hasn’t won a fight since May 2022 is tough. This is a financial risk for promoters.
Jermell is used to unquestioned ‘money. If he’s asking for a huge guaranteed amount to fight Fundora or Ennis, the math just doesn’t work for the promoter unless the bid is above $150 or $200,000.
In boxing, three years is an eternity. Since Jermell stayed noiseless, we’ve seen the rise of Xander Zayas and the emergence of “Boots” Ennis at 154.
“I told you I was coming back. I told you I wanted my stripes,” Charlo said. “Nobody beat me by the belt.”
Promoters aren’t calling because Jermell’s confidence is currently low. If the promoter puts him in the main event and he looks like the version of himself that did or didn’t show up in the Canelo Alvarez match, the event is a disaster. Financially, it could still be a disaster.
Jermell wants the reward of a champion without the upgrade tax that every other veteran has to pay after a long layoff. With 2026 filled with newborn, hungry and busy talent, thinking that you can simply move to the front of the queue because of what you did four years ago is definitely a bold choice.
If Jermell had just gone for it and beaten some of the top 154 fighters like Israil Madrimov, Bakhram Murtazaliev and Brandon Adams, it wouldn’t have been much of a problem.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reports focus on the most vital fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Boxing
David Benavidez Says One Man ‘Must Face Him’ After Zurdo Ramirez: ‘I’m Taking All His Belts’
Published
5 hours agoon
April 23, 2026
David Benavidez will fight for Gilberto Ramirez’s unified cruiserweight crown this weekend and if he passes this test, there will only be one person in the “Mexican Monster”.
Benavidez has established himself as one of the most fan-friendly fighters in sports, not only thanks to his fascinating fighting style, but also thanks to his mentality that allows him to face all opponents and take on the toughest challenges.
Reigning at both super middleweight and lightweight heavyweight, the reigning WBC 175-pound champion now moves up to cruiserweight, hoping to hand “Zurdo” Ramirez his second career defeat in what will be the titleholder’s 50th career appearance.
The only other man to defeat Ramirez is unified light heavyweight ruler Dmitry Bivoland v interview with Ariel HelwaniBenavidez made it clear that he intended to return to lightweight heavyweight and then face the Russian.
“I don’t want it to look like he’s scared or nothing, but he knows what it’s like when it comes to David Benavidez. He saw me up close and I saw him up close too.
“He’s a great fighter, we had some great sparring sessions, but he knows I’m not coming to play. He knows that when David Benavidez steps into the ring, all those belts go with David Benavidez.
“I think he knows the dangers and seriousness of this fight and that’s why he took the preparatory fight first. I respect Dmitry Bivol, he’s a great fighter, but he will definitely have to come to me after this fight.”
While Benavidez will fight next weekend, Bivol will make a mandatory defense of his titles against German Michael Eifert on Saturday, May 23, which will be his first fight on home soil since 2021.
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