BY BOXING HIT STAFF-
Shakur Stevenson is set to headline the big event on October 12th featuring Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol. This event will be broadcast on DAZN PPV, with the Beterbiev-Bivol undisputed championship fight being shown in a split network fight on ESPN+. However, fans will have to pay to see Shakur in a tune-up fight against Joe Cordina on DAZN PPV, while the main event will be available as part of the normal subscription on ESPN+.
Criticism and Controversy
Stevenson’s fight against Joe Cordina is slated to take place on the undercard of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The decision to place Stevenson-Cordina and other undercard fights on DAZN PPV has been met with criticism, especially considering that the main draw of the event is the Beterbiev vs. Bivol fight on ESPN+. Many fans were disappointed with the announcement, as they were primarily interested in seeing the highly anticipated showdown between the light heavyweight champions.
It is expected that Stevenson may face backlash if the PPV numbers for his fight with Cordina are low, which seems likely given his lack of popularity and Cordina’s recent loss. Cordina is only familiar to hardcore boxing fans in the U.S., further adding to the lack of interest in this particular matchup. The initial excitement surrounding the event has waned due to the focus on the undercard fights rather than the main event that fans were eager to witness.
Aside from the Stevenson-Cordina fight, fans who purchase the DAZN PPV event will also see Chris Eubank Jr. taking on Kamil Szeremeta in a stay-busy fight. Additionally, the rematch between heavyweights Frazer Clark and Fabio Wardley is highlighted as one of the more intriguing matchups on the undercard. However, these bouts have failed to generate the same level of anticipation as the Beterbiev vs. Bivol main event.
The decision to include Shakur Stevenson’s fight with Joe Cordina on the undercard of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol event has been met with criticism and disappointment from fans. The lack of interest in the undercard fights compared to the main event has raised concerns about the PPV numbers and overall viewership for the event. Stevenson may face scrutiny if the turnout for his fight fails to meet expectations, highlighting the challenges of promoting less high-profile matchups in the world of boxing.
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