Ripped off? The stunning cost of Mundine's 96-second KO
The pay-per-view put punters out $59.95 and pubs around the country paid plenty more for just 96 seconds of action in the main event at Suncorp Stadium.
At least the venues could make their money back on drinks and grub – those at home averaged a gold-coin donation for every second.
With all due respect to the undercard fighters, it was a high price to pay to watch Jeff Horn, a 30-year-old at the peak of his powers, take on a 43-year-old Anthony Mundine.
No one will begrudge the likable former schoolteacher his pay day – reportedly up to $3 million – but the first-round knockout left a sour taste in the mouth of Australians sports fans.
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The fight was little more than a step back into the ring for Horn, who already has eyes on another world title fight.
Mundine was on the back foot almost immediately as his hometown opponent rushed at him with power and a flow of punches that he could only hope to withstand.
It didn’t take long for fans and viewers to lambast the mismatch even as the majority’s desired result – a Mundine KO – came to fruition.
But as Mundine explained after the fight, they’re in the entertainment business.
Everything that comes before, however controversial it might be, is to put bums on seats and cash in hand because once the bell rings nothing is guaranteed.
Main Event host Eddie McGuire let slip late in the broadcast that the PPV would end up in the top three for Australian boxing.
The exact number is unknown but that would put sales close to 200,000.
Jeff Horn’s fight with Manny Pacquiao and the first meeting between Mundine and Danny Green are understood to have gone near or surpassed that mark.
Pub numbers alone were tracking towards a record in the days leading up to the fight, reportedly passing Horn-Pacquiao with two days to go.
Fans weren't 'ripped off' by the fight last night. The nature of boxing is that some fights are good, some are bad, some are long, some are short. It's always buyer-beware, always has been #Boxing #HornMundine
— Phil Lutton (@phillutton78) November 30, 2018
After Green/Jones Jr, Green/Briggs and Mundine/Horn within the space of 10 years, you'd have to be a very optimistic sort of casual fan to buy a pay-per-view in Australia.
— Alex McClintock (@axmcc) November 30, 2018
In all, Friday night’s fight drew well over $10 million from television alone – and the main event hardly justified that outlay.
Take into account the cost of Foxtel then add the PPV, food and drinks and those at home paid more than $1 per second.
The little-known WBA Oceania and WBO Oriental middleweight titles on offer were little consolation.
While Horn and his camp decide on his path to another belt, Mundine’s retirement means the next battle has already begun.
Will Australian boxing and casual sports fans pay up for a Horn fight without big names like Pacquiao or Mundine on the bill?
