Sportsamo.com – In a scathing indictment of modern boxing’s commercial strategies, prominent combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani has labeled the decision to place the upcoming heavyweight clash between Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic behind a pay-per-view (PPV) wall as "criminal." Helwani argues that boxing promoters are actively hindering the growth of promising young talent by restricting access to crucial fights, thereby preventing new stars from capturing the wider public’s imagination.
"Putting a fight like Moses Itauma vs. Filip Hrgovic this weekend behind the pay-per-view wall is actually criminal. That is truly criminal," Helwani stated emphatically on the platform "Uncrowned." "What are you doing? Enough already. Stop putting these fights behind multiple paywalls. They did it last weekend too with the Lopez-Romero fight. You want people to fall in love with these fighters? You got to make them accessible."
The heavyweight showdown, scheduled for Saturday at the iconic O2 Arena in London, will be broadcast on DAZN PPV. While the fight carries significant stakes, vying for a vacant IBF heavyweight title, its perceived importance alone is being questioned as justification for an additional financial barrier for fans. The move raises concerns about whether financial opportunism or a misguided attempt to artificially inflate Itauma’s market value is driving this decision. Regardless of the motivation, chasing short-term revenue could ultimately prove detrimental to the burgeoning career of the young British prospect.
DAZN, upon its entry into the American boxing market in 2018, initially championed a model of affordability, promising major fights without the sting of separate PPV charges, proclaiming the death of the pay-per-view model. However, that narrative has dramatically shifted. Consumers now navigate a landscape requiring both subscription fees and additional payments for premium events, a trend starkly illustrated by Helwani’s reference to the recent Teofimo Lopez vs. Rolando Romero encounter, highlighting the escalating costs for dedicated fans.
The timing of this paywall decision is particularly perplexing given Itauma’s potential to etch his name in boxing history. While he may have narrowly missed out on breaking Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight champion, defeating Hrgovic would reportedly position him as the second youngest. Such a monumental achievement, with inherent mainstream appeal, should ideally be showcased to the broadest possible audience.
A comparative analysis with the ascent of Anthony Joshua provides a revealing contrast. Joshua’s own inaugural PPV headliner, against Dillian Whyte, also occurred in his 15th professional bout, the same milestone Itauma will reach on Saturday. However, Joshua entered the professional ranks with the considerable advantage of an Olympic gold medal, years of exposure on mainstream Sky Sports broadcasts, and a pre-existing amateur rivalry with Whyte. Itauma, conversely, lacks such a substantial public introduction. His previous victories, a first-round demolition of a significantly faded Dereck Chisora in August 2025 and a subsequent stoppage of Jermaine Franklin seven months later, have elevated his standing within the boxing fraternity but have yet to translate into widespread public recognition.
Filip Hrgovic presents a genuine sporting challenge for Itauma, but the 34-year-old Croatian is not a significant commercial draw. Hrgovic’s career has been marked by gruelling contests against opponents like Zhilei Zhang, Daniel Dubois, and David Adeleye, often resulting in cuts and a visible decline in his ability to withstand sustained pressure.
Helwani’s central argument hinges on the principle of accessibility and fan attachment. He contends that premium pricing models are most effective once viewers have developed a vested interest in a boxer. Itauma, however, is being positioned as a PPV headliner before the majority of casual fans have had the opportunity to truly discover him.
The Commercial Peril of Walling Off Young Heavyweight Talent
The financial implications of this strategy become even more apparent when examining the price point and the supporting undercard. DAZN is demanding £24.99 in the United Kingdom and a hefty $59.99 in the United States for this single event purchase.
The strongest supporting bout features Sam Noakes against former WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk. Other matchups include Constantin Ursu vs. Ben Vaughan and Guido Vianello vs. Moses Jolly. The cruiserweight bout involving Mike Perez was significantly weakened by his withdrawal and replacement with Sherif Musah, whose 4-2-1 record, while respectable, does little to bolster the event’s drawing power.
While these contests might suffice on a standard DAZN subscription, they offer minimal additional commercial appeal for a premium-priced event. The burden of selling this fight appears to fall almost entirely on the shoulders of Itauma and Hrgovic. Promoters are seemingly attempting to command star-level revenue before their young heavyweight prospect has fully ascended to that status. This approach may yield immediate returns from dedicated hardcore fans on August 29th, but it undeniably curtails the number of individuals who will witness what is arguably the most pivotal fight of Itauma’s young career.
A sustained period on regular DAZN broadcasts, rather than immediate PPV exposure, would likely serve Itauma’s long-term development far better. Allowing him to mature and gain consistent visibility until at least the age of 26, with repeated showings to boxing fans, would provide ample opportunity for viewers to track his progress, connect with his personality, and invest in his journey. This extended period of accessibility would not only cultivate a larger, more engaged fanbase but also significantly enhance his future sponsorship value and provide promoters with a broader audience for future high-profile events.
Securing the IBF title would undoubtedly be a career milestone for Itauma, but it will not automatically transform him into a mainstream attraction. A commanding performance against Hrgovic needs to resonate beyond the confines of existing heavyweight boxing enthusiasts.
The act of designating Itauma as a PPV headliner does not imbue him with that status; instead, it merely restricts the audience he desperately needs to cultivate. The current strategy risks alienating potential fans and hindering the organic growth of a talent that boxing desperately needs to embrace.
