The Daily Mail has reported that the undisputed heavyweight championship clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury was watched by at least 20 million people using illegal streams. This resulted in an estimated 95 million euros in lost revenue for the broadcasters.
The May 18 showdown, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw Usyk triumph on points after 12 thrilling rounds. This historic event marked the first time all four sanctioning body titles were on the line in a single heavyweight fight.
Yield Sec conducted an analysis for Mail Sport, revealing evidence of 2,000 streaming locations worldwide. The data indicates that 18 percent of those watching illegally, approximately four million people, were in the UK. Furthermore, 25 percent of the illegal streams, around five million, were located in North America.
These figures, representing the number of streams rather than individual viewers, are among the highest recorded for a sporting event.
Image Credit: DAZN