Australia, we have a sporting dilemma on our hands!
For the first time in our history we have two combat sporting champions defending their titles on the same day at virtually the same time. WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn will be defending his title against Terence Crawford in Las Vegas while UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker defends his title in a rematch against Yoel Romero at UFC 225 in Chicago.
It’s a battle to compete for your pay-per-view dollar on Sunday, 10 June. So which one to choose? Who will you open your wallet for and support to a hopeful victory?
To help with your decision I have researched what each event will offer to compare the pair (thank you John Wood) to see which one is worth your hard-earned dollar.
Price
Horn vs Crawford is $49.95 and for my mind is a little steep considering Horn’s last fight and the fight with Manny Pacquiao was only $39.95. But UFC 225 is going to cost you a little more, with a $54.95 price tag. Though there’s only $5 in it, the fight cards should decide the value for money.
Fight card
The UFC 225 fight card is full of epic battles that are going to get people salivating. Not only is Whittaker defending his title for the first time in a rematch against Romero, who he defeated at UFC 213, there is more than one Aussie on the card.
Gold Coast girl Megan Anderson is in action in the women’s featherweight division against former UFC women’s bantamweight champ Holly Holm – the lady that head-kicked Ronda Rousey in Melbourne in 2015 – with the winner potentially getting a shot at Cris Cyborg for the featherweight championship.
Former WWE heavyweight champ CM Punk (Phil Brooks) also returns to the Octagon in a match-up with first-timer Mark Jackson. Considering that both men are 0-1 for their MMA careers, this might be a solid undercard fight for the event.
Co-main event sees former UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos take on Colby Covington for the UFC interim welterweight title, which should be another epic to add to the card.
Also, heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem is back in action against Curtis Blaydes. Blaydes is coming off a win against fellow Aussie Mark Hunt at UFC 221. So, all in all, the UFC has an excellent event lined up.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
Horn vs Crawford is really relying on the main event to sell tickets, as it’s only a four-fight card at this stage. But with all the venue and date changes that this fight has had over the last few months, the event just going ahead is an achievement in itself.
Along with the main event, Maxim Dadashev will be taking on Wellington Romero for the vacant USBA super-lightweight title, Antonio Moran is fighting Jose Pedraza and Shakur Stevenson is fighting an opponent yet to be announced.
While not the jam-packed event boasted by UFC 225, the main event has been in the making for months and is one of the most anticipated battles for 2018.
Timing
Horn vs Crawford will be shown a Fox Sports channel 507 from 10am while UFC 225 will be shown on Main Event from 12pm.
So there you have it, Roarers, all you need to know to make the decision on 10 June. Let me know in the comments which way you’re going to go – Horn vs Crawford or UFC 225?
Austin Jones
Roar Rookie
Thanks to mainevent choice's of view, we can watch both on Sunday, ha ha
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
Horn winning will be a bigger upset than last year and probably the biggest win for an aussie since Tsyzu v Jadah in 2001. With the victory unification bouts with the IBF, WBC and WBA would not be that far off and maybe he can pick up the IBO belt just for the fun of it. I think that the UFC puts more effort into drawing a crowd then boxing, its has to its only been around for 25 years, put clearly the UFC is beating boxing in ratings and PPV buys, just look at the pubs around the country, most have UFC events but very few boxing events
Davico
Roar Pro
Would not worry about people think you are biased. Generally (but not always), the PPV UFC cards tend to be a lot deeper than the WT boxing cards. The boxing cards tend to rely these days on the main bout whereas I think the UFC still needs a deep card to draw the numbers. Apart from say 1 or 2 fighters I don't think UFC at the moment can get away with that on PPV's. Unfortunately Horn owes Arum this fight for the Manny fight but will be free of him after this. Know he is the big underdog but if he can pull out a big performance and beat Crawford the cash will be there, especially in the US for Horn to cash in.
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
Thanks for reading Davico appreciate tit, you are dead set correct, with the all delays and problems the Horn v Crawford fight has had with conflicting teams needing stadiums and such you think that ARUM, who had been promoting boxing for over 50 years would o done his research to ensure that his fight night did not conflict with any other major sporting event. Honestly I think Horn is going to get screwed out of ppv money and the title come June 10, while Whittaker should you no problems beating Romero again. Didn't miss the Tuivassa fight just did not what to look like I was favouring UFC by mentioning too may fights.
Davico
Roar Pro
Nice Breakdown, Think one of the big fights you have missed off the UFC card is Arlovski vs up and coming Tai Tuivasa which I personally am very interested in seeing. Arum has stuffed up big time here and Horn and team have let him know it. Whittaker was scheduled for 225 way before the Horn Crawford fight was locked in and it is a real shame. Won't be ordering either but hoping can find somewhere showing both but as you say it might be a stretch unless Fox offers the pubs some kind of package.
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
it will be interesting to see how that go with both PPV on the day, knowing that they cost about $2000 for each one to been show at a pub they would need to draw a huge crowd for both just to break even. Im tipping that most would go with UFC 225.
BigJ
Roar Guru
It will be interesting to see how the pubs and sports clubs go with this one. Show one or both at the same time. Hopefully both so I can collect both fight posters in one hit