What’s the Buzz: Nine slugs fans $70 for Sonny Bill William-Paul Gallen fight

Ticket sales have been slow for the Sonny Bill Williams-Paul Gallen fight, with Channel Nine asking fans to pay the same price as Main Event are for the world title fight between Tim Tzsyu and Sebastian Fundora, reveals PHIL ROTHFIELD.

Ticket sales have been slow for next month’s Sonny Bill Williams v Paul Gallen fight at Qudos Bank Arena amid growing fears the much-hyped event will be a fizzer as a TV event.

The network that is always spruiking its ‘live and free’ sports broadcasts is charging $70 for the fight – the same as Main Event’s price for the Tim Tszyu v Sebastian Fundora world title blockbuster in Las Vegas in the same week.

The Tszyu v Fundora card will also feature boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

Meanwhile, all the pre-fight sledging between Gallen and SBW has failed to stir up a rush for tickets.

Maybe it’s the fact that this fight has come five years late and at a time when both are now well past their prime – Gallen at 43 and SBW, 39.

Or maybe it has something to do with the prices.

Sonny Bill Williams looks on as a video by Paul Gallen is played during a Stan Sport Media Opportunity. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

If the pay-per-view price isn’t steep enough, Stan is charging $1495 for ringside seats – a huge ask for a non-title boxing event.

And you know sales are sluggish when you can still go online and buy the best seats in the house in bundles of 10.

Boxing enthusiasts don’t mind paying the big bucks for world title fights but are obviously reluctant to do so for a couple of retired old footy players.

Tickets sales have not been flying for SBW v Gallen.

Not helping Nine is the fact the co-main event between ex-UFC star Tyson Pedro and Kris Terzievski has been called off over a contract dispute.

Fox Sports is throwing plenty of jabs in the build-up to the two fights. The network’s Main Event promos feature Matt Nable at his best.

“If you want Australia’s most important fight of the year you’ve come to the right place,” he says.

“Forget the sideshow – this ain’t two old footy players cashing cheques long after their careers ended. This is the world’s biggest boxers in the most famous fight city with real world titles on the line.

“Sunday July 20, live from Las Vegas on Main Event, Australia’s Tim Tszyu and the legendary Manny Pacquiao headline one monstrous event. And you won’t get that anywhere else.”