Boxing fans looking to watch Tyson Fury take on Oleksandr Usyk via an illegal stream could be harming British pubs up and down the country.
Data from MiXR estimates the UK pub industry could lose up to £16 million in revenue as a result of illegal streams for Saturday’s huge fight.
Fury and Usyk lock horns in the ring this weekend for a hotly anticipated rematch, with the bout being shown live on streaming service DAZN.
British star Fury is hoping to reclaim the WBC, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles in Riyadh after losing to Usyk in the duo’s first showdown in May.
Ring walks for the main event are expected at 10pm UK time with Fury declaring the rematch as the ‘biggest event of his life’.
Ahead of the fight, a MiXR spokesperson said: ‘Not only can illegal streaming ruin the experience of watching live boxing, but it also directly impacts pubs across the country.
‘If this trend were repeated for Saturday’s rematch, with people opting to illegally stream instead of watching in pubs and bars, MiXR estimates that the UK pub industry could lose £16 million in revenue.’
Kieron Sharp, CEO of BeStreamWise partner FACT, has also warned boxing fans not to watch the bout by using illegal streams.
‘Choosing to bypass official channels to watch the highly anticipated Fury vs. Usyk fight this Saturday isn’t just risky – it’s illegal and can expose you to serious dangers,’ Sharp said.
‘Illegal streaming puts consumers at risk of malware, financial theft, and the compromise of personal data, such as emails, photos, and browsing history.
‘During events of high viewership, fraudsters are targeting unsuspecting viewers.
‘BeStreamWise is dedicated to raising awareness about the significant dangers of illegal streaming, educating on the facts, and ensuring consumers know where to safely watch the content they love.
‘Boxing fans should enjoy the fight offered by official providers, rather than facing the risks of being a target to criminal operations.’
Fury vs Usyk 2 will not be for the undisputed heavyweight title after the Ukrainian fighter was forced to vacate the IBF championship.
Daniel Dubois is the current holder, retaining his IBF title when he secured victory over Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September.
Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Metro article are selected by our writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Metro.co.uk will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information.
This weekend’s heavyweight world title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury is available to purchase on DAZN.