Yahoo Finance Usyk vs Chisora live stream: Free links to watch heavyweight showdown spread online despite police crackdown
Undefeated Ukrainian Oleksander Usyk takes on British heavyweight Derek Chisora this weekend in a pivotal Halloween showdown at Wembley Stadium.
The fight will be broadcast on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK, costing boxing fans £19.95 for the main event and full undercard, but industry experts have warned that the fee will once again see free live streams spread online illegally.
In the build-up to the bout, which will begin around 10pm GMT, links to free live streaming sites and apps will flood social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as within dedicated Reddit forums.
Many of the free live stream sites also rank highly on popular search engines, while devices like Kodi boxes and IPTV sticks also enable online pirates to bypass paywalls.
“Streaming this weekend’s fight on social media, piracy sites, or so-called ‘Kodi boxes’ is illegal. In recent months we have seen police forces cracking down on this type of activity, direct warnings have been issued and further action will be taken,” Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, told The Independent.
“Ultimately anyone who watches the fight outside of official channels is breaking the law and they can be found. As tempting as it might be, we’d ask fans to think about whether it’s worth the very real risk.”
Law enforcement crackdowns on piracy have ramped up in recent months, with police in the UK taking the unprecedented step of targeting the consumers rather than just the providers in an effort to stamp it out.
In September, Norfolk and Suffolk Constabulary Cyber, Intelligence and Serious Organised Crime Directorate issued thousands of individual warnings to subscribers of a streaming service offering illegal ways to watch sporting events.
The list of subscribers was reportedly obtained through a warrant that led to the arrest of a man suspected of being involved in a live streaming operation that pirates premium TV channels.
The police constabulary warned that subscribing to such services is a crime that carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison or a fine.
Until now, prosecutors have focused on free live stream hosts and punishment for anyone using the services remains rare.
Earlier this year, former police officer Daniel Aimson was jailed after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud relating to illegal streaming boxes that gave users free access to subscription channels like Sky Sports and BT Sport.
Read more
