If Luis Ortiz is really getting paid $7M, then there's basically only one way they can afford it. Luis Ortiz will take a nice dive into retirement tonight.
This whole PPV is a huge money loss for PBC, same as the last fight vs Breazele, abysmal ticket sales. They can only hope to make some money back with the Fury and possibly AJ fights.
If you were in Haymon shoes, you would make sure that nothing gets in the way. Ortiz is basically retired anyway.
So you pay him something extra on the side and make sure he will go easy on Wilder and take a nice dive.
That's been my nagging doubt coming into this fight. Looking forward to it, but if any fight smells, it's this one.
This is effectively step aside money paid by Haymon for him to reject Joshua and give Wilder a 'big' fight.
Truth is we'll never know, but I'll be watching closely for any signs.