Comments Thread For: Warren: Wilder-Fury is Really Big - On Level of Lewis vs. Tyson

[Lemonhead_Jeff]

I see your point about a payday being commensurate with the revenue potential of the event, as it does take two to tango.

If Joshua wishes to be the undisputed HW champion of the world as he has iterated, that should be all the incentive he needs to fight the winner of Fury vs Wilder.

No matter what happens, the division is already
more exciting than it has been in decades!
Although things are not playing out exactly as
I would like them to, I really can't complain about
the division. It's back, and it's not wack.

I often argue that Wilder should be offered more
to fight Joshua, but Joshua and Hearn are the
one's who own the golden goose, and rich people
don't stay rich by being charitable. So I have to
understand their reluctance to offer Wilder more,
but as an impoverished boxing fan I tend to side
with the guy who is being low-balled.
My favorite Motorhead song is 'Eat The Rich'.

[SUBZER0ED]

No matter what happens, the division is already
more exciting than it has been in decades!
Although things are not playing out exactly as
I would like them to, I really can't complain about
the division. It's back, and it's not wack.

I often argue that Wilder should be offered more
to fight Joshua, but Joshua and Hearn are the
one's who own the golden goose, and rich people
don't stay rich by being charitable. So I have to
understand their reluctance to offer Wilder more,
but as an impoverished boxing fan I tend to side
with the guy who is being low-balled.
My favorite Motorhead song is 'Eat The Rich'.

That being said, I thought Hearn estimated that the fight was estimated to generate $40-50 million. If that's true, is $15 million that much of a low ball?

[nick_viking]

It's easy to assume that this fight leads to a Joshua
showdown, but that depends on Hearn's whims and
the winner's willingness to submit to Hearn's demands.
Joshua is a superstar in the UK, but his revenue is
meaningless to potential opponents if he refuses to
'share the wealth'. Only offering potential opponents a
pittance of the revenue is a good way to avoid having
to fight them. British fans are enablers, stroking Joshua's
ego and making him believe that the universe revolves
around him. He's become a musclebound Mariah Carey.
British fans give Joshua no need to fight Wilder or even
Fury. British fans would be just as happy watching him
fight somebody like Chisora, and Hearn knows it, so I'm
not holding my breath waiting for Joshua to fight either
Fury OR Wilder. Joshua will be remembered similar to
Rid**** Bowe. Klitschko will be his great win, like Bowe's
victories over Holyfield. And maybe Povetkin will be the
eastern European who breaks Joshua's will, like Golota
did to Bowe.

I was one of those who thought Joshua would definitely fight Wilder after Povetkin, but I’m far less confident in that now.

I think the likely path for Joshua now is Povetkin and assuming he gets through that (I think Povetkin is a really dangerous fight for Joshua) Whyte rematch in April. I could easily see Miller, Pulev and Usyk coming before a Wilder fight.

If Fury wins, then I think AJ will fight him sooner rather than he would Wilder.

[Lemonhead_Jeff]

That being said, I thought Hearn estimated that the fight was estimated to generate $40-50 million. If that's true, is $15 million that much of a low ball?

It does not seem completely unreasonable, but Wilder
believes he can demand quite a bit more.
On the other hand, Joshua must feel like the 50 million
he was offered is not quite enough for him.
I think Hearn is being conservative when he estimates
the fight can produce 40-50 million in revenue. I think
it would do very well on PPV in North America, the UK,
and probably elsewhere, plus the gate from the sold-out
soccer stadium, advertising, and etc
But whatever the fight was actually worth before will be
much less than it will be if Wilder defeats Fury.

On another note, it's a strange time we're living in,
where boxing fans discuss and debate money & business
instead of analyzing and debating about fighter's records
& physical attributes.

[SUBZER0ED]

It does not seem completely unreasonable, but Wilder
believes he can demand quite a bit more.
On the other hand, Joshua must feel like the 50 million
he was offered is not quite enough for him.
I think Hearn is being conservative when he estimates
the fight can produce 40-50 million in revenue. I think
it would do very well on PPV in North America, the UK,
and probably elsewhere, plus the gate from the sold-out
soccer stadium, advertising, and etc
But whatever the fight was actually worth before will be
much less than it will be if Wilder defeats Fury.

On another note, it's a strange time we're living in,
where boxing fans discuss and debate money & business
instead of analyzing and debating about fighter's records
& physical attributes.

I think the value of the Joshua vs Wilder fight goes up if Deontay defeats Fury and he will have more negotiating leverage. Although I think Fury is far from top form.

These days, fans have to discuss the business side of fights because more and more, that's what's driving the making of or failure to make them. It makes sense; boxing is a dangerous sport. Fighters want to make sure they are very well compensated for risking their lives more so than in the past.

[Lemonhead_Jeff]

I was one of those who thought Joshua would definitely fight Wilder after Povetkin, but I’m far less confident in that now.

I think the likely path for Joshua now is Povetkin and assuming he gets through that (I think Povetkin is a really dangerous fight for Joshua) Whyte rematch in April. I could easily see Miller, Pulev and Usyk coming before a Wilder fight.

If Fury wins, then I think AJ will fight him sooner rather than he would Wilder.

I think Povetkin is dangerous for Joshua as well.
Povetkin had a shaky moment in his last fight, but AJ
doesn't fight like big David Price. I'm looking forward to
that fight! But I think you're right that Hearn would
rather match Joshua against the guys you mentioned.
Hearn is probably hoping that Wilder & Fury knock each
other out.

[Lemonhead_Jeff]

I think the value of the Joshua vs Wilder fight goes up if Deontay defeats Fury and he will have more negotiating leverage. Although I think Fury is far from top form.

These days, fans have to discuss the business side of fights because more and more, that's what's driving the making of or failure to make them. It makes sense; boxing is a dangerous sport. Fighters want to make sure they are very well compensated for risking their lives more so than in the past.

For me it's two separate animals. And it's a shame.
Boxing, like all sports, has always been driven by money,
but fans were less interested in the business aspect of
sports in the past. Kids used to grow-up wanting to be
like Mike, now kids just want to make what Mike makes.