Comments Thread For: Wilder: I'm A (Network) Free Agent; I Can Fight Anyone, Anywhere!

[skinnystev]

fury was lucky to get away with a draw in the 1st fight is he looking for a way to duck the american champion sure looks that way

[Fabes88]

What makes this not big enough for a co-ppv? The only two were big but did they establish a floor for projected ppv buys in deciding if a co-ppv is worth it. PPV is near risk free for the networks. The promoters assume the risk with purse guarantees.

Fair question. I would argue strongly that it established a floor on deciding if co ppvs are worth it or not based on the amount we have seen in the history of the sport. The first two co ppvs did 1.97 and 4.6 mil buys respectively. The first wilder and fury fight did about 300k. I’ll be generous and say the rematch does double even though there’s no basis for that happening, the second ward kovalev fight did less and I thought the first was entertaining, I don’t see two broadcasters as large as showtime and ESPN seeing the point in working together for the sake of 600k buys. Personally I would think they’d find it a bit embarrassing if anything.

Secondly and most importantly wilder has no contractual obligation to showtime. So why throw a spanner in the works by insisting showtime need to be involved when there’s no legal obligation for them to be?

[removed]

atleast demo Tay is aiming for the opponent, the ***** just uppercuts himself. Lol freak.

Fury is now one of the best paid fighters in boxing. I'm surprised you haven't killed yourself after yesterdays news.

Unlucky you racist twat.

[removed]

fury was lucky to get away with a draw in the 1st fight is he looking for a way to duck the american champion sure looks that way

Fury clearly won the fight. 80% of the boxing industry had Fury winning.

[skinnystev]

fury did nothing in the fight other than stick out his tongue and drop his hands behind his back you cant win with those tactics

[BellicoseOne]

Not for the first time I am a bit confused about some of the posts on a Boxingscene thread.
If Wilder is truly a (network) free agent then technically it should make it easier to make the fight. ESPN would be the platform as one of the fighters ie Fury, has a contractual obligation to appear on that network and both guys get huge exposure as well as a massive pay packet.
If Wilder signs an exclusive deal with one of the other networks then I fear we will have a year of discontent with none of the top 3 fighting each other.
But until that happens, it should be a done deal...should it not?

[Ray*]

At this stage it makes zero sense for Wilder to straight up agree to fight on ESPN prior to a purse bid unless Bob offers him a $20M guarantee plus a split (rough estimate) . He is in pole position because he doesn't have to concern himself with A side B side stuff. Either Bob and Warren offer him his projected purse from the planned Showtime ppv or it goes to bid where Wilder gets 60%.

Either way, Fury has to fight Wilder AND Joshua to get the money in this deal. Very similar to the 3-fight deal Ward signed with HBO that required him to fight Kovalev.

They are all in the same boat. And the answer to that would be a purse bid. That would solve everything. Like you pointed out Tyson would have to fight Wilder and Joshua for the sort of money ESPN placed on him. He isn’t going to be fighting bums for that am pretty sure.

[removed]

fury did nothing in the fight other than stick out his tongue and drop his hands behind his back you cant win with those tactics

Rubbish. Boxing is scored on rounds, and Fury won every round against Wilder other than the ones he got dropped in.

[jas]

showtime will be out of boxing soon

they have no ppv fights anymore after pac retires

and their ratings are very bad given the purses of the fighters on their cards

[HURTFEELINGS]

This kinda shoots holes into excuses as to why theres no Crawford vs Spence jr, or Thurman vs Crawford. Those fights could actually happen....