Comments Thread For: Wilder Still Targets May 18 Return, Fury Remains Primary Goal

[factsarenice]

The majority of the financials favor Wilder in contract negotiations. The gate and ppv revenue is higher in the US (also defeats the purpose of signing with TR/ESPN since Warren already has UK broadcast connections with BT). The purse split may be lower, but he can use the previous offer's terms, which were agreed to to set his minimum guarantee. If Arum/Warren argue that the pot is bigger because ESPN is involved, Wilder would just argue that Fury can take the "additional" monies created by ESPN that Showtime would not produce. As far as referee, as other refs have said, Jack Reiss is probably the only ref that doesn't call the fight after that viscous KD. So referee/judges likely won't be an issue for Wilder as he's looking for the KO anyway.

This is why this move is puzzling if Fury had every intention of fighting Wilder next. I'm not seeing how ESPN either gives him significantly more money while increasing the chances of the fight happening.

Perhaps there is a bigger game afoot...

[Straightener]

I read the below earlier. I doubt the fight happens in May. Maybe September. The September suggestion was from Arum. In short, they want to try and build Fury as a popular US fighter to make the fight bigger and, as many have guessed, the dollar amount of the deal is contingent on Fury fighting both Wilder and Joshua.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/boxing/la-sp-tyson-fury-top-rank-espn-20190218-story.html

DuBoef said Top Rank’s agreement with Fury discusses future fights with Wilder and three-belt heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, “but there’s a lot more to the Tyson Fury business than just those two fights. We see him as a gem in the rough, just barely been exposed yet in the U.S.”

I guess we will just have to see how it plays out

Boxing never fails to pizz me off ha just when things are heating up arum gets his grubby hands back in the mix

[THEFRESHBRAWLER]

He should fight breazeale and Kownacki on the same night like George foreman. These Heavyweights are oft compared to the golden age of Heavyweight boxing

[factsarenice]

I hope you're wrong but everything about this move is telling me you're right.

In the end, if he ducks the rematch-which wouldn't surprise me after he had that near death experience in that 12th rd.- I won't be too pissed. He had the balls to fight Klitschko when he was still unified champ and he fought Wilder after a long layoff and 2 tomatoe can warmups.

But that only buys you a little time. If he's fighting all bums or even B/C level heavyweights for the rest of his ESPN deal, than he'll have no argument to stand on.

He can fight the same exact line up as Wilder or AJ and look good doing it.

[Ake-Dawg]

Wilder's myth has been severely damaged and now that Tyson has a deep pocket network behind him he can fight anyone he wants. Tyson will claim he beat Wilder and play that for all it's worth. Like Wilder, Tyson is also a great self promotes and it doesn't hurt that AJ is (cheap) a hard to negotiate with. With Tyson there's is no downside, even if you lose you'll still receive a good payday and the loss puts you in line with Wilder. It's a no lose proposition for any top 10 heavy weight without a network contract...or basically everyone except AJ..

I never liked Warren but that was a brilliant move.

So ESPN is going to start overpaying TR for Fury fights? Why? Fury is a great story but what is going to make him must see TV in the ring? Also, how big of a star have they made Crawford in the almost two years this TR/ESPN arrangement has been around. Both Warren and Arum are saying that they feel that ESPN can make Fury more known in the US and make the Wilder Fury rematch bigger. Which I agree with. However, you can't make a guy with a boring style a star just because he's a good trash talker. He's limited in how you can market him due to the self uppercut, Cunningham knockdown, and Wilder rendering him unconscious (albeit for only 4-5 seconds).

Based on the article below, the dollar amount for the contract is based on fights with Wilder and Joshua. So to contend that Fury doesn't "need" Wilder is well...rubbish.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/boxing/la-sp-tyson-fury-top-rank-espn-20190218-story.html

[factsarenice]

While technically true, how many PBC A-sides have fought on another promotion/platform since PBC was established?

Wilder, Spence, Thurman, Mikey Garcia, Danny Garcia, LSC, Hurd, Charlos, Gervonta, etc.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

See a pattern?

Exactly....that's the point. Haymon chooses you avoid other fighters, there is no "other side of the street" never was. Arum and ESPN both know the game and they know the crown ***el of boxing are the heavy weights. They also know the PBC's biggest investment is now damaged goods in both reputation and negotiation footing for a potential 80 mil fight with AJ. Tyson is key for the PBC, Wilder needs the rematch and they are going to either be flexible or Tyson will fight a few names then move on to AJ for all the marbles. Either way it's an easy line of promotion.

[AdonisCreed]

Fury's move explains a little bit about why the purse bid kept being pushed back. I was wondering what was going on especially when the news prior kept saying the deal was close to being finalized but never came to pass. I doubt Arum would let his new investment have a risky fight on the first fight of the new deal.

[Ake-Dawg]

Exactly....that's the point. Haymon chooses you avoid other fighters, there is no "other side of the street" never was. Arum and ESPN both know the game and they know the crown ***el of boxing are the heavy weights. They also know the PBC's biggest investment is now damaged goods in both reputation and negotiation footing for a potential 80 mil fight with AJ. Tyson is key for the PBC, Wilder needs the rematch and they are going to either be flexible or Tyson will fight a few names then move on to AJ for all the marbles. Either way it's an easy line of promotion.

What is it about Fury that's going to make him popular amongst the U.S. viewers. He is not American, doesn't have an aesthetically pleasing body, he doesn't knock people out that's above D level, he hasn't beaten any American heavyweight. I guess they figure they'll fight old Shannon Briggs and that'll get him the US following that allows him to avoid Wilder rematch without consequence.

[factsarenice]

So ESPN is going to start overpaying TR for Fury fights? Why? Fury is a great story but what is going to make him must see TV in the ring? Also, how big of a star have they made Crawford in the almost two years this TR/ESPN arrangement has been around. Both Warren and Arum are saying that they feel that ESPN can make Fury more known in the US and make the Wilder Fury rematch bigger. Which I agree with. However, you can't make a guy with a boring style a star just because he's a good trash talker. He's limited in how you can market him due to the self uppercut, Cunningham knockdown, and Wilder rendering him unconscious (albeit for only 4-5 seconds).

Based on the article below, the dollar amount for the contract is based on fights with Wilder and Joshua. So to contend that Fury doesn't "need" Wilder is well...rubbish.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/boxin...218-story.html

The real question is who needs it more. As for promoting, Arum can easily promote Fury just as he has nearly every big name in modern history. The rematch is not happening in the next few months, the rematch will not happen next because Fury doesn't need it to. It will happen when it's negotiated and that will encompass more than just a one off rematch for less pay in the venue of PBC's choosing.

[factsarenice]

What is it about Fury that's going to make him popular amongst the U.S. viewers. He is not American, doesn't have an aesthetically pleasing body, he doesn't knock people out that's above D level, he hasn't beaten any American heavyweight. I guess they figure they'll fight old Shannon Briggs and that'll get him the US following that allows him to avoid Wilder rematch without consequence.

Kos are more about match making and when you're a mover boxer no "come forward plodder" wants to fight you. Now, add a few dollars and a network and everyone wants to fight you. Not saying Tyson is a ko artist but match him like they did Wilder and you will see more KOs or at least a Floyd like one sided boxing lesson.