TV sales to take pay to £30million
Ricky warns Fury not to slug it out with Wilder but to stick to his strengths
TYSON FURY is set to pocket more than £30million for his blockbuster rematch with Deontay Wilder.
He is guaranteed at least £20m for taking part in the bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. But after agreeing a 50-50 split for pay-per-view and ticket sales – and with promoter Bob Arum predicting two million buys in the US alone – that will take his pay packet soaring past the £30m mark.
It is an ambitious target from Arum, which would match Lennox Lewis’s clash with Mike Tyson in 2002.
The fight costs $80 to purchase on pay-per-view in the US, so that would bring in almost £130m in revenue.
The British star’s previous highest paydays were the £15m he earned for his last two wins over Tom Schwarz and OttoWallin.They are part of his lucrative deal with Top Rank and ESPN, which is reported to guarantee him £77m over five fights.
The loser of the bout has 30 days to trigger a rematch clause. The terms for that fight – which would be held in June – are 60-40 in favour of Sunday’s winner.
RICKY HATTON is worried Tyson Fury’s gung-ho tactics could backfire against Deontay Wilder.
Hatton is a close pal of Fury’s and worked his corner with Ben Davison for his controversial draw withWilder 14 months ago.
Fury has replaced Davison with SugarHill Steward because he aims to knock out Wilder but Hatton fears he is taking a big risk against the biggest puncher in boxing.
“They wouldn’t be my tactics to be perfectly honest with you,” said Hatton. “Last time was just bad luck. Tyson was on the receiving end of a terrible decision. I just think it was bad luck and if he boxes a similar fight and just tweaks it in a few areas, I think he will be OK.
“The only chance Wilder’s got, and he’s got absolutely no chance of out-pointing Tyson Fury, is if he lands that punch.
“So why you’d want to stand in front of him and give him half a chance, I don’t know. It wouldn’t be my approach.
“But Tyson knows what he’s doing and he’s got my backing 100 per cent.”
Hatton says Fury should stick to his strengths and use his superior movement and longer reach to beat Wilder in their rematch in the early hours of Sunday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“Tyson is a very versatile fighter, his movement, offensively and defensively, he can fight up close and he can also fight at a distance,” said the former two-weight world champ.
“What worries me is if he’s going in there for the knockout. He is capable of knocking him out, but he’s fighting a little bit out of character.
“Tyson has to use his movement, use his reach, use his defence and his ability. He’s going in there with one of the biggest punchers in heavyweight history looking for the knockout. That worries me a little bit. But knowing Tyson as I do, everything he’s said, he’s always backed up.”
Hatton hopes Fury is playing mind games with Wilder by saying he will switch tactics so radically.
“Tyson likes to throw something in controversial, he’s the master of the mind games, so we don’t
Fury got up off the floor to draw with Wilder but the Brit felt he had won
the fight know,” he said. “I understand Tyson’s mindset and everyone knows he got stitched up last time.
“But if Tyson goes in and has it out with Wilder, he’s giving up his best attribute. Hopefully it’s Tyson winding everyone up again.”
Hatton has faith in Fury whichever tactics he uses and is backing him to dethroneWilder to claim the WBC crown.
“Last time Wilder had to put up with hitting fresh air, which does tire you,” he said. “I think if Tyson can make him hit fresh air and push him around a bit, I don’t think Wilder will have the same power come the last round.
“For me, it’s either Tyson by a landslide on points or Wilder by a knockout. Tyson is a far superior boxer, but Wilder only needs that one punch. That’s what makes it a little more 50-50 for me.
“But if you had to pick a winner, then because of Tyson’s heart, chin and ability, my money goes on him.”