Call him Anthony Doshua
Even beating Liverpool won’t save Silva’s job
from CHRIS McKENNA in Riyadh
ANTHONY JOSHUA will enjoy the biggest pay day in British boxing history this week.
The Watford warrior is guaranteed at least £46m for his rematch with WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz in Saudi Arabia.
The 30-year-old’s dosh could even top the £50m barrier once pay-per-view revenue is thrown in.
Even without the extra TV money, his pay is more than double the previous record of Ricky Hatton’s £20m purse for his 2007 clash with Floyd Mayweather.
Joshua (below) will see his career earnings soar past the £100m mark thanks to the record-breaking deal.
The British star’s previous biggest pay day was the £18m he earned for last year’s first fight with Ruiz,
MARCO SILVA will be sacked as Everton boss if he fails to beat Liverpool tomorrow.
And even victory in the Merseyside derby might not be enough to save his job.
The board have stayed silent about Silva’s position after Sunday’s 2-1 loss at Leicester.
Owner Farhad Moshiri was thought to be ready to replace their Portuguese Sunday following defeat by Norwich.
But Silva was given two more games to show he can turn things around, with his team only just above the relegation zone.
Defeat at the home of bitter rivals Liverpool could plunge coach last the home
when he suffered his first career defeat.
But that loss has not curbed his earning power after a whopping offer from the Saudi government to take him to Riyadh.
Ruiz will earn just over £10m after angling for more money to combat his hesitation about travelling to the Middle East.
The MexicanAmerican pocketed around £5m for the first fight in New York after replacing Jarrell Miller at late notice. Huge underdog Ruiz ripped up the script by stopping Joshua in the seventh round to shock the boxing world, take his belts and set up a mega-rematch. The ‘Clash on the Dunes’ will be staged at a newly-built outdoor arena in Diriyah as part of a month of concerts and sporting events.
Formula E held a Grand Prix last week, tennis is going there later this month while Saudi Arabia has also secured the Spanish Super Cup in January.
Talks are also continuing about the possiblity of staging a Formula One there.