LAS VEGAS – Bob Arum is more confident than ever at the chances of 2 million pay-per-view buys for the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury rematch Saturday night on ESPN/Fox at the MGM Grand.
A buzz was evident Friday from a capacity crowd for the weigh-in. Five thousand fans jammed the available seats at the Grand Garden Arena. People had to be turned away by security when the last seat was filled.
“People are talking about this fight all over the country,” Arum said of a heavyweight fight that has been marketed with ads on several platforms, including the Super Bowl.
When Arum first predicted 2 million for the PPV telecast, it sounded like another exaggeration. It’s still bold. But the signs are promising. Arum, who co-promotes Fury with Frank Warren, believes the 2 million buys could be split evenly between the U.S. and the U.K.
“Frank thinks it could hit 1 million in the U.K., even at 4 a.m. (Sunday),’’ Arum said.
If it hits 2 million, Fury and Wilder are expected to collect more than $40 million each.
“It all depends on the pay-per-view in the U.S. and the U.K.,” Arum said.
Contracts filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission include a purse number of $5 million for each. However, the guarantees are about five times more than that. Fury and Wilder are guaranteed between $25 and $28 million, according to sources tied to the promoters for each heavyweight. Wilder is represented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).