By Tim Parsons-
Bob Arum has promised to offer WBC champion, Deontey Wilder, a big money fight whislt the Wbc champ waits for an opportunity to fight and beat Tyson Fury in a lucrative rematch.
Arum who brought an £80m four fight attractive contract to Tyson Fury is attempting to appease Wilder, after changing the wholse structure of plans with his own entrpreneural plans. He plans to offer Deontey Wilder a big money fight before meeting Fury in a big rematch. Boxing fans and experts are concerned that the big fight they were looking forward to is disappearing fast.
Arum appears to be saying he is willing to throw Fury in against Wilder in the his second of a four fight contract, but is proposing staging the show on ESPN.
This raises complications in television contractual arrangements between Wilder and Showtime, and makes it either doubtful that the fight will take place, or put pressure on Wilder to potentially betray Showime and fight on a platoform against a man that may beat him in their rematch. Wilder and Fury looks a 50-50 fight on paper, bearing their last fight in mind, so it should be Fury chasing Wilder for his title, not the other way round. Both stand to earn mega bucks for a second return match.
Wilder may decide to break ties with Showtime, who broadcast his fights. and go for Fury on his ESPN platform, making his name bigger if he wins, but making an almost impossible situation with Showtime. Wilder’s team will do what they think will work best for them, their main interest being to identify their next opponent and agree a big money fight for whomever he meets next. Dominic Brezeale or Dillian Whyte are two potential oppnents that could attract interest and make good money.
U.S Promoter: Bob Arum
Arum said:
“We are sending out an offer to Deontay Wilder which will also go to his manager Shelly Finkel and to his advisor Al Haymon, making this offer, which is a tremendous one, to do the fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder,” Arum stated. “The public deserves to see the best fights and if promoters can’t work together to make the best fights, shame on the promoters. We want to do this fight and we want to do it sensibly and correctly. If it can’t happen it can’t happen, but it’s Wilder’s choice subject to advice from his manager and advisor. ESPN+ will pay significant money for them to fight other fighters and then do the rematch on pay-per-view in the fall.”