Tyson Fury’s rematch of his epic world heavyweight title draw with Deontay Wilder is in serious doubt as he banks $15million (£11.9m) for his WWE debut this month, with the prospect of even more for a second wrestling extravaganza in the New Year.
Fury-Wilder II is scheduled for Las Vegas on February 22 but now the worry as to whether the Gypsy King’s gruesomely gashed eye will heal in time is not the only huge question mark against that happening.
When asked if his sudden switch to wrestling could impact the Wilder fight Fury replied: ‘There’s a hell of a chance of that.’
Those 15 million reasons for putting boxing’s rematch of the century at risk could rise by another $20m or more if he takes a decent grip on his first wrestling match, against the giant Braun Strowman on October 31.
Wrestling legend Broch Lesnar and former UFC champion Cain Velasquez meet on the same Crown Jewel card in Riyadh. Already there is talk of those two fights being a prelude to Fury meeting the winner next - and he has begun calling out Velasquez.
Meanwhile, other indicators show Fury veering towards pro wrestling. At the media launch for the Strowman fight he revealed how seriously he is taking the switch by revealing: ‘I’ve been training at the WWE facility in Orlando.
'I was supposed to be resting while the eye mended but I’m excited about 385lbs of Braun coming at me. Yeah, me against Wilder is the biggest fight in boxing but I’m not thinking about that now. I’m just enjoying my life – and concentrating on WWE.’
Furthermore, allegedly was not told before that announcement and Fury’s boxing promoter says: ‘I’m not in favour of this and it does put the Wilder fight in jeopardy. But he’s a grown man who makes his own decisions. I hope it’s more a show than a fight.’.
That's what is so convenient about WWE. Fury's opponents can be told to "take it easy on the cut" compared to boxing/MMA where an opponent targets the area of the cut.
In his last UFC fight earlier this year, Velasquez got demolished in just 26 seconds. Nothing fake about that.
If it’s true he can make that kind of money for hugging and shouting at other men rather than getting hit in the face I can’t blame him, sad for boxing though.
Onetimeonly wrote: ↑15 Oct 2019, 20:07
No way he's making 15 million for a handful of appearances.
Based on what I’ve read, this is apparently the most lucrative time of WWE’s history. They signed a deal with FOX that pays more than $1 billion for the next five years. They also receive an additional $1 billion from the Saudi government over the next 10 years.
And let's not forget that Fury's WWE debut against Braun Strowman is also a PPV event.
The $15m figure being reported wasn’t disclosed by Team Fury either.
Fury may as well admit he has never wanted a rematch with Wilder. I've said before the WWE suits him better than boxing, and he may be done after his next fight. In the fake entertainment business they can tell them not to hit his bad eye.
We have waited a year already, and two tomato cans later he is still ducking the rematch in my opinion. He has shown he never wanted it in the first place. He knows the WWE will jeopardize a fight with Wilder, and is ok with that. That's fine, take him out and let the real men compete.
Probably 500k to a million. I won't pretend to be a wrestling expert, but they're not going to pay someone more than their top guys for a couple nights.
Probably 500k to a million. I won't pretend to be a wrestling expert, but they're not going to pay someone more than their top guys for a couple nights.
Probably 500k to a million. I won't pretend to be a wrestling expert, but they're not going to pay someone more than their top guys for a couple nights.
Were they PPVs?
It was just 1 and a couple TV shows. They don't really do ppv anymore.
