mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Jan 2022, 04:37
I would say Audley was bigger, with a lot more eyeballs in 2000, maybe Khan, too, in 2004. AJ has utilised it brilliantly, though.
Depends what you mean by bigger. Both Audley and Amir would have had loads more viewers for their early pro fights given the platforms they were on but viewer numbers early in their career doesn’t translate to people wanting to pay money to see you fight (as Carl Froch proved).
AJ went to PPV in his 15th fight against Whyte and did something like 450k PPV buys in the U.K. and he then did more than that against Martin with a packed out O2. Audley was nowhere near that level of popularity at that stage and it wasn’t long after his 15th fight that he did a mini tour of the US fighting journeyman.
Khan was promoted brilliantly (bar the stupid Prescott fight) but he may even struggle to get the PPV buys against Brook that AJ did against Whyte and his early PPV buys were soft from memory.
Last edited by maverick23 on 24 Jan 2022, 05:30, edited 1 time in total.
mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Jan 2022, 04:32
A load of bellends in pubs spoiling my night because he beat Carlos Molina.
He was matched perfectly on the way up to build a fan base.
I disagree. He was built perfectly for the casuals, but when it came to gut check, he was clueless. Mike Tyson had Tillis, Green etc, Fury had McDermott, Del 1, they all had someone. AJ wasn't ready when it came his way. Commercially brilliant, they created something that wasn't true.
That’s why i said he was matched perfectly to build a fan base.
He wasn’t matched perfectly to prepare himself for the rest of the upper echelons of the division although he did survive a gut check against both Whyte and against Klitschko. What it proved though was whilst he may not get Ko’d by one punch, it takes him an awful long time to recover.
mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Jan 2022, 04:37
I would say Audley was bigger, with a lot more eyeballs in 2000, maybe Khan, too, in 2004. AJ has utilised it brilliantly, though.
Depends what you mean by bigger. Both Audley and Amir would have had loads more viewers for their early pro fights given the platforms they were on but viewer numbers early in their career doesn’t translate to people wanting to pay money to see you fight (as Carl Froch proved).
AJ went to PPV in his 15th fight against Whyte and did something like 650k PPV buys in the U.K. and he then did more than that against Martin with a packed out O2. Audley was nowhere near that level of popularity at that stage and it wasn’t long after his 15th fight that he did a mini tour of the US fighting journeyman.
Khan was promoted brilliantly (bar the stupid Prescott fight) but he may even struggle to get the PPV buys against Brook that AJ did against Whyte and his early PPV buys were soft from memory.
Audley could have been. He was own worst enemy. He wouldn't work with anyone. AJ got 400,000 views for Whyte. Khan-Brook will trounce that.
mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Jan 2022, 04:37
I would say Audley was bigger, with a lot more eyeballs in 2000, maybe Khan, too, in 2004. AJ has utilised it brilliantly, though.
Depends what you mean by bigger. Both Audley and Amir would have had loads more viewers for their early pro fights given the platforms they were on but viewer numbers early in their career doesn’t translate to people wanting to pay money to see you fight (as Carl Froch proved).
AJ went to PPV in his 15th fight against Whyte and did something like 650k PPV buys in the U.K. and he then did more than that against Martin with a packed out O2. Audley was nowhere near that level of popularity at that stage and it wasn’t long after his 15th fight that he did a mini tour of the US fighting journeyman.
Khan was promoted brilliantly (bar the stupid Prescott fight) but he may even struggle to get the PPV buys against Brook that AJ did against Whyte and his early PPV buys were soft from memory.
Audley could have been. He was own worst enemy. He wouldn't work with anyone. AJ got 400,000 views for Whyte. Khan-Brook will trounce that.
Teaches me to use Wikipedia and not click the source.
Point remains though - that was still massively ahead of anything Khan achieved when he first went to PPV.
Audley was his own worst enemy. All the physical ability in the world but too smart for his own good. He promoted himself into obscurity.
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Jan 2022, 05:28
AJ-Whyte was around 400k, Still a good number.
With Sky behind him right from that start, and he was promoted really well as well.
My point was, it's great for those involved, what good was it for us? I'm not a casual.
I’m not a casual either but I enjoyed his fights with Whyte, Martin (where AJ wasn’t a big favourite beforehand), Klitschko, Povetkin, Takam, both Ruiz fights and Usyk.
All of them I’ve either been there or been watching with a group of mates who were all invested in the fights.
It’s rare to have fights in the U.K. that cross over so much to the casual public like the Klitschko fight or the Ruiz rematch. Anything that brings positive publicity to boxing is a good thing in my book.
mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Jan 2022, 06:00
I can't really argue with that. He's had his day now, though. A good hiding from Fury or Usyk and he's gone. How much money does he need?
He may well have had his day. I hope not as there are still several fights I’d like to see him involved with (Fury, Wilder, Usyk/Whyte rematches, Joyce).
He doesn’t need anymore money. His endorsements themselves are probably worth £10m+ a year. I’m sure it’s not him doing the negotiating for it - he’s got a management team and promoter who are ultimately being paid to maximise his earnings. Would you expect him to step aside for free?
I think Usyk will beat AJ again but if I were him I'd take the Fury fight next. Anything can happen in boxing, it only takes a bad cut or freak injury against AJ and his chance will be gone. I'd also take the step aside money if I were AJ, few mill for nothing, guaranteed shot, more time to prepare and he can see what happens when Fury vs Usyk happens.
Controversial wrote: ↑24 Jan 2022, 07:12
I think Usyk will beat AJ again but if I were him I'd take the Fury fight next. Anything can happen in boxing, it only takes a bad cut or freak injury against AJ and his chance will be gone. I'd also take the step aside money if I were AJ, few mill for nothing, guaranteed shot, more time to prepare and he can see what happens when Fury vs Usyk happens.
Fully agree except with the guaranteed shot point. You can never tell what Tyson will do.
mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Jan 2022, 06:58
No, if I was Usyk I'd enforce the mandatory. He knows AJ doesn't want it. Put it on his toes.
So if you were Usyk you’d take less money and rematch AJ than take more money and go for the undisputed against Fury?
I'd want him out of the way. I doubt it's for pennies, either. Then crack on with Fury. Why give him 15m when hes just been outclassed?;I would do that out of principle.
mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Jan 2022, 06:58
No, if I was Usyk I'd enforce the mandatory. He knows AJ doesn't want it. Put it on his toes.
So if you were Usyk you’d take less money and rematch AJ than take more money and go for the undisputed against Fury?
I'd want him out of the way. I doubt it's for pennies, either. Then crack on with Fury. Why give him 15m when hes just been outclassed?;I would do that out of principle.
It won’t be for pennies but it’ll be something like half of what he’d get from fighting Fury. One thing we know from recent history is nothing is guaranteed so what’s to say he loses to AJ on a cut or an injury and then the massive payoff is gone for him. There’s also no guarantee what Fury will do given the way he’s been in the past. He could just retire again after his next fight.
We’ve been waiting for a undisputed champ since Lewis retired - nothing wrong with him taking it when it’s the biggest fight out there for him with the most money against it.
It’s not like Usyk will be paying AJ off out of his purse - the Saudis will sort him and it’s a drop in the ocean for them. Also the rematch clause isn’t up to Usyk - it’s up to AJ/Matchroom to decide what to do with it. Usyk won’t be able to enforce anything with it.
There must be an expiration date on the clause. He wants Tyson and Usyk to destroy each other because he cant do it! Just like Lara is lined up to box in Mexico three weeks BEFORE Josh fights his old victim in Leeds! Hearn said there was no way he could be next because of the eye injury.... And Kid gets f all and Josh sells tickets. It's all bullshit, mate.
mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Jan 2022, 07:56
There must be an expiration date on the clause. He wants Tyson and Usyk to destroy each other because he cant do it! Just like Lara is lined up to box in Mexico three weeks BEFORE Josh fights his old victim in Leeds! Hearn said there was no way he could be next because of the eye injury.... And Kid gets f all and Josh sells tickets. It's all bullshit, mate.
I agree re: Warrington.
There probably is an expiration in the contract but it will probably be something like 12 months. It was like 15 months before Wilder got his rematch sorted with Fury. We’re at 4 months for AJ.
AJ will want more time with his new team (whoever that may be) and if he gets £15m and a guaranteed shot at the winner then he should be delighted with it. If Fury/Usyk do damage to each other in the meantime then that’s a bonus but I’d be amazed if that’s the dominant reason why he’s stepping aside.
I wonder what’s happening with Whyte though - will put the chances of him fighting for a title even further away.
Controversial wrote: ↑24 Jan 2022, 07:12
I think Usyk will beat AJ again but if I were him I'd take the Fury fight next. Anything can happen in boxing, it only takes a bad cut or freak injury against AJ and his chance will be gone. I'd also take the step aside money if I were AJ, few mill for nothing, guaranteed shot, more time to prepare and he can see what happens when Fury vs Usyk happens.
Fully agree except with the guaranteed shot point. You can never tell what Tyson will do.
True, I think Fury would want the AJ fight though so barring a loss I don't think he would swerve him. Politics can also play a part though.
