Arum: Fury-Wilder Rematch Might Match May-Pac PPV Numbers

[Ruthless-RKO]

Bob Arum apparently has higher expectations for the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury rematch with each passing day.

Fury’s co-promoter predicted during a post-fight press conference Saturday night that when Wilder and Fury fight again, it’ll have become so big that their second showdown will either exceed or match the profitability of the most lucrative event in boxing history. That fight, Floyd Mayweather’s win over Manny Pacquiao in May 2015, produced approximately $600 million in overall revenue and generated roughly 4.6 million pay-per-view buys.

“Well, if, and I expect both guys get through their fights, the next fights, the fight will be the first quarter of next year,” Arum said following Fury’s second-round knockout of Tom Schwarz on Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena. “And I really believe – now, I’m not blowing smoke – it’s gonna be on pay-per-view, and I really can’t see why that fight won’t equal or surpass the numbers that were done on the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. They’re two little guys, great fighters. Mayweather-Pacquiao was built up for a lot of years, but still, they’re not heavyweights. And they’re not heavyweights of this kind of category, and now of this notoriety.”

“The reason why the Fury-Wilder fight,” Arum said, “the first one, didn’t do real numbers is because, let’s be honest, other than some hardcore boxing fans, the public in America didn’t know this guy [Fury]. They really didn’t know him. Now, they know him. And after [Fury’s] fight in October, they will know him even more. Wilder will hopefully have a great fight with [Luis] Ortiz and beat Ortiz. And the rematch, I think, is capable of doing over four million pay-per-view homes.”

Fury signed a multi-fight agreement with Arum’s Top Rank Inc. and ESPN following his first fight with Wilder. His stoppage of Schwarz marked the brash Brit’s debut with ESPN and Top Rank.

ESPN’s expansive reach has strengthened Fury’s profile in the United States, but making Mayweather-Pacquiao type of money seems quite ambitious. A reporter asked Arum, just to be clear, if he truly believes a Wilder-Fury rematch would be able to do that type of business.

“Again, why wouldn’t it be?,” Arum asked. “Why wouldn’t it be? People always, when I was in the business for many years, always look for the big, big heavyweight fight. Ali-Frazier I did more business than any other fight had ever done up to that point. I can’t see why this wouldn’t happen. And particularly when it matches somebody from the UK, who is not coming over as an opponent, but is a co-equal at least in stature, with an American. It’s got to, reasonably speaking, do tremendous business on pay-per-view.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Old Bob Arum is at it again.. With his crazy predictions..

The 350k rough figure the first bout did was a success and the event made a profit. Fair enough.

I think the rematch will do better numbers. (Rematches don't always do better numbers, apart from a select few fights).. But I really do think this does better. However, I can't see it even doing 1 million.

I was waiting for an article with Arum's prediction. He's doing a promoters job, but 4.6 million???

Wilder just about breaks 1 million on Showtime, although he can attract upto 3 million when on NBC/FOX/CBS.

Aim low and when the bout exceeds your prediction, it's a good thing, byt unfortunately, you have balloon figures all the time.

[Enlightened-One]

Bob Arum articulated this bizarrely unrealistic claim with the sole intention of grabbing the media headlines.

His words should not be taken seriously.

[SenorPipino]

Well, there you go again, Bob.

Making outrageous claims even though you know that not a soul believes a word you say.

Weren't you the guy who told us that Crawford-Khan would also do more than 1 million buys? It didn't even reach 200,000.

Weren't you the guy who assured us that Tom Schwarz was a "more formidable fighter than Andy Ruiz"?

If so, then who was that hapless lug who climbed into the ring with Fury for a 5 minute cup of coffee?

And now you tell us that a Fury-Wilder rematch will at least match that 4.4 million buys that Mayweather and Pacquiao generated a few years back?

Even though the first fight only drew 325,000 and rematches are notorious for attracting even fewer?

Go enroll in VADA, Bob. I want to know exactly what's floating around in your system.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

He had khan v Crawford pegged for 1mm buys... guy may embellish a bit

[oogiebe]

He had khan v Crawford pegged for 1mm buys... guy may embellish a bit

Juuuuuuust a bit!

[HomicideHenry]

Arum wishes.

The only fight that WOULD have matched those numbers would have been Fury-Joshua if it taken place at Wembley and the PPV cost $100 a pop.

But since Joshua's lost, that is out the window. Even if he regains the title it'll never come close to the numbers it would have been with both men undefeated.

Wilder is simply not a star here in America or overseas. Fury is gaining fans, but--- they'll never approach those numbers. Probably not even half those numbers.

[Best Coast]

Sorry Bob, 1 million PPVs would be a pleasant surprise!!

[jamamb]

for perspective

fury - wilder did less then mikey-spence and broner-pac

[candyslim]

Arum is one of those guys who says what suits his agenda, never mind whether it's true or not. There are a great many like that. It doesn't seem to worry them that people with any sense pay little heed to whatever comes out of their mouths. Those people are most likely not their target audience.

[ewenhay]

Arum is one of those guys who says what suits his agenda, never mind whether it's true or not. There are a great many like that. It doesn't seem to worry them that people with any sense pay little heed to whatever comes out of their mouths. Those people are most likely not their target audience.

He's just selling the fight. Tell people it's a major event and they're more likely to want to buy it to be part of it.

[SenorPipino]

He's just selling the fight. Tell people it's a major event and they're more likely to want to buy it to be part of it.

You summed it up correctly.

If you can convince people that it's a big deal, then they'll buy in.

Arum would probably consider anything over 500,000 in the US to be a massive success.

When the numbers actually fall a bit short of Arum's prediction, by 4 million or so, he'll just blame it on "illegal streaming" and walk away with a smirk.

[Nightmare Roy]

It’ll do well but not May Pac well.

[candyslim]

He's just selling the fight. Tell people it's a major event and they're more likely to want to buy it to be part of it.

Exactly my point. There are those who have the ability to judge the quality of a prospective fight for themselves and disregard Arum's bullshit, but it's not them/us that he's trying to entice. Besides they are far fewer in number.