Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk lived up to its high expectations, delivering fireworks in their first fight on May 18, 2024. After close initial rounds, the Gypsy King had the spectators in Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on their feet with a dominant performance from round 4—visibly hurting Usyk with uppercuts in the sixth round. However, the Ukrainian boxer quickly turned the tide en route to his upset victory.

While the boxing world remains divided over the judges’ split decision, many question the referee’s decision not to halt the fight in the ninth round, when Fury appeared visibly hurt. This debate has only fueled the burning question: who will emerge victorious in the highly anticipated rematch?

Bill Haney: The believer

YouTube interviewer and podcaster DJ Vlad recently uploaded the ninth part of his interview with Devin Haney‘s father, Bill Haney. Covering several topics, the Ukrainian-American interviewer brought up the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury rematch, asking Haney the burning question.

Like many others, Haney was stunned by ‘The Cat’s upset victory over the then-undefeated British boxer, instantly converting him into a believer. Predicting the rematch outcome, Haney said: “Man, I didn’t think Usyk was going to do Fury like he did him, you know. So, Usyk has made me a believer. Yeah, he’s made me a believer. I think that he’ll upstage Fury again. He’ll be 2-0.”

Soon after, DJ Vlad talked about how Fury, with his visibly normal physique, does not look like a world champion boxer but is still a “real fighter.” To which Haney replied, “He’s a fighter. He comes from a fighter family, you know. His dad [John Fury is] a mastermind within himself. You know. So, I expect a fight. Now, I expect Tyson to come. He’s going to come ready.” Regardless, he stuck with his prediction by picking Oleksandr Usyk with a resounding “Yes” to conclude the fight when asked who he would be putting his money on.

Although their first bout generated a substantial fortune, it ultimately failed to break even. Nevertheless, the highly anticipated event sparked immense interest, setting the stage for even greater expectations from the upcoming Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury rematch. But what went wrong in their first fight?

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury I: A financial rollercoaster

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 1 garnered significant commercial success, selling over 1.5 million pay-per-view buys, primarily in the UK. The PPV buys generated an impressive $50 million in revenue. Additionally, the event secured $40 million in advertising and $3 million in gate revenue via ticket sales.

According to reports, the total fight purse was approximately $150 million (£116 million). The purse was divided accordingly, with Fury guaranteed 70% (£81.2 million, approximately $105 million) and Usyk receiving a reported $45 million.

Despite the event’s commercial success, reports suggest that the revenue generated by the fight failed to cover the total expenses incurred (over $120 million). A significant factor contributing to this financial shortfall was the piracy of the event. At least 20 million people watched the fight through illegal streams, with approximately 45% of the viewers from Europe, while 18% were from the UK.

The illegal streaming was estimated to have resulted in a financial loss of over $1 billion. While the battle against piracy continues, do you think the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury rematch can generate profits on December 21, 2024?