Despite $1.3 Billion Loss In Past, Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury Set for Fight Purse ‘Record’

Riyadh means money. If you doubt that, you can ask either Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury. Payout details are already out, as the clash for heavyweight supremacy gets a little more lucrative. But it raises one more concern—can the event be commercially successful?

Usyk, 37, and Fury, 36, will fight it out for the unified heavyweight titles on December 21 in Riyadh. The rematch offers the British boxer a shot at redemption as he tries to avenge his sole defeat that came against Usyk in May. Interestingly, when the two faced each other first, he received a price split of 70-30 in his favor. So, he pocketed a larger share of $105 million, where the Ukrainian fighter took home $45 million. However, it seems the tables have turned now.

According to recent reports, the enticing rematch will have a record purse of $190 million. Now that’s some serious money for one fight. Usyk. at 22-0, will get a larger share this time around, with 60% of the split going to his bank account.

It will amount to $114 million, whereas ‘Gypsy King’s 40% share will translate to $76 million. What’s more? This split doesn’t include the pay-per-view share. As a result, chances are very high that they will collect even heavier paychecks than their first fight.

But there is a slight issue—a problem that has plagued the boxing world for a while—illegal streaming. Around 20 million people streamed the first fight illegally, which resulted in losses of over $1 billion. Stephen Espinoza once explained that digital thefts, such as illegal streaming, shrink PPV buys by at least 30–40%, resulting in enormous losses. That’s not all.

If you look at Usyk vs. Fury I, it left HE Turki Alalshikh with a negative balance of $27 million. So, how do we have even a larger pie this time? Well, the Saudi adviser is banking on his PPV costs and trying to make it accessible.

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2: finally an upturn?

HE Turki Alalshikh has tried to curb the illegal streaming issue and to increase the overall viewership of boxing by slashing the PPV prices. He started it with Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov and followed the same with Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois. And he has already announced a PPV price of £24.99/$39.95.

The speculated PPV buys for Joshua vs. Dubois stood at 815,000, a good number for any boxing event. With the consideration that Usyk vs. Fury 2 will be in Riyadh, away from mainstream fans, who can’t travel to Saudi Arabia, the fans will rely on PPVs more than try to attend it live. The PPV price becomes crucial then. But it remains to be seen whether low PPV prices will continue to bear fruits or the boxing world will be back to square one.

What do you make of this mind-boggling purse split for Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2? Who do you think will leave the arena with a win? Let us know in the comments below.