Promoter Bob Arum said on Wednesday that the likelihood is that Tyson Fury will meet Deontay Wilder later this year, possibly in September, but unlikely before both heavyweights meet other opponents first.
Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, announced a promotional alliance Monday with Arum’s Top Rank Boxing and ESPN, alongside the deal the ‘Gypsy King’ already has in the UK.
Arum explained that an offer had been made to Wilder. “Deontay Wilder himself said that, as far as networks are concerned, he’s a free agent. Today [Wednesday, February 20] we are sending out an offer to Deontay Wilder which will also go to his manager Shelly Finkel and his advisor Al Haymon, making this offer, which is a tremendous one, to do the fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder. The public deserves to see the best fights and if promoters can’t work together to present the best fights, shame on the promoters.”
Arum added: “We want to speak to Wilder together with his manager and his adviser and we want to do this fight where it belongs, on a big platform, which is ESPN pay-per-view. Wilder himself said (in media interviews) there is no contractual impediment that would prevent it. None. He is not signed in any manner, shape or form to any network. We have been informed that it is not the case (that Showtime has an option on the rematch). Ultimately, that may not be the case but I really believe from what we learned that Wilder is telling the truth and he is not bound to any network for any fight.
“We’re going to reach out and say contact us, please, and bring whomever you want to a meeting, your manager Finkel, your adviser Haymon, your trainer (Jay Deas, also a co-manager). Bring any and all of them to a meeting with us and let’s sit down and put this together.”
Arum also said that he will be putting aside past issues with Finkel and Haymon. “The idea that we wouldn’t do business with Finkel or Haymon is absurd. We want to do this fight and we want to do it sensibly and correctly. We’re ready to put up all the money to do the fight. If it can’t happen it can’t happen, but it’s Wilder’s choice subject to advice from his manager and adviser.
“The one thing we want to make clear is there is no impediment to doing business with Wilder no matter who his manager is, no matter who his adviser is. We’re happy to deal with them. Wilder is going to have to decide what he wants to do in consultation with Finkel and Haymon.”
The likely rematch, Arum suggested, will be in the autumn of this year.
“ESPN+ will pay significant money for them to fight other fighters and then to do the rematch on pay-per-view in the fall,” explained Arum”
“That is all open for discussion. It’s certainly not a deal breaker if they want to do the rematch next. Fury is happy either way. He is happy with the tremendous money he will earn for a fight on ESPN+ and I think Wilder will be equally happy with doing a fight on ESPN+ for the money I know we can offer. Wilder has to make that decision. We’re not talking about peanuts. We’re talking about Wilder probably making more against somebody else (in the interim bout) than he made when he fought Fury and then making even more in the rematch in the fall.”
“The amount Wilder would earn for a fight on EPSN+ before a rematch would be far in excess of $4 million.”
Arum insisted ESPN will provide Fury “a great platform”.
“Everybody will know him. He will be the heavyweight most familiar to the public. If Wilder joins us and becomes part of this he will give Fury a run for his money in terms popularity. As a personality, Tyson Fury reminds me of George Foreman — everything but the punching power. Fury is going to be one of the iconic figures in sports because he’ll be so amusing and so much fun people will tune in to hear him sound off. He has an unusual personality and he is very fan friendly and will attract huge audiences like George did.”
“The new Tyson Fury is fan friendly. He is the George Foreman of the Foreman comeback. He’s not going to demean anyone or say anything about gays or lesbians. He is just an amusing fun character. What he did before, that’s behind him. He had mental problems before. He’s come out of that and become a mensch.”
The interview with Bob Arum first appeared on ESPN.com.