The first undisputed heavyweight title fight in 25 years contested by Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk reportedly had a deservingly substantial audience.
Usyk left Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with the WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF belts firmly in hand after a split decision victory over the previously undefeated Brit.
The main event was propped up by a cruiserweight title fight between rivals Mairis Briedis and Jai Opetaia with the latter taking the belt, Joe Cordina’s unsuccessful defence of his IBF super-featherweight strap against a magnificent Anthony Cacace, and a heavyweight banger between Frank Sanchez and winner Agit Kabayel.
ESPN’s Mike Coppinger has now reported that the box office buys, consisting mostly of punters from the UK, topped 1.5 million. The event was available on DAZN PPV, TNT Sports Box Office and Sky Sports Box Office.
This translated to around $50 million in revenue, with an additional $40 million in sponsorship and $3 million in ticket sales, according to Coppinger’s sources.
Despite many feeling in the run-up that the technical abilities of both main event stars may have forced more of a chess match than a heavyweight thriller, the action delivered on all counts.
Fury looked to be hurting Usyk in the middle rounds with a looping uppercut before the Ukrainian found a higher gear and produced a prolonged and sensational knockdown in the ninth. It was here that ‘The Gypsy King’ looked more hurt than ever before in his career, even including a quite sensational recovery against Deontay Wilder back in 2018.
The rematch is booked for December 21 and is expected to deliver once more.
