Despite losing over $100 million in revenue due to illegal streaming, the massive heavyweight clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury last month still turned in staggering pay-per-view (PPV) numbers.
According to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, the “Ring of Fire” event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, turned in over 1.5 million PPV buys. That is mostly from the U.K. fanbase where Fury is a massive superstar, but these are still insane numbers for a boxing event not involving Floyd Mayweather, Canelo Alvarez, or some sort of fancy crossover bout.
The heavyweight main event between Usyk and Fury was advertised as the biggest fight of the year and it clearly was. Both fighters turned in solid performances, but it was Usyk who clobbered Fury late in the fight to get the nod on the official scorecards and walk away with a career-defining victory (highlights HERE). It was the first time in 25 years that boxing crowned an undisputed heavyweight champion (Lennox Lewis being the last one back in 1999).
Luckily for all parties involved, Fury cashed in on his immediate rematch clause and his second fight with Usyk is already targeted for Dec. 21 in Saudi Arabia. That matchup may not carry the same type of hype behind it as the first because it may lose it’s ‘undisputed’ title designation, but more money will be made before the end of the year.
Fortunately for Fury, this could result in another hefty $100 million payday, which was probably more after the 1.5 million PPV buys were calculated.