By Charles Brun: Tyson Fury vs. Dillian Whyte won’t bring in 1.5 million pay-per-view buys on BT Sport, predicts Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.
At best, the Fury-Whyte fight will do 900,000 PPV buys, he says, but he thinks it could do 1 million buys on Sky.
As far as Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) choosing not to take part in the kickoff press conference, Hearn reminds boxing fans that Fury didn’t take part in a press conference for his fight against Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, and it still did well.
Whyte missing out on an opportunity to build his brand
It doesn’t matter if Whyte doesn’t show up for the press conferences, though, because Fury is more than able to lead the media and create interest single-handled.
The one that it hurts obviously is Whyte, who is losing out on the opportunity to build his fan base. Of course, if Fury knocks out Whyte, it’s unclear whether his career will be salvageable after that.
Dillian will obviously have the UK boxing fans that will continue to gladly purchase his fights on PPV, but nationally, there won’t be much interest in his career.
UK fans are forgiving of their fighters after they lose, and continue to back them even after they’ve lost countless times. For example, look at Dereck Chisora. He’s got 12 defeats on his resume, and British boxing fans can’t wait to watch him fight.
Hearn: Fury-Whyte won’t do 1.5 million buys
“Not on BT, but I think it could do 800,000, 900,000,” said Eddie Hearn to Boxing Social when asked if Fury vs. Whyte will do 1.5 million pay-per-view buys. “I mean, it could do over a million on Sky.
“It’s a big fight. Everyone talks about him [Whyte] not turning up for the press conference. I mean, people seem to forget that Tyson Fury didn’t turn up for the Wladimir Klitschko press conference [in 2015] as well. It didn’t hurt the promotion.
“It won’t hurt the promotion for this fight. It’s a big fight. Hopefully, everything gets resolved and we see it,” said Hearn.
Froch sounds off on Whyte’s behavior
“I understand why he did it but I don’t agree with him doing it because I think he should get his face in there and be part of the whole build-up, part of the show,” said Carl Froch to Boxing Social about Whyte choosing not to show up for the kickoff press conference.
“Boxing is the entertainment business, and I know you’re not obligated to do certain things if you’re on the losing end of the purse bid and your promoter is not promoting the fight.
“Still, I don’t know what advice he’s taking or whatever he’s doing to concentrate on his training and feels better about not turning up for the press conferences.
“I think that’s bad advice or bad attitude. Either way, I’d rather have seen him at the press conference because this is a great fight. It’s a fight that he [Whyte] can win, by the way.
“I have Fury the favorite because of his height, reach, and boxing ability. But don’t write Dillian Whyte off because he’s a fantastic fighter. He means business and he’s waited a long time.
“He should get involved and turn up at the pressor and get involved in it and give us a little bit more. He gave us a little bit the other day in shouting a line at the camera.
“He looks like he means business and looks fit, looking strong. I like the attitude and the build-up. It would be a massive shame for the fans, and I think he’ll look back in the years to come if he carries on with his silent treatment on the build-up to this fight.
“There will be a few more pressors and a pressor close to the fight before the weigh-in. Dillian Whyte, get to the pressure, get yourself involved, we want to see you. We’re all behind you as well. We’re behind Fury and Whyte.
“I like Dillian Whyte, I’ve known him a few years, and he’s close to my heart. I want him to do well. But I like Tyson Fury as well. We turned pro pretty much together. His debut was on my first world title fight in Nottingham.
“We were both promoted by a certain promoter and we’ve both move on from that. Yeah, we’ve got history. On that one [Fury vs. Whyte] may the best man win,” said Froch.
