It's as if Dubois has actually taken a step or two backwards in the quality of his opposition since running through Gorman. As has been said, there are plenty of top European or fringe world level opponents Warren and Dubois could be looking at for early December if the Joyce fight collapses for whatever reason. Any more procrastinating on this will only increase discontent towards Warren and Dubois and result in cries for Frank Warren to move Dubois along a lot quicker. I get that Warren is a typically cautious matchmaker, and generally likes to take his time to get the right big fights for his figgters; but if he's too cautious with Dubois, Dubois could end up being a Wilderesque case whereby he's 30-0 and hasn't fought even one fringe world level opponent.
I remember Chisora winning the British Title and signing to fight Klitschko for the World Title after 13 fights. Iron MIke was 21 when he cleaned the top guys out and big DDD could be wasting his best years. Wilder's record could be under threat and reminds me of Big Fraudley's slow train to nowhere
Mate, they’re on 7 figures for the fight. Whyte - Povetkin happened as part of Matchroom’s project, but all the other similar PPVs are in the same limbo as Dubois - Joyce. The fight done 10k tickets in the first few weeks it was announced and judging by Dubois digital figures and the fact their British heavy’s, at worst it would at least match Whyte - Povetkin so anywhere between 150-250k buys.
Yeah I heard the same rumour about the Joyce fight not happening and this was why FW was so loud about Whyte. Because everybody was saying "why are you speaking Whyte when it's DD Vs Joyce next"? It didn't make much sense to be pushing that hard for a Whyte fight, the timeline didn't make sense. That said, it's still a rumour, now Whyte has been beaten and is in a rematch and there is zero chance of DD Vs Whyte happening, they might have to absorbed a loss and you never know BT might cover it. I personally doubt it happens for the exact reasons @Heisenberg said, just not financially viable. As for what's next for DD, don't expect anything expensive, forget Hunter or anything like that, just see last night, just see Yarde, see FW's usual routes, it will be unknown unbeaten records, old past it heavyweights for "experience". All meaningless fights until DD forces himself in to a mandatory position, it just costs less, it's an easier route to rack up wins against overmatched, very low risk opponents. Also, to be fair, there really is no need to pay expensive opponents, we have Fury Vs AJ twice possible for next year, AJ has two mandatory fights in Pulev and Usyk, Fury isnt fighting DD, Fury might have a mandatory anyway.. so even if DD went out and fought a few solid names it won the move him forward or towards a title shot any faster.
I'm just saying I don't believe they are both on 7 figures for the fight and it still can't be made viable. If they do 250k , you're saying that generating £5m from PPV alone isnt enough to get this domestic fight on ? If that is right then this fight is NEVER going to do anything but lose a shed load of cash. May well have sold 10k tickets but as you point out that was before the world economy crashed and who's to say there will be alot of people rushing to be packed into an arena with 16k others in this climate. I think it shows what little wiggle room there is for the whole event, cant risk it bombing. Whyte v Povetkin would've made money , the rest of fight camp was the 'project' imo leading up to the money making PPV show, yes the profit from Whyte v Potekin may have been wiped out by the rest of fight camp costs but the stand alone show couldn't fail to make money. In these times of uncertainty maybe the 2 fighters need to take a cut for this fight or carry on fighting for peanuts as they both have recently on BT.
I’m saying Frank/BT want the spectacle of a full arena to unleash Dubois as an attraction. They want celebrities at ringside, they want the press and everything that comes with a big fight there. We also can’t disregard the revenue that ticket sales brings in. We also don’t know the intricate details on how the fight is being financed prior to PPV and other revenues coming in. It’s a complex situation- again the other British Ppv’s are in the same situation.
Mike Costello was talking about the fight today, ( Sunday ), on Radio 5. He didn't give the impression iy was off. I can believe Warren is struggling to afford it though.
Hate to say I think DDD will go the same way under Frank as Half a Yarde. On a Huge Pedestal, Adidas contract, Bright lights bla bla bla and all whilst beating up opponents that you’ll learn nothing from and then Bang! put on ur arse the moment there is a step up to top level. I honestly believe someone like Chisora would do a job on him with a big KO, let alone Whyte etc...... nice kid no doubt but needs some proper testing before fighting the top boys so a Chisora/Takam or equivalent would be a great step to see where he’s at then go for the big boys if he’s got it. Personally I think he’s strong no doubt and has a dig but he’s too open when he throws and will get tagged no doubt.
I don't disagree I just think the risk of this bombing is too big for all involved and the finances are as tight as ever. How many times have we heard 'this fight can't happen without PPV' now we are saying THIS fight can't happen without PPV AND a full O2 , its Dubois v Joyce for gods sake , a domestic dust up at best , something isn't right and imo it isn't because both fighters are on millions.
FWIW, Eddie did allude to it doing around the Rivas numbers which were circa 300k. I think now is a good time to get optimal PPV numbers in as there will be a saturation of PPV's later this year and in 2021 imo.
There not going to release the numbers officially. The best bet is for IFL to try to catch Bazza Hearn when he’s had a drink - he will tell it as it is, especially if they didn’t hit the target.
I’m not sure about Dubois as he is on 5 year contract which he took as part of agreeing to this fight, but Joyce is no doubt on a contracted amount and if it’s not 7 figures it’s just under. Sam Jones probably wants the money in an escrow account before the fight also. If both fighters were on a percentage deal, with only a certain guaranteed amount, than maybe it would be less pressure on Frank finacially in this climate. He needs all the revenue he can get to make it viable and as Ive said, he wants the show to look and feel like a big event that he has been watching through gritted teeth over at Matchroom with AJ over the years.
The way Frank was talking on Saturday was like he was informing the public that this fight is off unless it takes place in a full O2 Arena or in Saudi etc. There is something not right with this fight and it also sounded like Fury v Wilder 3 is going the same way.
