Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte recently squared off in a heavyweight boxing match that captured the attention of fight fans around the world. As the reigning WBC champion, Fury was entitled to 80% of the total purse for the fight, while Whyte received 20% as the challenger. However, the exact amounts that each fighter earned have been shrouded in some mystery. In this article, we’ll break down what is known about the fight purse and try to determine how much Whyte paid Fury to take part in this lucrative boxing match.
Fury’s Guaranteed Purse
Even before the first punch was thrown, some key facts were known about Fury’s side of the purse. As champion, he was guaranteed to take home at least £25,000,000 for the fight. This was 20% of the total purse amount of £31,000,000.
So Fury was entitled to earn:
Guaranteed purse for Fury: | £25,000,000 |
This was the minimum amount that he would earn as his share of the fight’s proceeds. With pay-per-view sales and other revenue added on top, his final take-home pay was expected to be even higher. But £25 million represented his contracted guarantee.
Determining Whyte’s Share
Whyte’s position as the challenger entitled him to 20% of the total purse amount. With £31 million in the total purse pool, 20% works out to £6,200,000.
So Whyte was guaranteed to earn:
Guaranteed purse for Whyte: | £6,200,000 |
However, reports indicated that Whyte was expected to actually earn closer to £7 million for his part in the event. This seems to have been his final negotiated purse, factoring in added revenue from the fight.
Breakdown of Purse Split
To summarize the known purse details:
Fury’s share: | £25,000,000 |
Whyte’s share: | £6,200,000 |
Total purse: | £31,000,000 |
So while the contractual minimum for Whyte was around £6.2 million based on the 20/80 split, his final take is believed to have landed around £7 million.
Whyte’s Frustrations Over Purse Split
In the lead up to the fight, Whyte expressed frustrations over the purse split. As the challenger, he had little leverage to negotiate for a higher percentage. Whyte’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, appealed to Fury’s team for a more equitable split but was unable to get them to budge from the mandated WBC percentages.
Whyte described the 80/20 split as “laughable” and not representative of a fair share considering the magnitude of the event. However, there was little recourse for Whyte given Fury’s status as champion and his existing contract with the WBC. These factors entitled Fury to the lion’s share of the purse.
How the Purse Compares to Other Fights
The total purse pool of £31 million ranks as one of the largest in heavyweight boxing history. For perspective, here is how it compares to some other recent heavyweight megafights:
Fury vs. Wilder 3 | Total Purse: £55,600,000 |
Joshua vs. Ruiz 2 | Total Purse: £82,000,000 |
Fury vs. Wilder 2 | Total Purse: £19,400,000 |
Fury vs. Whyte fits firmly between Fury’s second and third fights against Wilder in terms of total money generated. The purse pool reflects the status of Whyte as a credible and deserving challenger, even if not at the elite pay-per-view level of a Wilder or Joshua.
Pay-Per-View Revenue Differences
Some key context on why Fury vs. Whyte did not rise to the level of Fury’s other recent purses:
– Wilder 3 sold approximately 800,000 PPV buys in the US at about $80 per buy.
– Joshua 2 sold approximately 1,500,000 UK PPV buys at about £25 per buy.
– Whyte was projected for about 600,000 UK PPV buys.
So while still a major event, Fury vs. Whyte did not have equivalent pay-per-view revenue as some other comparable fights. This impacted the overall purse pool. But £31 million still represented a massive prize in boxing’s heavyweight division.
How Much Did Whyte Ultimately Get Paid?
Based on purse reports and Whyte’s comments, it seems he ultimately took home right around £7 million for the fight with Fury.
Whyte’s purse: | £7,000,000 |
While much less than Fury’s amount, this was still a career-high payday for Whyte. It rewarded him for working his way to a mandatory title shot after years of fighting top contenders.
Even if the 20/80 split did not favor Whyte, £7 million remains a massive payday in the world of boxing. The fight afforded Whyte both a big purse and the chance to dethrone Fury for the WBC belt, even if he came up short in accomplishing that goal.
How Whyte’s Payday Compares
To put Whyte’s £7 million purse in perspective, here is how it stacks up to other career-high paydays for heavyweights:
Anthony Joshua vs. Ruiz 2: | £66,000,000 |
Deontay Wilder vs. Fury 3: | £14,000,000 |
Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Joshua 2: | £10,000,000 |
Whyte earned more than fellow British heavyweights like Joseph Parker and Dereck Chisora have ever made for a single fight. His purse fits firmly in the top tier of heavyweight paydays.
While less than half of what Joshua earned to reclaim his belts from Ruiz, Whyte should not be disappointed with his earning potential in a Fury megafight. His payday reflects his stature as a top heavyweight contender over the past several years.
How the Rematch Clause Could Impact Future Earnings
Despite Whyte’s loss to Fury, his contract included a rematch clause. This means he could be entitled to an immediate second fight with Fury if both sides agree to exercise the clause.
After a closely contested initial bout, a rematch seems plausible later in 2023. If this occurs, Whyte would likely secure another payday comparable to his first purse.
A second clash could also draw more UK pay-per-view buys based on the exciting and competitive nature of the first fight. This may enable Whyte to negotiate an even higher purse in the £8-10 million range.
Scenarios Where Rematch May Not Happen
However, there are also scenarios where a second Fury vs. Whyte fight does not end up coming together:
– If Fury retires or pursues a unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk instead.
– If broadcast/streaming platforms aren’t willing to meet purse demands.
– If injury or loss to a different opponent derails momentum.
– If contractual deadline for enacting rematch clause passes.
So while Whyte remains well-positioned for another sizable payday opposite Fury, it is far from guaranteed at this point. Both fighters’ future paths remain contingent on various factors.
The Bottom Line: A Career-Defining Purse for Whyte
Regardless of whether he earns a rematch, Whyte can be satisfied with earning a £7 million purse for his world title challenge against Tyson Fury. This marked his richest payday by a significant margin after years as a top heavyweight contender.
The 80/20 split meant Whyte did not earn as much as hoped compared to Fury’s £25 million. But £7 million remains an elite level payday in the world of boxing, affording Whyte financial security. And with a competitive showing against Fury, Whyte enhanced his reputation and built his case for more big paydays ahead.
In summary, Fury emerged with the belt after a hard-fought victory in front of over 90,000 fans at Wembley. But thanks to his career-high purse, Whyte also walked away from fight night a winner from a financial perspective. Their showdown brought a definitive end to the lengthy saga over What Whyte would ultimately be paid for his long-awaited clash with Fury.