By Cassandra Cousineau for LVSportsBiz.com
You want to buy a ticket for the biggest boxing match of 2020 and the new decade?
Good luck.
The Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury heavyweight rematch at MGM Grand Garden Arena, set for Feb. 22, is sold out.
That means fans hoping to watch the monster heavyweight battle in Las Vegas will have to either catch them at the weigh-in or on Pay-Per-View as tickets for the event are already sold out.
In less than five minutes seats ranging from $154 to $1,504 were gobbled up by eager boxing fans who were in a buying queue for longer than it took for AXS.com to sell its allotted occupancy.
The limit of up to 12 tickets per purchase also allowed resale outlets and scalpers to grab rows of seats to sell at twice — and in some cases — up to four times the original face value.
When Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KO) takes on the undefeated UK superstar Fury, (29-0-1, 20 KO), it will be to settle a score started more than 14 months prior. Wilder, the WBC champ, and Fury ended in a split draw after their first go-round in December 2018. Wilder leveled Fury in the 12th round only to have the 6-foot, 9-inch, 257-pound, “lineal” champion make a cinematic rise off the canvas to finish the fight.
Since, the UK’s self-proclaimed Gypsy King KO’d unknown Tom Schwartz and took a tough decision to defeat up-and-coming Otto Wallin in fights in Las Vegas. His bout with Wallin included a gnarly gash over the 31-year-old’s right eye. Undoubtedly, the healing and scar tissue of that cut will be tested by Wilder.
“I’m happy and I’m excited that the rematch is finally happening,” said Wilder, who will make his eleventh title defense. “I want to give the fans what they want to see. I’ve been doing it with my last three outings — Fury, Dominic Breazeale and Ortiz. They’ve been spectacular events — from my ring walks, where I gather all the energy of the people, to my uniforms that I wear to help spread that energy. Then I give them what they all come for — the knockouts, and my knockouts have been amazing.
“I proved myself the first time and I’m ready to do it again. It was a very controversial fight. I promise my fans that there won’t be any controversy with this one. I’m going to finish it,” added the 34-year-old.
As for Fury, he said, “There’s no more ducking and diving. The date has been set, and the ‘Bomb Squad’ is about to be securely detonated and the real champion crowned as the world watches on for the most anticipated fight in years. This is unfinished business for me, but come Feb. 22, this dosser will finally get what’s coming to him, and I can’t wait.”
All is not lost for fans who want to watch the event anchored by two of the most charismatic boxers on the planet. Although prices have yet to be released, the broadcast will be a joint Pay Per View between ESPN and Fox Sports. In the UK, the PPV carrier with either be BT or Sky Sports. Top Rank President Bob Arum has recently hinted the price will be far below a $100 price point.
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