BOXING could see its first fight with a billion viewers after American YouTuber Jake Paul fights reality TV star Tommy Fury tonight.
Experts say we are entering a new sporting era where young social media fans will pay record amounts to see their idols duke it out in the ring.
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Boxer and former Love islander TommyAnd Jakewhich has more than 20 million YouTube subscribers, are set to split one massive £8 million fight grant.
Millions will tune in despite both fighters being newbies with only 14 bouts between them.
The previous record came then Floyd Mayweather Junior recorded it Manny Pacquiao in the “Fight of the Century” in 2015.
🥊 How to watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury: date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel
Pay-per-view subscriptions generated £333 million, with £4.4 million going to the fight in the United States only.
But if Jake beats Tommy, he’ll fight the 29-year-old London-born YouTube star KSIwhich has 41 million subscribers across two channels and 10 billion video views.
boxing promoter Calle Sauerland said on talkSPORT: “The whole nation would watch it.
“The potential audience, without a doubt, you’re talking over a billion views.
“A billion is probably conservative. The numbers are insane.”
Father of one Tommy, 23, says he feels like he “won the lottery” as he takes on 26-year-old Jake in front of a 15,000-strong crowd filled with A-listers at Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia.
The fight is expected to break UK pay-per-view records b sports charge £19.95 to see it live.
Jake is guaranteed £2.7 million, plus 65 per cent of pay-per-view receipts, giving him a potential payday of £7.2 million, including sponsorship.
Tommy will be paid £1.7 million and 35 per cent of the PPV earnings, giving him an estimated total of £3.8 million.
There is an additional prize of £830,000 for the winner.
Tommy’s reality TV partner Molly-Mae Haag will watch the fight at home, having given birth to their daughter Bambi last month.
Despite only having six fights, Jake, from Cleveland, Ohiois so confident of victory that he offered to change the terms to winner takes all, adding: “Tommy doesn’t know what he’s getting into, and after Sunday he’s going to hate the sport.”
On the 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcastTommy hit back: “The man can’t fight and I’m going to expose that on Sunday night.
“It’s a huge fight and we’ll have A-list celebrities ringside. What more can I ask? And thank God I have Jake Paul and none Russian with 30 knockouts. I won the Lottery, didn’t I?
“My life has changed in an instant. One day I had nothing, clothes with holes in them, and I open my eyes again and I’m here. I take it all for granted.”