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SPORTS Thursday 20 February 2020
Wilder-Fury II a fight so big it took 2 TV networks to show

LAS VEGAS (AP) — To hear The networks aren't just
the fighters talk, the heavy- combining to promote and
weight title fight Saturday show the fight from the
night between Deontay MGM Grand hotel in Las
Wilder and Tyson Fury is so Vegas. Ordinarily heated
big it took two TV networks rivals competing against
to make it happen. each other for event rights
That's only partially true, and viewers, they're also
though it might be forgiven. teaming up on the produc-
This is boxing, after all, and tion and mixing their talent
a bit of hyperbole goes a for the actual broadcast.
long way toward selling a The formula worked for
fight. Showtime and HBO for the
What is true is that ESPN and Mayweather-Pacquiao
Fox Sports had to come to- fight, and while the heavy-
gether if the heavyweight Deontay Wilder, left, arrives at the MGM Grand ahead of his WBC heavyweight championship weight fight will not come
showdown at the MGM boxing match; and Tyson Fury, of England, right, arrives at the MGM Grand on Tuesday, Feb. 18, close to their record it's got
2020, in Las Vegas.
Grand hotel was to hap- Associated Press a real chance to crack the
pen. And it's also true that million mark and inch to-
both networks are blanket- fighters." in his prime. "I mean we gest boxing pay-per-view ward the 1.9 million heavy-
ing the airwaves this week To be sure, Wilder and Fury even had two Super Bowl since Manny Pacquiao weight record sold for Mike
like never before in an ef- were already stars in their commercials, when did and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Tyson's second fight with
fort to get people to dig sport. The two fought to a that happen?" teamed up — in another Evander Holyfield in 1997
into their pockets for the draw 14 months ago in an For fight week that means network cross-promotion and his 2002 fight with Len-
$79.99 it will cost to watch entertaining fight in Los An- interviews and shows pre- — to sell 4.6 million for their nox Lewis.
the fight at home. geles, and they're both un- viewing the clash and the 2015 fight. "We've merged the two
In the end the attention be- beaten and arguably the broadcast of Wednesday's "We don't talk about pro- biggest TV networks in the
ing paid the fight is good two best heavyweights in pre-fight news conference jections but what I can say is world to make our fight
for a sport — and a heavy- the world at the moment. on both ESPN2 and Fox that this fight has captured happen," Fury said. "That's
weight division — that is But the constant drumbeat Sports 1. The networks will the attention and imagina- what it's about, getting it
suddenly a mainstay again of programming by both also both air Friday's weigh- tion of not only boxing fans out so people think they
on America's sports net- networks in the days lead- in, the press conference in but casual sports fans," said know it and recognize it.
works. ing up to the fight — ESPN the ring after the fight and Matt Kenny, vice president So if these two can't do a
"Quite frankly this hasn't is even running a special a portion of the undercard of programming and ac- good job promoting the
happened in a long time. produced by Fox — should itself. quisitions for ESPN. "Both of fight we've got no chance."
We believe this sport is make both fighters more To get the main event, these fighters have shown With both men being not-
on the right path," said Bill well known outside of their though, will not be cheap. an ability to really tran- ed talkers, it also didn't take
Wanger, executive vice sport. It also will make them Both networks are counting scend the sport." much convincing to get
president of programming, much wealthier if the pay- on the massive publicity to So far, though, neither has them to constantly talk up
research and content strat- per-view buys are any- prompt people into invit- shown the ability so far to the fight.
egy for Fox Sports. "It con- where near the level of ing a few friends over and sell pay-per-views in large "I've got two guys who are
tinues the evolution of our publicity. splurging on the fight. numbers, which makes great salesmen and they
boxing program with PBC "There's never been a fight While neither network is projections tricky. Their first have sold this fight the way
(Premier Boxing Champi- ever that's been publicized willing to predict just how fight did a little more than a fight should be sold,"
ons) where we're mounting like this," said Bob Arum, the many households the fight 300,000 buys on Showtime, Arum said. "They're show-
a charge to bring boxing fight's co-promoter who will do (Arum says he's hop- though at the time few in ing boxing is back, and
back to the masses and has been promoting fights ing to get near 2 million America knew much about not just as a niche sport
create stars out of these since Muhammad Ali was buys), it will likely be the big- Fury. anymore."q

Redskins exercise 2020 option

on RB Adrian Peterson

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The an example of what is ex- 2018 after a season-ending
Washington Redskins ex- pected of the players in this knee injury to running back
ercised Adrian Peterson's program moving forward." Derrius Guice. His 1,042-
2020 option Wednesday, Peterson, who turns 35 in yard season led them to
keeping the veteran run- March, was the Redskins' sign him for 2019 with an
ning back in the fold for leading rusher last season extra option year possible
another season. Peterson with 898 yards and five after that.
returns to Washington for a touchdowns on 211 carries. It's a reality now and solves
third season and first under He currently ranks fifth on one question in Washing-
new coach Ron Rivera. It'll the NFL's career rushing list ton's backfield. Third-down
be his 14th NFL season. with 14,216 yards and is less back Chris Thompson is a
"Adrian Peterson is the than 1,100 from catching free agent who's not ex-
epitome of what it means Barry Sanders for fourth. pected to return, but the
to be a pro in this league," "Still going strong," Peterson Redskins have Guice and Washington Redskins' Adrian Peterson waves after given the Art
Rivera said. "Adrian's lead- tweeted. "Let's get to work." 2019 draft pick Bryce Love, Rooney Sportsmanship Award at the NFL Honors football award
ership and passion towards Peterson originally signed who missed last season with show Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Miami. Associated Press
the game of football will set with the Redskins in August injury, as expected.q