Whisper Wire #1: £75 Million Whispers, a Dead Heavyweight Deal & a New Lightweight Queen-Maker

Welcome to the very first Whisper Wire, sweethearts. Grab your popcorn. Every item gets a tag, a meter and a receipt.

1. Fury vs. AJ: is it really £75 million each? 💷

Fight: REPORTED · HOT 🔴 | Purse number: RUMOR · WARM 🟠

The fight is real: Dec 11, Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Mike Coppinger reports it's for the WBA "super" title Usyk vacated. (Sky Sports, Sep 24) The number floating around is a £150M purse split evenly, so about £75M each. (Times of India) Frank Warren didn't give a figure, but he did say: "They're getting paid more than any British fighter has earned in a fight ever." And: "The money was agreed ages ago." (Sky Sports) So British-record money is confirmed. £75M is still a whisper.

From boxbid.ioPlay Fantasy Boxing, freePick every fight on the card. Win points and the weekly Ringside badge. Play

💰 Guess the Purse: What's each man's officially reported take? Under £50M · £50–75M · £75M on the nose · Over £75M. Lock in your guess on Boxbid.

2. Usyk vs. Wilder: dead ⚰️

REPORTED · COLD 🔵 Wilder's manager, Shelly Finkel, told Dan Rafael that Usyk asked for more money than Zuffa and Turki Alalshikh wanted to pay, so that fight is off the table. (Dan Rafael; Boxing News) Rest in pieces.

3. Wilder vs. Gassiev: Plan B with a belt

RUMOR · WARM 🟠 Finkel to Rafael: "All things being equal Deontay would like to fight (WBA titleholder Murat) Gassiev," and "we are also talking to Gassiev's people." (Dan Rafael) Finkel also said Zuffa and Turki weren't interested in that matchup, and pushed Opetaia instead. (Full breakdown in our Dream Match.)

4. Opetaia vs. Benavidez: the cruiserweight crush

REPORTED · WARM 🟠 The two agreed in the ring to fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend 2027, according to boxingnews.com. Dana White on Benavidez: "That's the fight he really wants. He wants that fight so we've got to figure that one out." (Sky Sports) That's a target, not a contract.

5. Tszyu wants Lara's crown at 160 🇦🇺

REPORTED · WARM 🟠 After retiring Errol Spence Jr. in Sydney, Tim Tszyu called his shot: "I'd love to fight for a title. Who's there? (Erislandy) Lara? That's where I'm aiming for." (ESPN) No Limit boss George Rose has since said: "We've had great discussions with Lara's team, and I feel like something is close to being announced". The target is an Australian date before Christmas. (Fox Sports Australia) It's close, but nothing is signed.

From boxbid.ioWalk Fight CityMake your own boxer, train in the gym and watch fights with fans. Go

6. Schofield's new belt and Oscar's open door to Tank 👑

REPORTED · COLD 🔵 Floyd Schofield beat Lucas Bahdi by unanimous decision (116-110, 119-108, 115-111) in Chicago on Oct 10 to win the vacant WBA lightweight title. The belt was vacant because the WBA had made Gervonta Davis "Champion in Recess." (The Ring; WBA) Oscar De La Hoya's first pick for next is Zepeda: "I think him and Zepeda would be the big fight to do." On Tank: "If Tank comes back, let's make Tank Davis, why not?" (Yahoo Sports) That's an open door, not a callout, and Tank hasn't answered.

7. Canelo–M'billi: still scheduled for Riyadh

REPORTED The WBC super-middleweight title fight remains scheduled for Oct 31 in Riyadh after deadly attacks on the city's airport. Turki Alalshikh says Canelo told him he will still fight there. No venue change or postponement has been announced. (Al Jazeera, Oct 12; Reuters via The Straits Times, Oct 12)

You didn't hear it from me… 🤫

Sources

• Sky Sports (Fury–AJ, Sep 24)
• Times of India (£75M figure)
• Dan Rafael
• Boxing News (Usyk–Wilder)
• boxingnews.com
• Sky Sports (Opetaia)
• ESPN (Tszyu)
• Fox Sports Australia
• The Ring (Schofield)
• WBA
• Yahoo Sports
• Al Jazeera
• The Straits Times (Reuters)