BOXING could see its first billion-viewer bout after US YouTuber Jake Paul fights reality telly star Tommy Fury tonight.
Experts say we are entering a new sporting age in which young social media fans will pay record sums to see their idols battle it out in the ring.
Boxer and former Love Islander Tommy, and Jake, who has more than 20million YouTube subscribers, are set to split a huge £8million fight purse.
Millions will tune in, despite both fighters being novices with only 14 bouts between them.
The previous record came when Floyd Mayweather Junior took on Manny Pacquiao in the “Fight Of The Century” in 2015.
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???? How to watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel
Pay-per-view subscriptions generated £333million, with 4.4million watching the fight in the United States alone.
But if Jake beats Tommy, he will go on to fight 29-year-old London-born YouTube star KSI, who has 41million subscribers over two channels, and 10billion video views.
Boxing promoter Kalle Sauerland said on talkSPORT: “The whole nation would watch it.
“The potential audience, without a doubt, you’re talking well over a billion views.
“A billion is probably conservative. The numbers are insane.”
Father-of-one Tommy, 23, says he feels like he has “won the Lottery” as he takes on 26-year-old Jake in front of a 15,000-strong crowd filled with A-listers at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia.
The bout is expected to break UK pay- per-view records, with BT Sport charging £19.95 to see it live.
Jake will be guaranteed £2.7million, plus 65 per cent of the pay-per-view receipts, giving him a potential £7.2million payday, including sponsorship.
Tommy is getting £1.7million and 35 per cent of the PPV takings, giving him an estimated total of £3.8million.
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There is an additional £830,000 prize for the winner.
Tommy’s reality TV partner Molly-Mae Hague will see the fight at home, having given birth to their daughter Bambi last month.
Despite having had only six fights, Jake, from Cleveland, Ohio, is so sure of victory that he offered to change the terms to winner takes all, and added: “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 podcast, Tommy hit back: “The guy can’t fight and I’m going to expose that on Sunday night.
“It’s a massive fight and we’ll have A-list celebrities ringside. What more could I ask for? And thank God I’ve got Jake Paul and not a Russian with 30 knockouts. I’ve won the Lottery, haven’t I?
“My life’s changed in the blink of an eye. One day I had nothing, clothes with holes in them, and I open my eyes again and I’m here. I’m taking it all in my stride.”