An online dispute has led UK bookmakers to offer a purse of more than $80,000 for One Direction’s Niall Horan to fight rugby star Mike Phillips. It’s not as sexy as the since-cancelled DMX-Zimmermann bout here in the States, but it could serve to show just how well the British pop star could defend himself.
According to ESPNscrum.com, Paddy Power “has put up a purse of £60,000” for the fight to happen. Here’s more:
The unlikely pair clashed on Saturday when the petit Niall posted on his Twitter account that Phillips behaved like “an arrogant idiot” during the Six Nations loss to Ireland. Phillips replied: “Come down to training in the week big boy. Bring the rest of The Beatles with you.”
But as the world moved on, the bookmakers sprang into action by offering €50,000 to a chosen charity for the winner and €10,000 to the loser if the pair sorted their differences in the ring.
Paddy Power’s Feilim MacAnIomaire told the Irish Mirror: “This is absolutely a real offer to the both of them – why the hell not? It would be craic. We would like them to both jump on board, but who knows if they will be able to find the time. They have both got very busy schedules, but I am pretty sure how we would price it.
The website noted the bout is unlikely to happen, as “Horan earns €60,000 in less time than it takes Phillips to warm-up for training.”
He’s also got a tour to worry about, and OneDirection come to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough August 7, 8 and 9. Hit up our BFFs at Do617 to enter to win tickets, which go on sale next week.
