World Boxing Council Heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder defends his title in Birmingham next month, but the Birmingham City Council says it won’t be investing in the fight.
The Birmingham City Council rejected the mayor’s request to invest $30,000 in Deontay Wilder’s WBC fight, saying they support the champ, but the city has pressing needs.
“We’ve got fire station issues. We’ve got police station issues. We’ve got all these issues in the city, but we can find $30,000,” says Councilwoman Lashunda Scales.
There was also an issue about tickets not being available for residents who ultimately would foot the bill for the city’s support.
“If the citizens are paying and putting up $30,000 for a fight, I want to know if they’re going to be invited to the party too,” she said.
Then someone sent Scales an electronic invite to neighborhood leaders from the Mayor’s Office, telling them to RSVP for the Wilder fight. The tickets would be a reward for their hard work for the community. Holding up her cell phone, Scales read the flyer and said: “Isn’t that the fight we’re talking about? If you can’t give it to everybody, you don’t give it to nobody. If you don’t give it on first come first serve, this is wrong, Mr. President.”
April Odom, spokeswoman for Mayor William Bell, says: “The WBC fight is an economic development win for the city. The last fight generated an estimated $3.5 million for the area. Every hotel room was booked and restaurants were packed.”