Boxing Perspective: DonKingTV Pushing To Make No Fight Unseen

By Adam Matson June 4th, 2008 All Boxing Articles

The date of March 27, 2008, doesn't immediately jump out as a landmark moment in boxing history. Verno Phillips decisioning away Corey Spinks' IBF Junior Middleweight title was a shock to some, but certainly nothing historic .

Yet the story for some isn't in the fight itself, but the way that the fight was broadcast. Live on a Thursday night in St. Louis, promoter Don King's site, DonKingTV.com, made the Spinks - Phillips fight the first world title bout in history to be broadcasted live and for free on the internet.

The card called "The Pride of St. Louis", featured rising local star Devon Alexander and the city's only current champion, Cory Spinks. It drew over a million page hits and an estimated 400,000 unique page views, making it an extremely successful launch.

The website has shown two live world title broadcasts since that time, Adrian Diaconu's WBC interim title winning effort over tough Texan Chris Henry in Romania and Yusuke Kobori's shock knockout win over former WBA Lightweight title holder Jose Alfaro.

All three bouts can still be seen on the website.Three title fights in three different countries in a span of less then two months is impressive, but those affiliated with Don King and the website think the site is just in it's infancy and only beginning to put it's imprint on the broadcasting spectrum.

Other sports have been streamed over the internet before. The NCAA men's college basketball tournament was just a click away for anyone who had an internet connection. Yet the NCAA tournament was never in danger of not being seen, with TV time at a premium for boxing.

Boxing fans without premium cable packages generally find themselves in the dark when it comes to boxing. Many boxing fans have migrated to the internet as the only way to follow the sport rather then relying on morning newspaper print or television to report the latest in the sport. This is an audience that those at Don King want to target. More...