The most important Article you'll read as a boxing fan

[gyrokai]

Lets just say HBO Sports has had it's cage rattled by it already.
It's quite a read, but it's well worth it.

Boxing - Columns - Thomas Hauser

[Put Em' Up]

Other then a few numbers and percentages I don't see anything new he has added to the picture. We already knew about HBO and its ability to try and pass off BS fights as main event worthy bouts. We all knew about the decline in the ratings not too mention everything in between.

This was only news to those who do not follow the sport closely. Good find though, Thanks for posting it.

[OumaFan]

You would think with such a dramatic title more people would be reading it. I will in a minute or two, I'm sure its pretty good, Hauser's a good writer.

[Canvasback]

The 1988 Tyson was alot more exciting to watch than the 2008 De la Hoya.

[amat]

You know that could have been shortened by a lot. Still read the whole thing and love Hauser but damn that had to be 5000 words at least.

It was a good article and I agree with Arum's plan to move away from pay per view but that's nothing new. I think some of the criticism was a little unfair like Greenberg producing Miracle, don't know what that has to do with anything. Same with the whole where the executives stayed the night
deal. If I was a CEO I would stay at the Four Seasons that's just how it works.

Some alarming things, mainly HBO selling dates to Golden Boy without any fights. I don't see how that can be good for anyone and I really hope that does not come to fruition. That would be all around bad. That can't happen, I would hope at least.

[gyrokai]

I can't see secondsout site anymore........... I hope I'm not banned from the site now. haha

Please tell me you guys can't see it either.

The article shows how boxing works on the money end of it, the secret side, and the people behind the poor decisions. It was a LONG read, but it basically gave away how the sport of boxing works on a large scale and what is being done in the 21st century.

[Lance Uppercut]

Excellent, excellent article.

Very interesting.

Although for a moment for near the end he sort of gets off topic and bashes Max Kellerman, which was uncalled for.

I think Max does a great job.

[Youngblood]

I can't see secondsout site anymore........... I hope I'm not banned from the site now. haha

Please tell me you guys can't see it either.

The article shows how boxing works on the money end of it, the secret side, and the people behind the poor decisions. It was a LONG read, but it basically gave away how the sport of boxing works on a large scale and what is being done in the 21st century.

I can see it.

If boxing wants to regain strength, it somehow has to find a way to connect with mainstream sports via tv, and this only comes with exposure. PPV,HBO and so on are not going to do that. Someone needs to find away to pony up the $$ and get it on the big networks regularly.

Last night I watched that Kimbo Slice Excite thingy, because it was there. I may watch it more now, because I've been exposed. Boxing needs this.

[gyrokai]

Thanks for checking Youngblood, I can see it now (btw that used to be a cool comic book title, your name)

I'm going to read it again. It teaches alot about boxing and how the flow of money works in todays technological era.


Max Kellerman IS A BAD COMMENATOR! He's always making stupid comparisions. That's a fact. And he does side with certain fighters... and he makes it clear who he sides with many times.

Max is all wrong for the spot, that's obvious.

[HattonTheHammer]

To be honest ive always been rather confused as to how the channel actually makes money in terms of PPV buys if it is attempting to sell fights on a weekly basis, most of which will be un-appealing to your average boxing fan yet alone your boxing hardcore fan per say.

Would it not be more of a viable option for HBO to bundle 3-4 "big" fights onto a card per month and sell that as a "mega event" kind of in the way UFC or WWE will sell its PPVs.

People arent going to pay 30+ dollars to see de la hoya-forbes. I follow the sport with a passion though I still wouldnt touch that with a bargepoll!!!

[BoomBoom]

I could really care less about the numbers as long as the fights are entertaining. Ultimately its the fights themselves that matter to the fans, not money surrounding it. The big networks spend a lot of money to make a lot. Networks like ESPN dont put up as much or make as much but the fights are just as enteraining, if not more. And i think the reason is a fighter knows he has to shine on ESPN if he want to eventually make HBO money. Once a fighter is on HBO the money is already there so there isnt as much incentive imo especially if your a fighter that is always on Shotime or HBO.

[gyrokai]

To be honest ive always been rather confused as to how the channel actually makes money in terms of PPV buys if it is attempting to sell fights on a weekly basis, most of which will be un-appealing to your average boxing fan yet alone your boxing hardcore fan per say.

Would it not be more of a viable option for HBO to bundle 3-4 "big" fights onto a card per month and sell that as a "mega event" kind of in the way UFC or WWE will sell its PPVs.

People arent going to pay 30+ dollars to see de la hoya-forbes. I follow the sport with a passion though I still wouldnt touch that with a bargepoll!!!

Spot on.... spot on. Rep when I can.

I think HBO thinks that "names" carry the sport. They are looking for the next Ali, the next Leonard, the next Tyson, the next de la Hoya...

They should NOT actively look for that name and instead just hold up their hands and let these mega events happen and just when nobody expects it, there will be a name. But it must come in this Mega-Event structures.

[Spicoli]

HBO has fallen off over the years Imo.They at one time were the big dog along with ESPN & the "free" tv networks...ABC,CBS but have had to adjust and bend with the explosion of Technology and mass media availability...Showtime,MMA,web cast's etc.They have tried to reach the younger demograohic with gimmicks "KO NATION" ugh.I do like the addition of Max Kellerman,Terrible on camera but he knows his boxing and history.I do think they put way to much emphasis on the "Next big" such & such as opposed to letting fighters develope in progressive fashion,David reid comes to mind.The Prospects show they aired with Gamboa was a nice change of pace but they Imo really got abit carried away in the Hype and putting the cart before the horse.They have gone away from full fledged After Dark Cards most of the time,our co-feature is last weeks PPV main event.They are indeed about pushing the big names and the mis matches are nothing new....although not the norm.DelaHoya Vs.Charpentier and Hopkins Vs.Hakkar...etc.

[superheavyrhun]

I must admit, I was expecting something a little more dramatic than this when I saw the title of the thread. To be honest, for those outside the United States, for the most part, won't really know too much about HBO, and as long as someone screens the biggest fights, I doubt those outside the states will pay that much attention.

For those outside the US, is HBO still the biggest boxing broadcaster in the States, or has it become a divided market now? Showtime is another channel that pops to my mind...but only cause it has a computer game named after it.

[Fenster]

HBO has more money than sense.

Mismatches don't work. 50/50 matches do.

There's too many PPVs. You need to invest in the future.

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