Isn't it wrong for HBO/Showtime to not broadcast Heavyweight Championship fights?

[Mintcar923]

Even though the Klits are not the most exciting heavyweights the networks are contributing to the downfall of boxing even moreso by not broadcasting their fights. If you look at history there was always an exciting era that followed the somewhat dull one. And why all the hate for the current champs? Lennox Lewis was foreign and wasn't the most exciting championship fighter. They didn't pull that stuff on him...

[Scott9945]

I expect HBO and Showtime to act in what they perceive as their own best interests. They are in business to make money. Why isn't it wrong for ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN, etc. not to show those fights?

[Ray Corso]

Teres NO interest in a fighter who can't promote himself or his fights! So why pay to promote him? Is he worth signing a 2 or 3 fight package? Are there attractive opponents to match him against for a packaged deal? It would be nice for the HvyChamp to be in Vegas or Madison Sq. Garden but theres simply no interest in him. I don't think it has anything to do with not being an American I think it has to do with personalities! If it were 1980 and Don King had him under contract everyone would be interested in him as long as he could finish off opponents he's supposed to finish off. You have to remember your selling an event and the vast majority of the watchers don't know a damn thing about boxing they just know the Big Boys are fighting and theres a Title on the line. It used to be an Event, not just a bout! People like the Gossens and the old Aurum just don't have the character to get it done. The Duvas and Aurums and Kings are all gone now just like Ali and the ticket sellers from that era. The Color is gone and boxing goes as the Heavyweight class goes!! Thats why without Pac and Floyd theres a handfull of lil guys who are always great fighters but they can't sell the big ticket! Shame! Ray

[Mastrangelo]

I think it's more wrong on their part to not matching some quality contenders on their air. I remember back in days HBO had some all-heavyweight events with couple fights between contenders, like this one:
http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=324285
Klitschkos are getting great money in Europe so American TV's not broadcasting their fights aren't really hurting them all that much, as everyone wants to fight them anyway, but because contenders can't count on even decent paydays for dangerous fights, they will not take risk and fight better fighters, because it's not worth it. That's what's making the division pretty dead.

[poet682006]

Originally Posted by Mintcar923

Even though the Klits are not the most exciting heavyweights the networks are contributing to the downfall of boxing even moreso by not broadcasting their fights. If you look at history there was always an exciting era that followed the somewhat dull one. And why all the hate for the current champs? Lennox Lewis was foreign and wasn't the most exciting championship fighter. They didn't pull that stuff on him...

If anything HBO and Showtime are SAVING boxing by saving the viewing public from being exposed to the greatest cure for insomnia since the invention of cyanide. I can't think of a better way to turn off viewers to boxing than to broadcast those two colossal bores and their bottom feeding trash bag opponents.

Poet

[nomadman]

Originally Posted by Mintcar923

Even though the Klits are not the most exciting heavyweights the networks are contributing to the downfall of boxing even moreso by not broadcasting their fights. If you look at history there was always an exciting era that followed the somewhat dull one. And why all the hate for the current champs? Lennox Lewis was foreign and wasn't the most exciting championship fighter. They didn't pull that stuff on him...

Lennox might not have been as exciting as someone like, say, Evander or Bowe, but he was a hell of a lot more exciting than Wlad, whose fights are almost painful to watch nowadays. Lennox at least took punchbags out in style when he had to fight them, and didn't clinch like a limpet every time his opponents closed distance. And he could also throw things called "uppercuts" and "bodyshots", two punches which don't seem to be in Wladimir Klitschko's repertoire.

You think it's hate on the part of HBO for not showing him? Hell no, it's sound business sense. The same business sense that Wlad's said to use when he stretches out fights to maximise his revenue from advert breaks. If Wlad wants to get back on HBO he only needs to start fighting something like he used to pre-Sanders/Brewster, y'know back when he used to be a little bit exciting? It wouldn't even pose much of a risk for him given the lack of dangermen in the division, and it'd raise his standing in the average American/British fan's eyes by leaps and bounds.

At the moment it's sound business sense all round. Wlad makes money in mainland Europe carrying stiffs for rounds, HBO makes money showing flawed action fighters and American hypejobs. No real incentive to change that.