By Jake Donovan

“You follow drugs, you get drug addicts and drug dealers. But you start to follow the money, and you don't know where the f*** it's gonna take you.”

More than 12 years after Clarke Peters’ famed character Lester Freamon spit such logic during the first season of The Wire, the Nevada State Athletic Commission decided to follow THE Money - Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather - down the rabbit hole during its monthly agenda hearing in September. The commentary that followed – and the commission’s nod of approval accompanying such statements – called into question basically everyone and everything involved in Mayweather’s career. 

The session was as ridiculous as it was shocking. And in a year best remembered for what didn’t happen, it winds up as the 2014’s Event of the Year, as seen by BoxingScene.com.

Any given major event on HBO and Showtime – and particularly their PPV arms – is accompanied by a documentary-style preview in the preceding weeks. HBO has 24/7, its long-running series which was first used to chronicle the lives of Mayweather and Oscar de la Hoya prior to their record-breaking PPV event in May ’07. Showtime’s ‘All Access’ series has historically dug deeper, from the pre-fight buildup all the way to its Epilogue episodes capturing the aftermath of big events.

According to the man who starred in more series than any other fighter, though, it’s all a fairy tale.

That part was hardly a mystery to boxing fans, who’ve long ago recognized the shows as more reality TV than actual reality.

What was baffling to the industry – even by its already incredibly low standards – was that the Nevada State Athletic Commission accepted it as a suitable response when Mayweather was asked to appear before the panel on September 23, 2014. His presence was required to explain events to have taken place detrimental to his stance as a newly licensed promoter in the state of Nevada.

The session came 10 days after Mayweather scored a repeat win over Marcos Maidana at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The event was hardly in high demand, other than coming on the heels of Mayweather’s most competitive fights in years, when he was forced to dig deep to scratch out a majority decision win in May.

But the thought of Maidana repeating the magic that was produced in May on its own wasn’t enough to sell the rematch. Nor was the mere mention of Mayweather’s name, as the boxing pay-per-view market as a whole continues to decline. No, the rematch needed additional bells and whistles in order to draw in the public.

The solution? Sensationalize all events on All Access: Mayweather/Maidana… or so went the official explanation offered.

Questions were asked by the commission, who expressed concern over Mayweather – who was armed with estranged adviser Leonard Elllerbe and attorney Shane Emerick - not recognizing the additional responsibility that comes with being a licensed promoter. The panel went out of its way to explain to Mayweather that it wasn’t a courtroom trial but simply an open discussion to help clear up concerns.

From there, the stories flowed.

The depiction of drug use by entourage members was dismissed as merely stage props for the sake of shock value to home viewers.

Mayweather Boxing Club playing host to unsafe ring activity and carrying the unofficial slogan of “The Dog House - The rules are, you fight ‘til whoever quits”? It was all made up, despite video proof to the contrary. So too was the on-screen gambling on such events in the gym.

The only thing Mayweather and his team would own up to was the possibility of unlicensed fighters training at the gym, to which Ellerbe was warned by the commission to ensure  that all participants’ credentials are confirmed before training in the gym and in the ring.

By session’s end, the commission thanked Mayweather for his time, informed the fighter/promoter that he handled himself well, and even went so far as to call him a ‘hero.’ Mayweather escaped with nary a scratch, though the same cannot be said for Showtime and the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

To this day, the event remains a running joke to many in the industry. In a year that felt like one big lie in terms of what the industry is supposed to represent, the proceedings on September 23 in Las Vegas take the cake – as well as the distinction of being remembered as 2014 Event of the Year.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY EVENTS RECEIVING STAFF VOTES :

Mayweather-Maidana I

The event may have fallen short of financial expectations, but the night itself was one of the most entertaining fights of Mayweather’s storied career.

At no point during their two fights did Maidana show any fear of the pound-for-pound and box office king. The possibility of losing never entered the Argentine’s mind, trading barbs with Mayweather throughout the promotions and trading blows with the reigning welterweight and super welterweight champion from the opening bell in their May clash.

The near-capacity crowd at the MGM Grand was on its feet from the opening bell, and all viewers tuned in sitting on edge in anticipation of a potential – and major – upset. Mayweather eventually found his way, boxing well enough down the stretch to avert disaster, but with Maidana proving ever so valiant in defeat.

It was perhaps sad that the event didn’t pan out to become a blockbuster event, because for once, fans were given their money’s worth in the end.

Froch-Groves II Packs Wembley Stadium

From the moment referee Howard John Foster panicked and cut short their dramatic first fight in November, anticipation was abuzz for whenever Carl Froch and George Groves could settle the score once and forever.

Promoter Eddie Hearn immediately went to work, securing what would become the most anticipated rematch of 2014 and by far the biggest event in England in recent memory. Ticket sales were in such high demand that event handlers opened up Wembley Stadium from its original configuration of 60,000, with the rematch ultimately drawing a UK-attendance record 77,000 paying patrons.

The night turned out to be the highest grossing UK-based event in history, and also producing a conclusive outcome. Froch once again had to overcome difficult times to eventually catch up to his old rival, this time decisively knocking him out to remain relevant deep into a potentially Hall of Fame-worthy career.

Golden Boy Promotions Implosion

Had the company either completely bottomed out, or rebounded all the way to the point of taking over the industry, this very well could have landed as the story of the year.

Plans for Golden Boy Promotions to serve as the ultimate front for Al Haymon’s master plan to create a league of his own were ultimately foiled upon the falling out between Oscar de la Hoya – founder and president – and longtime CEO Richard Schaefer. The dispute began with an extreme difference of opinion on de la Hoya deciding to open up talks with Bob Arum, his former promoter during his fighting days and the company’s longtime rival.

Schaefer openly scoffed at the move, more so because he felt de la Hoya was betraying promises made to company shareholders as well as cable network Showtime, with whom they enjoyed a near-exclusive relationship to that point after having brought nearly its entire stable across the street.

The stuff hit the fan on June 2, when Schaefer was forced to resign from his CEO position, though remaining under contract while the two sides battle in court over just how long he’s legally bound to Golden Boy Promotions. Upon Schaefer’s departure came a series of employee terminations, with de la Hoya serving notice by severing ties with anyone in company considered to be on the Schaefer side of the equation, or who simply didn’t co-sign on his vision for the future.

To de la Hoya’s credit, Golden Boy remains an industry leader despite the major shakeup at its top level and also despite a social media-documented feud between de la Hoya and Showtime’s Stephen Espinoza. Whereas most companies would have simply folded – or has become the case, turn over its stable to Haymon or another entity – Golden Boy not only remains strong, but doing business with multiple entities rather than any longer putting its eggs in one basket. 

Golden Boy-Top Rank/HBO Reconciliation

This time last year, these very pages recognized the split between HBO and Golden Boy as one of 2013’s most notable events. The last Golden Boy fighter to headline on HBO was Bernard Hopkins, which made it only fitting that boxing’s toughest fighting gray beard was the first headlining fighter to cross back across the street.

The wheels were put in motion several months prior, when de la Hoya extended an olive branch to former promoter (during his Hall of Fame-enshrined boxing career) Bob Arum. The move led to an internal rift within Golden Boy Promotions, with the rest of the events chronicled above.

From there, the love affairs were rekindled with everyone de la Hoya used to do business with. Hopkins’ return to HBO – albeit in a one-sided losing effort to Sergey Kovalev in November – was accompanied by Sadam Ali (Golden Boy) and Luis Carlos Abregu (Top Rank) in the first Golden Boy vs. Top Rank matchup not involving a purse bid in more than three years.

The event was followed up by another pairing between companies, when Jose Benavidez edged out Mauricio Herrera in a questionable split decision in December, which also aired on HBO.

The biggest piece of news to come of the move back to HBO came in September, when Golden Boy announced that Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez was returning back to the network. The move came following a five-fight stint with Showtime for the once-beaten Mexican superstar, signing to a long-term contract with HBO in a deal that calls for appearances on both pay-per-view and its flagship station.

Light Heavyweight Love(/Hate) Triangle

The year began with the belief that World light heavyweight king Adonis Stevenson – 2013’s Fighter of the Year – and unbeaten titlist Sergey Kovalev were on course for a blockbuster showdown in the fall.

By year’s end, the boxing world was given its big light heavyweight event – except that it was Kovalev facing Bernard Hopkins in a three-belt unification bout.

Stevenson threw the industry for a loop by signing with Al Haymon and taking his business to Showtime, thus killing any chance for a promised showdown with Kovalev, who had just signed an exclusive contract with HBO.

The result of that move was a lawsuit filed by Kovalev and promoter Main Events, while Stevenson and Showtime eyed a clash with Hopkins, for three belts AND the lineal championship.

Hopkins and Stevenson did their part, winning separate fights in April and May to move forward with tentative plans for an in-ring date in September. But as negotiations lingered and pressure was placed on Hopkins to decide either on a unification bout or a mandatory showdown, the wily veteran threw a curveball by surfacing in early August, announcing that a deal was struck with Kovalev for a November 8 title fight, marking his return to HBO following a two-fight stint on Showtime.

In the end, Stevenson was left with two stay busy fights on the year, with a combined televised audience totaling less than his least-watched fight on HBO in 2013.

Hopkins was soundly outfought over 12 rounds, suffering the worst loss of his incredible 26-year career, but gained the respect of the boxing industry first for accepting the fight and then braving the beating he took.

Kovalev was hailed as a hero, his willingness to take on all comers (proven once again when he agreed to terms for a March 14 showdown with Jean Pascal on the road in Canada) as admirable as his in-ring presence has proven dominant – and enough to provide the light heavyweight division with a savior at a point when all hope seemed to be lost.

Dueling 12/13 Events in Las Vegas

The competing shows less than 10 minutes from one another in Vegas on December 13 wasn’t quite as eventful as what took place two years prior, but HBO and Showtime managed to once again split the industry down the middle in the boxing capital of the world. Both shows involved de la Hoya, who was present and ringside at The Cosmopolitan AND the MGM Grand, doing his best to dispel the notion that you can’t be in two places at once.

The HBO card was memorable for the right and wrong reasons, featuring plenty of action in its televised tripleheader but also with two of its three bouts – including the main event between Tim Bradley and Diego Chaves - producing questionable judging.

Showtime’s card was far less eventful on the controversy front, and perhaps on the action side, but the night emerged with Amir Khan pleading his case to land a future fight with Mayweather after turning away Devon Alexander over 12 rounds.

BOXINGSCENE.COM 2014 AWARDS SEASON

Network of the Year: HBO

Comeback of the Year: Rocky Juarez

Prospect of the Year: Anthony Joshua

Event of the Year:  Mayweather/NSAC

Fighter of the Year: Naoya Inoue

Knockout of the Year: To be announced Thursday, January 1st

Round of the Year: To be announced Friday, January 2nd (along with Robbery of the Year)

Robbery of the Year: To be announced Friday, January 2nd (along with Round of the Year)

Event of the Year: To be announced Saturday, January 3rd

Fighter of the Year: To be announced Sunday, January 4th

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board, Yahoo Boxing Ratings Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox