'The Fight Game' Returns Tonight In New Monthly Format
By Francisco Salazar
When you mention “The Fight Game” to boxing fans, you will probably get two responses.
There are those who enjoy watching the show that features spectacular knockout videos, in-depth commentary, and the “Gatti List.”
Then there are those who are critical of the biased opinions from the repeat guests of the show.
The show, which premiered on HBO in 2012, has a lot of promise and, with host and executive producer Jim Lampley at the helm, the show is bound to get better.
The show premieres for the fall season tonight at 11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT on HBO. It will be the first of four consecutive episodes to run monthly. After tonight’s episode, the next one will air on October 28, followed by November 19, and the last one of 2014 on December 23.
Those who have enjoyed the show have expressed their desire that the show tape and air episodes more frequently. Even Lampley has desired to tape more episodes, but he had to wait from the suits at HBO to give him the okay.
“I would love to have always been doing the show once a month,” Lampley told Boxingscene.com in a recent interview while attending a fight card in the San Diego area. “The network needed some time to develop the program, see how the audience is going to respond from episode to episode, and does it matter whether we have fights in the ring that tie directly to what I'm doing on the show, or does the show stand alone and I think ultimately the returns on all that are positive for ‘The Fight Game.’ And positive enough that the network now understands we can put the show on every month.
“There's going to be an audience, it doesn't matter whether it ties directly to the fights that we're putting on the air. This is a general boxing news show for the whole boxing audience. It's all right for Lampley to talk about what's happening on Showtime or other networks and it isn't going to hurt us. All of that had to be exhibited over a period of time, to get us to the point where we are now.”
Lampley has had a long history behind the mic or in front of a camera. He has hosted or worked 15 Olympic Games for NBC and has called football games for ABC and NBC. Casual and hardcore boxing fans though know Lampley from his over 25 years of calling fights on HBO.
Lampley has called some of the memorable fights on HBO, including James “Buster” Douglas’ knockout win over Mike Tyson, George Foreman’s come-from-behind knockout victory over Michael Moorer, and the Arturo Gatti-Mickey Ward trilogy.
While the politics of boxing have casted a negative shadow in the sport, recent developments have brought about optimism, especially to Lampley.
“I'm really excited because we're coming back on the air at a moment when there's a lot to talk about. There's been some very significant shifts in the promoter landscape that lead us to hope, at least, that we're going to be seeing better competition and more matchmaking of fighters from separate promoters. With that as a starting point for discussion, with (Gennady) Golovkin coming to Southern California the following month and a lot of excitement about that, with Bernard Hopkins having broken the mold once again to cross the 'Cold War' line and agree to fight (Sergey) Kovalev. It's a really great time for the sport and I'm thrilled that we're getting back on the air to talk about all that on ‘The Fight Game.’”
One noteworthy event that has caused a stir in boxing is the recent meetings promoters Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya have had as of late.
Ironically, both will be guests on tonight’s broadcast. While Chris Mannix, Max Kellerman, and Roy Jones have been guests on the show in the past, it may be intriguing to have different guests come on the air, especially in light of what Arum and De La Hoya are interested in doing in possibly co-headlining cards in the future.
“I haven't had that many interviews on the show recently because of the 'Cold War.' But now, we're back in the position to talk to Oscar (De La Hoya). I'm going to be looking forward to talking to Oscar. Back in the position to talk to Bob (Arum) without worrying about whether we're talking to other promoters at the same time. And these things are going to help to continue to build a bridge to viewers and give them a picture of the entire sport that helps them to appreciate what we put on the air.”
“The Fight Game” may not be for every person, or every boxing fan. But it has the potential to get better with each episode.
Lampley has listened to the criticisms from boxing fans and media alike and will likely take necessary steps to ensure boxing fans get a well-produced show.
Whether it is showing a Gennady Golovkin knockout, an updated “Gatti’s List,” or banter with some of the most recognize people in the sport, there will be plenty to talk about from topics from the show.
“(We) provide the up-to-date information that fight fans need to appreciate what they're going to see in the next couple of months, whether it's on our network or elsewhere and go from there.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Salazar also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, RingTV, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing
