By Mark Vester
The constant use of the "save boxing" and "boxing is dying" storylines in the media are not only bothering boxing fans, but the network bigwigs are being agitated as well. Larry Brown on Sports reprinted a recent letter that was sent by Ross Greenburg, President of HBO Sports, to the editor of Sports Illustrated, John Huey.
"I am getting a little tired of your using the “save boxing” story line every time you guys decide to cover the sport, as you did in your story on Kelly Pavlik. If boxing is dying, why did our 24/7 De La Hoya-Mayweather reality series average 4.7 million viewers a week over a four-week period? And how did the fight itself do 2.4 million buys? If boxing is dying, why is the anticipation for Calzaghe vs. Kessler, Cotto vs. Mosley, and Mayweather vs. Hatton so great? I think magazines and newspapers that characterize boxing as dying are trying to rationalize their stubbornness in not covering the sport. Boxing fans are out there in millions. You and others are just not serving their needs. We are.
Ross Greenburg, President, HBO Sports"
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