Recession and Kimbo May Slice Pavlik-Taylor PPV

by TK Stewart

 

BANGOR, MAINE - With the U.S. economy teetering on the cliffs of recession and "Internet sensation" Kimbo Slice facing Tank Abbott on Showtime tomorrow night, the promoters of Saturday's rematch between middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor might have a tough sell on their hands.

 

The Pavlik versus Taylor fight is being broadcast by HBO Pay-Per-View, but it comes with a hefty price tag of $49.95. 

 

In a slowing economy, with high energy prices, inflation and the threat of lay-offs looming on the horizon for many, most middle-class folks have either made the choice or been forced to cut back on the "extras".

 

While the Pavlik vs. Taylor rematch is an attractive match-up, most fans thirsty for punching and short on cash may instead choose to tune into Showtime for the "free" night of fights featuring Kimbo Slice vs. Tank Abbott and bypass the high cable bill that would accompany the purchase of Pavlik vs. Taylor.    

 

"That's the problem with boxing," said a fight fan enjoying an early Tuesday afternoon drink inside the dark and rough "New Waverly Bar" in Bangor, Maine.  "It costs too much to watch the fights and be a fan.  I can't afford fifty bucks, plus tax, mind you, to watch these guys.  Hell, that's half a tank of gas in this day and age."

 

And the sentiment was much the same among a group of boxing fans inside the New Waverly.  Eager to see someone get punched in the head, but not so eager to part with their hard earned greenbacks, they've all decided that the price of pay-per-view boxing has caused them to seek out their appetite for violence elsewhere.

 

"Look, my son has HBO," barks Tom Lawless, a former Marine boxer from the 1960's and a feisty old boxing trainer with an attitude like a junkyard dog.  "I can watch the damn fight next weekend on HBO.  What I'd be payin' the fifty bucks for is three undercard fights with a bunch of little guys from Mexico that I ain't never heard of.  You gotta' be kiddin' me."

 

As boxing struggles to retain an aging audience and continues to price a majority of the population out of following the sport, the mixed martial arts has made major inroads with the younger demographic.  With snappy marketing programs, a focused message geared toward a target audience and with more violence than boxing - that is often passive in comparison - MMA is furiously chipping away at boxing's fan base.

 

"I can't wait for tomorrow night," says 14 year-old Larry Hatt.  It's a chilly February afternoon as he patiently waits to take his on turn on the ramp at the local skateboard park.  "I've been watching Kimbo Slice on the Internet since I can remember and Tank Abbott is one of the big names.  I can't wait to see these guys Saturday night.  Me and a bunch of my friends are going to have a party, play video games and then watch Kimbo."

 

Kimbo Slice (real name Kevin Ferguson) is a 34 year-old former streetfighter from Miami, Florida who became hugely popular when his backyard brawls were videotaped and then found their way onto the Internet.  Slice was eventually recruited into the world of mixed martial arts and last June he  defeated former Olympic gold medalist and WBO Heavyweight boxing champion Ray Mercer with a choke hold in an MMA rules fight.  The fight, as it was, lasted only 72 seconds, and with his catchy name, frightening looks and primitive reputation, Slice's popularity is at a high point.

 

When the old crew enjoying drinks at the New Waverly were asked if they had ever heard of Kimbo Slice or Tank Abbott, they said they hadn't.  But they had seen some mixed martial arts fights on cable and were intrigued by the violence of it all. 

 

"It's just like streetfightin'," commented Stan O'Leary, a Vietnam veteran who lives on a fixed income in an apartment just around the corner from the bar.  "I kinda like it, but I've always liked boxing more.  Once them guys gets rasslin' 'round on the floor, though, I switch the channel." 

 

O'Leary, who lost his job a few years ago when one of the two local paper mills shut down, says he hasn't watched a boxing match on pay-per-view "in years" but would like to if he could afford it.  "I get about eight-hun'red a month and rent is five," explains O'Leary.  "So it don't take a math person to figure out fifty bucks is a lot of money to me, so I can't afford them pay-per-views."

 

O'Leary, who doesn't own a computer, says keeps up with his boxing news by reading about it in boxing magazines and watching ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.  He says he knows of Pavlik and Taylor but has only seen them fight on ESPN2, "And that was years ago." 

 

O'Leary says he thinks the country is "in deep trouble" economically and he can only dream of days past when the paper mills were full of men and his pockets were full of money.  "Look around here," he says.  "There's nothin' anymore."   

 

At the skateboard park, as the sun sinks below the horizon, Larry Hatt and his posse of fellow "boarders" put their winter coats back on and try to warm up their cold hands.

 

When asked what they think of the Kelly Pavlik versus Jermain Taylor fight, they just look at each other and giggle uncertainly. "I don't think any of us know who they are," says Hatt, who admits he has never watched a boxing match.  "And even if we did,  my old man wouldn't give me fifty bucks for something like that.  He suspended my weekly allowance until spring so we can keep oil in the tank and stay warm at night."