Showtime: Second to All

Is it me, or is everything about Showtime just totally messed up? Let's start with the fighters. HBO had De La Hoya, Jones Jr., Lennox Lewis, Marco Antonio Barrera, Shane Mosley among others. Who was Showtimes roster last year? Kostya Tszyu, Casamayor, Mike Tyson, Jeff Lacy, and Zab Judah. Showtime has the rejects of boxing as their liineup (Save for Tszyu). Then we go to the announcers. Jim Lampley is simply the greatest boxing announcer since Howard Cossell. He has the classic lines that we all remember, has the modest but still informed voice, he's got it all. Showtime's got that ego centered idiot with that stupid voice that says "Hey, I'm an asshole." HBO has Larry Merchant, a man with a deep boxing background who's been with HBO for many years. He was a writer for a number of boxing publications. While he is a bit of an asshole, he's nothing compared to Jim "I know more than you because you're a stupid boxer" Gray, a man whose only boxing background is that he saw Rocky III. HBO's opening previews of fights evoke great passion for the sport from it's viewers. When they talk about the stakes in the fight, the pride, the bad blood, it's hard to not get swept up. I was watching the Toney-Holyfield opening video, it wasn't emotional or nothing like that. It was corny. In 2004, HBO had many highly anticipated matchups (Hopkins-DLH, Trinidad-Mayorga, Pacquiao-Marquez, Jones-Tarver II). What was the only good fight on Showtime this year? Corrales-Freitas? While bad boxing is better than no boxing, Showtime really needs to shape up their boxing

Comments (16)

dempseyfire

I think Showtime this year has actually taken a step ahead.The very fact that HBO made Klitschko-Williams a PVV ensures they lose 10,000 points . . .the Klitschko-Williamson-Lacey-Vanderpool and Lacey-Sheika cards were much better then what HBO was spewing out for free. Lampley and Mercent are also really getting on my nerves . . I don't know if it's my age (or theirs) but they really damped the broadcasts for me now and I used to like them . . .

21y ago

Drunken_Cat

I agree that HBO is way better then Show in terms of announcers and broadcast but I think Showtime consistently has much better fights. Every once in a while they'll have a great one (like Morales-Barrera, etc.) but their are way too many sleepers and mismatches (like Joppy-Taylor). IMO, Castillo-Cassamayor, Lacy-Shieka, Elders-Burton, and Peters-Williams were better then all of HBO's recent fights except Morrales-Barrera and maybe Johnson-Tarver. Also, Showtime has Rocky Juarez and Samuel Peter on there list of prospects aswell.

21y ago

QueenCity

Showtime is nowhere near as good as HBO quality wise, but there fight cards have been getting better and better. They already have Corrales/Castillo and Judah/Spinks II booked for next year and thats all they need to do for me to be happy with them.

21y ago

Mr_Ryan

I think Jeff Lacy vs. Jermaine Taylor will be the "Jones/Hopkins" fight in about five years. Not the Jones/Hopkins fight that happened, but the one that would have been huge pay-per-view in 2002/2003 if Jones wasn't running scared. It would be entertaining, but Taylor is simply too good a boxer. How durable is he is now the question.

21y ago

neils7147933

I mean by that, as a great fantasy fight that the public actually wants to see, but one that probably doesn't come off.

21y ago

neils7147933

21y ago

Mr_Ryan

I disagree. ShoBox has better announcers, no commercials, and better talent, at least in the main events. That's against "normal" FNF's, not the recent special events with Juarez, Diaz, etc. But FNF has the boxing news, used to have regularly scheduled cards, and had special guests in the studio.

21y ago

Mr_Ryan

Jeff Lacy, Mike Arnaoutis might, though. Probably not, though.

21y ago

Miguel_Cotto_X_23

I dont really like Showtime..........

21y ago

neils7147933

FNF is way better than Shobox. I disagree. ShoBox has better announcers, no commercials, and better talent, at least in the main events. That's against "normal" FNF's, not the recent special events with Juarez, Diaz, etc.

21y ago

neils7147933

Yes, but HBO has invested in the future with Jermain Taylor, Miguel Cotto, and a slew of other young fighters. Shobox hasn't been all that hot this year. Rico Hoye and Paul Malignaggi will not compete with Taylor and Cotto. Jeff Lacy, Mike Arnaoutis might, though.

21y ago

Mr_Ryan

Well Showtime is WAYY better than ESPN FNF is way better than Shobox.

21y ago

Mr_Ryan

DLH, Roy, Bernard, Gatti are all in the twilight of their careers. If there's not any shuffling, Showtime could be in front before too long. Especially if they retain the guys that come up on Shobox. Yes, but HBO has invested in the future with Jermain Taylor, Miguel Cotto, and a slew of other young fighters. Shobox hasn't been all that hot this year. Rico Hoye and Paul Malignaggi will not compete with Taylor and Cotto.

21y ago

neils7147933

I like what Showtime's doing but it's not 50/50 yet until Showtime ups the production values and replaces Steve Albert as their play-by-play guy. I actually like Farhood as a color guy and I like Bernstein too. I wonder if a 3-man team like HBO would go well. Would probably depend on the play-by-play anchor. For free fights, though, Showtime had the best bouts of the year if not the biggest names. HBO's got a lot going on on the PPV, though, Showtime only had one all year.

21y ago

Mr_Ryan

Showtime is 50/50 with HBO....Showtime has Corrales,Casamayor,Jeff Lacy,Kostya,Zab,Tyson,Mighty Mike plus prospects,Hatton and Spinks(ect) and their fights are free 50/50? 50/50?

21y ago

neils7147933

Showtime took a few steps forward last year, HBO some steps back... HBO still's ahead of Showtime and will be until Showtime throws more money out for its fights. Right now, when Showtime fighters get good enough HBO just throws more money at them. Sam Peter's rumored to be on the Mayweather undercard. Acelino Freitas fights on HBO next year. I wouldn't be surprised if they've contacted Calzaghe and Hatton, too, since Showtime's let their last few fights go. DLH, Roy, Bernard, Gatti are all in the twilight of their careers. If there's not any shuffling, Showtime could be in front before too long. Especially if they retain the guys that come up on Shobox.

21y ago