According to btalk, Forrest says it's a done deal for July 28 to pair with the rebroadcast of Hopkins-Winky. Wow, pairing what could be, for a lack of a more demeaning term, a snoozefest (Hopkins and Winky are my favorite fighters, but this fight isn't going to get boxing any new fans) with Forrest-Baldomir?
Is HBO really PAYING for this or are Forrest and Baldy's people PAYING them to air this? I have no problem with the fight in of itself, but as a featured main event on a WCB telecast, or even BAD, which is supposed to feature twentysomethings, not 30+ yr-olds who are past their best? Incredible. I wish they would have put this on the undercard with Larios-Linares and Ishe-Ouma, but of course the PPV is a GBP-only event.
There has to be something more to this--either Forrest is being delusional or it's simply a co-feature to something much better (I hope)...
I don't think either guy is a bum, but you have to admit they are both past their best, and neither is knocking down the door for a world title at this point. I think the (in)significance of this fight as far as the championship picture combined with their current career status makes this an unappealing match-up for a main event-type national stage.
Again, if this were a co-feature, or if there will be another live fight on the card that is solid, I will retract my comment about "a new low for HBO." I think I'm just upset with what HBO has (and hasn't) been doing for boxing.
On one hand you have great fights they've helped make like Pavlik-Miranda, Miranda-Green and last year putting Wright-Taylor on WCB instead of PPV, but for every good thing like those, there's your Wlad-Austin, Calzaghe-Manfredo and Taylor-Ouma/Wright-Quartey.
It's frustrating...and with Showtime taking a step back this year as well, in addition to all the UFC-loving going on, it's a bit depressing.
Its a little stupid how both of these guys are looked upon as bums. Sure Forrest isn't himself of late. But he has wins over Mosley (2x) and Quartey. Baldomir has wins over Judah, Gatti (KO), and Clottey. World class competition. Against eachother for free? Hell, I'd say it'd be great. Both exciting fighters
Baldomir by UD in a good fight.
Forrest UD in a boring fight.
What about the style matchup says it will be boring.
Whenever there is a solid boxer involved, u always immediatly say the fight will be boring.
Baldomir is an exciting fighter if you ask me. He'll make it an entertaining fight
I'd personally rather see a fight like Baldomir-Forrest than some of the mismatches HBO has put over the years.
Yeah me as well, some of the mismatches they have had this year have been embarassing(Wlad/Austin). It seems like this could be an exciting fight and one that the fans could enjoy even though they both may be at the end of their respective roads.
Stylisticly I think this is a good matchup for both men. I can't wait for this fight. Is it still a WBC LMW Title Eliminator? If so that is ridiculous. If Baldy wins he gets a shot at Mayweather?
Wow, I'm surprised so many of you are on board with this fight and don't mind it being the main event and the only live fight of the night. I, too, think it's an interesting fight, but my point is that this "date", the "dates" of which HBO has only so many available (because they spend way too much money on garbage like Wlad-Austin), is being used on two guys who LIKELY will never again be undisputed champions of any weight class. The fight by itself is fine, and I would expect a decent amount of action, but I just don't know if they couldn't find anything better to use their money on.
Would you rather see Mormeck-Bell III on that date? I would, and I think they deserve it, but with DK prominently involved, I guess there's no chance of that fight happening on HBO anyway.
What about Juan Diaz-Casamayor or Katsidis? Much better options IMO.
I have no problem with the fight in of itself, but as a featured main event on a WCB telecast, or even BAD, which is supposed to feature twentysomethings, not 30+ yr-olds who are past their best?
It's not a big deal. That's nothing new. Mayweather-De La Hoya was two guys in their 30s, one past his prime and the other fighting at a weight class he didn't belong. Hopkins has fought Tarver and now Wright on PPV. There was the Jones-Tarver trilogy, the last two on HBO PPV. Barrera and Marquez are in their 30s.
I'd personally rather see a fight like Baldomir-Forrest than some of the mismatches HBO has put over the years.
It's not that bad.
At least it's not a mismatch.
HBO has put on some terrible mismatches over the years, sometimes even on PPV.
Barrera-Fana?
Barrera-Kelley?
De La Hoya-Campas?
Jones-Kelley?
What the hell is wrong with this? This is a great fight. Then you guys say it shouldnt headline? Why the hell not? Both these guys have done some big things in boxing. Baldy has wins over Clottey, Gatti, & Zab while Forrest has 2 wins over Mosley and a win over Quartey but you guys act like there bums. This is a big time fight. Not only that but a ton of people probally wont by the Hopkins-Wright fight so it is like a double main event. Alot of people will be watching that fight for the 1st time. I think its the perfect thing to do and I see this is a very interesting matchup that I would love to see
I too think it's an interesting fight, but as a stand-alone live fight on an HBO broadcast? That's ludicrous, especially when it's paired with the Hopkins-Winky replay of all things.
I have no problem with this fight as a co-feature on almost any other card, but it's the timing here I'm concerned about. If there's another live fight that night, and it's a good one, I won't be upset at all.
Agreed!
HBO wants to couple Wright vs. Hopkins with Baldy v. Forrest? Who is pulling the strings at HBO?
We have heard it a lot before but HBO needs to get away from giving top fighters long term deals and if they do give them deals like they did with Roy or Wlad or Floyd they need to come in and say this guy is acceptable or this guy is acceptable and thats it and if you dont want to fight one of these two guys then dont fucking fight.
Sure they do this to an extent but they cave way too much, Roy used to get away with murder in terms of picking his oppoenents and Floyd has had some real bullshit fights as well, HBO should stand up and say FUCK YOU...its not like Roy in the past or Floyd in the present could go anywhere else.