We need less PPVs

KNan18y ago

As an avid boxing fan, my spirits are high as this year comes to a close. It's been a great year for boxing, and 2008 promises only more excitement for the fans. But when I say it's been a good year for boxing, I mean boxing only. In the business aspect of the sport, it is as unorganized as ever. Even though I'm a fan of boxing (or maybe because of it), I can admit that the sport has been shooting itself in the foot because of the not-so-savvy business decisions made by promoters and fighters. The sport's popularity has been on the slide for years now, and the root cause is simple: Too many pay-per-views! Imagine if all of the playoff games in football were on the NFL Network exclusively. A scary thought, right? Well, that nightmare is a reality in boxing, and it's happening because promoters are trying to get the fast money that can be made off of suckers like me (who actually buy the PPVs). You need proof? Consider the fact that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been the reigning pound for pound champion since early 2004. Despite this, most people hadn't heard his name until he was matched against Oscar Delahoya in May of this year. That's because Mayweather's last 5 fights had been on PPV. If the people involved in boxing ever want it to grow a larger fan base, then they'll have to allow the sport to be more accessible. Pay-Per-Views may bring in 'fast money' from the diehard fans, but it's only that: Fast money. In the long run, it will hurt boxing, because less new fans will be drawn to the sport. We don't exactly have young teenagers walking around with 55 bucks to put down on a PPV. And even if they did have it, why would they? They're not familiar with any of the fighters. So here are some parting words to the boxing bigwigs: Get your priorities straight. Because even though there are a few suckers like me here to loyally spend those 55 bucks, we won't always be around.

Comments (20)

brently1979

I think we should have PPVs, but not 55 bucks. And I think there should be more of them. I'd pay 10 bucks to watch a young, talented fighter like Juan Diaz any day. But paying 55 so that guys like Oscar can put on a less than stellar 12 round performance (first 7 not bad) and still make 40 million dollars, while other, better fighters are making chicken feed, sucks, imo. I hear what your saying with this post. I think more people would throw down 10 -20 to watch great fights more often than spending 50 watch one fight, because the last few undercards haven't really been that good. Best undercard this year was for Solis vs Pac imo and that was a cheap PPV.

18y ago

Haterfree

The UFC establishes a string of basic cable fights so that we actually KNOW who the fighters are, when they fight on PPV. But when you put our biggest fighters behind the ppvs for their fights, how are we supposed to follow them? Buy the Dam PPV! If you really wanna see it & when King & Arum try to throw BS cards at us like Vargas/Mayorga or Rahman/Maskaev dont buy that shit. When is the last time you saw Chuck Liddell fight for free? But you never hear the UFC fans complain so much.

18y ago

Darkstar

We have let boxers out price each other. No way could a boxing match happen on network or cable TV, when one fighter wants 8 million and the other 5.

18y ago

kayjay

We don't need boxing on network television. Hell, MOnday Night Football isn't on network television. This is backwards thinking.

18y ago

KNan

The PPV isn't the big deal out of it all. The thing is, we need boxing on major american channels. Not on ESPN once a week. We need it on major channels like NBC or ABC like the guy above me said. That's the biggest difference between boxing now, and boxing 10-20 years ago. You could actually see a guy move up and go through the rankings. Fans warmed up to him now. Now, all of the good fighters like Berto are hidden on undercards of major bouts. Or on shitty ESPN cards that no one watches anyway. Just my take. Well, if we would need them on Network television, we'd have to get them off PPVs, right? Then they are a big deal.

18y ago

2501

Pavik/Taylor 2 would be incredible on nbc or abc. as long as they promote it right and provide the backstory so that the viewing audience can familiarize themselves with the drama, shit would be fantastical.

18y ago

KNan

The 'unknowledgable' fans is just what you're asking for. Right now boxing is a cult phenomenon. I'm ok with that for the most part. But a biogger fanbase means more casual fans, not more internet addicts like us. I'm asking for fans. Not some kid who watches SportsCenter to get his boxing knowledge. That's the root problem: it's not accessible to these kids. I mean, 99% of the time you're not gonna go outta your way to get into a sport. You'll come across it when your channell surfing. But that's way less likely to happen with boxing.

18y ago

kayjay

18y ago

deevel79

RJJ/Tito is a complete fucking ripoff. They have the nerve to charge us $50 for 2 have-been's? Its a disgrace.

18y ago

KNan

No shit.......that's wy I don't order any. It's also annoying when your at the bar and people are talking shit that they know nothing about... "Oscar is going to kill Floyd he is too big" REALEST SHIT EVER. I'm so sick of these unknowledgable kids that just use the vague shit they know to argue. Word....... But I'm not going to stop buying them. Yup.. that's why I said 'suckers like me'...

18y ago

kayjay

Word....... But I'm not going to stop buying them.

18y ago

KNan

If I wanna see a fight & it cost $55. Im going to buy it. Its 2007 what the fuck is $55? Im spending $300 a month on gas bills! These guys are risking their life for my viewing pleasure. The UFC throws a $40 PPV at you every dam month. I never hear their fans complain so much. The UFC establishes a string of basic cable fights so that we actually KNOW who the fighters are, when they fight on PPV. But when you put our biggest fighters behind the ppvs for their fights, how are we supposed to follow them?

18y ago

Feint

My problem is two-fold: I can't afford to pay for every big fight but I also don't believe in watching it illegally, so the end result is that I have to wait to watch them.

18y ago

Haterfree

how come your gas bill is so expensive? Im counting fuel cost for my vehicles & the utility bills.

18y ago

feedthegoat

18y ago

Haterfree

18y ago

feedthegoat

how come the ppv was a lot more expensive in the us than here in britain? I paid 15 pound for hatton vs floyd yet it was 55 dollars in the us which is about 27 pound also ppv dont really harm a boxer, Ricky has always thought on sky sports which is basically a subscription channel but he has the biggest fan base of any boxer in the world

18y ago

yidish_pugilist

if mayweather-hatton were on abc or fox or espn, the viewing would have been like the superbowl.

18y ago

warp1432

The only problem is if ABC or whoever goes along with mainstream boxing what will happen to the "boring" fighters. I'm sure ABC won't want to show any Winky Wright fights or Bernard Hopkins fights because they are defensive minded. I guess they showed these fighters back in the day, but Americans are more "KNOCKOUTS!11" nowadays anyway. Will people find these bouts entertaining?

18y ago

KNan

Some of these PPVs are getting out of hand. Most of the Top Rank PPVs I wouldnt watch if they paid me. Kaynan thats cool for a school paper but I doubt many will understand the way of the fight game. Top Rank is always on some BS. And yeah, I know it'll probably go over a lot of heads, but I just hope they'll get the overall message. Thanks for your input.

18y ago