Why is HBO starting a war with top rank?

HBO will be only one suffering, this sends a big message to all networks to step up their game or top fighters controlled by TopRank will move elsewhere.

im actually glad hbo is standing up and buying the right fights

Bob Arum is pissed off cus they didnt wanna buy the March 12 fight w/ Cotto, instead they said they want that date for Sergio Martinez. I understand Sergio who is the hotter fighter but cmon Cotto has been w Hbo his whole carreer. They cant just push Martinez to the 19th?..Cotto has given them great ratings through out the years, so now Bob said he will put Cottos fight on PPV and go against HBO that night! this FKN sucks for Boxing It's probably punishment for not making Cotto vs Berto... which I'm sure was the network's first choice.

The only good fights that Arum makes is in the lower weight classes like from 115-118. Outside of that if you give him an inch, he'll take a mile. If he runs the show we'll get fights like Lopez-Kennedy, Gamboa vs. a nobody like Showtime is getting ready to accept. HBO is right for keeping those two off HBO too until they fight each other. As for Cotto-Mayorga I don't think it's a horrible fight and I even give Mayorga a slight chance to beat Cotto because of the size factor and Cotto's iffy stamina. But there were still better opponents Cotto could've fought and not just here recently. He could've fought Angulo like was mentioned before we found out about his illegal status (which Top Rank mouthed off about) and he could've fought Berto. Those guys are better than Mayorga by a mile.

HBO need to be standing up to bullies like Top rank, GBP and Al Haymon, 2011 need to be different and am glad they are taking a stand, Just a pity Cotto is involve.

Bob Arum is pissed off cus they didnt wanna buy the March 12 fight w/ Cotto, instead they said they want that date for Sergio Martinez. I understand Sergio who is the hotter fighter but cmon Cotto has been w Hbo his whole carreer. They cant just push Martinez to the 19th?..Cotto has given them great ratings through out the years, so now Bob said he will put Cottos fight on PPV and go against HBO that night! this FKN sucks for Boxing Huh? HBO wanted Cotto to fight Martinez on March 12, but Arum didn't want to. That's the real reason why Cotto is fighting someone else on PPV.

Bob Arum/Top Rank wants to play solo dolo, refusing to work with fighters who have promoters, wanting to fight in house fights, when Arum finally promises a non in house fight, it's with Shane Mosley, the self proclaimed "promotional free agent" that means Arum can promote the fight as a Top Rank only fight. Only promoter he wants to work with is Don King and that's why were seeing Cotto-Mayorga.

I wouldn't order any PPV just to see Miguel Cotto, it'd have to have some up and coming Puerto Rican prospects for me to buy or even watch that shiit.

HBO wanted Cotto/Angulo in the fall, then someone (Angulos promoter says it was Arum protecting Cotto) blew the whistle on Angulos immigration status. Then they wanted Cotto/Cintron, an all Puerto-Rican fight in NYC or PR in December. Arum declined. Then, and this one HBO really wanted, the Martinez offer came through. Cotto actually loved the idea of this fight and was interested in the challenge to become unified middleweight champ, but once again Arum turned the fight down. The Vanes fight isn't terrible but it's one with a pretty clear Cotto victory. HBO knows that Arum isn't willing to put Cotto in with anyone who poses a real threat, because he doesn't want to lose interest in a PPV Cotto/Marg rematch. Angulo, Cintron, and Martinez are all top-shelf HBO fighters who have appeared on the network 4+ times each. Arum declined all three fights so HBO decided not to waste their money on a Cotto tuneup. In my opinion this is a great, great move by HBO and a sign of good things to come. HBO and Showtime are the ones giving the handouts, why should they let the scumbag "promoters" push them around? Protecting Cotto from someone who fought kermit Cintron and was beaten up pretty badly lol Thank god he turned down a Cintron fight, Cintron is a joke....

Of course would not be willing. Neither fighter is a Golden Boy nor Al Haymon fighter. Cotto-Vanes would have been for 1.5mil. Martinez-TBA depending on who the opponent would have a different budget. Cotto brings in ratings. He maybe done or it might be garbage but he brings in ratings. If you trying to showcase Martinez you want people to watch no? Then why not have him with the who had the highest ratings on HBO boxing last year? HBO paid almost 3mil for the triple header of JMM-Katsidis, Berto-Hernadez, and Caballero-Litzau. They also paid almost 3mil for just Williams-Martinez II(just one fight, not a double header) And, neither of those events did close to the ratings of what Cotto did. And, Martinez-Williams had to get help from the Pac-Margarito replay to get those ratings. For 3mil, you get what you want and that is showcase Martinez possibly against Dzinziruk(which is not a shit fight mind you) and you get guaranteed ratings, viewers with Cotto-Vanes(which is not a shit fight again) Cotto would bring a fan base that might not be familiar with Martinez. See that is a show case. And, not only that it could lead to a possible build up for a potential(don't know how serious) Martinez-Cotto at the end of the year which has been talked about. You really couldn't go wrong with that set up. And, HBO budget is brand new, so they have money. And again they paid almost what would they pay for this double header just last month but this will give them guarantee ratings and will not be garbage fights. But, at the end of the day HBO is not that smart to even try to talk to the promoters about this. Ross Greenburg needs to go, they need a boxing guy. Go bring back Seth Abraham. Martinez made 750K in Williams/Martinez 2. Did Pwill make over 2mil?? I respect what you're saying, but HBO is not going to go so deep into their budget like that so early in the year. Remember they're dishing out over 2 million (probably close to 3 million) for Alexander/Bradley in late January. Just a little over 30 days later, theyre looking to spend half of that on March 12. Also, Cotto is at the end of the road. HBO are not going to just toss over a million dollars on a Cotto tuneup that will just help Bob Arum sell PPVs in the Margarito/Cotto rematch (Remember, PPVs hurt HBO). They wanted him, sure, but they wanted him against Berto (who priced himself out), Angulo, Cintron, or Martinez.

obvsiously HBO wanted martinez/cotto. but cotto/mayorga will blow away the ratings of martinez/dzinzurik

Of course would not be willing. Neither fighter is a Golden Boy nor Al Haymon fighter. Cotto-Vanes would have been for 1.5mil. Martinez-TBA depending on who the opponent would have a different budget. Cotto brings in ratings. He maybe done or it might be garbage but he brings in ratings. If you trying to showcase Martinez you want people to watch no? Then why not have him with the who had the highest ratings on HBO boxing last year? HBO paid almost 3mil for the triple header of JMM-Katsidis, Berto-Hernadez, and Caballero-Litzau. They also paid almost 3mil for just Williams-Martinez II(just one fight, not a double header) And, neither of those events did close to the ratings of what Cotto did. And, Martinez-Williams had to get help from the Pac-Margarito replay to get those ratings. For 3mil, you get what you want and that is showcase Martinez possibly against Dzinziruk(which is not a shit fight mind you) and you get guaranteed ratings, viewers with Cotto-Vanes(which is not a shit fight again) Cotto would bring a fan base that might not be familiar with Martinez. See that is a show case. And, not only that it could lead to a possible build up for a potential(don't know how serious) Martinez-Cotto at the end of the year which has been talked about. You really couldn't go wrong with that set up. And, HBO budget is brand new, so they have money. And again they paid almost what would they pay for this double header just last month but this will give them guarantee ratings and will not be garbage fights. But, at the end of the day HBO is not that smart to even try to talk to the promoters about this. Ross Greenburg needs to go, they need a boxing guy. Go bring back Seth Abraham. I agree with everything you said, A lot of the fights past fight you mentioned were at the end of the year and the match-ups you listed now is at the begining of 2011 and with a brand new budget they would have to play it safe the rest of the year especially with the way Golden Boys dates get cancelled. If they were smart they would go with the plan anyway and continue showcasing Martinez b/c regardless of if Cotto-Martinez developed I'm sure HBO could muscle Arum into facing Berto. One thing for sure is Arum isn't telling the whole story.

HBO wanted Cotto to face Angulo, then Cintron, then Martinez. Uncle Bob turned down all those fights, because he wants to protect Cotto until he can cash in on the Cotto/Margarito II PPV. Bob thought he could just turn down all these solid fight offers from HBO, then offer them a Cotto vs Bum fight and automatically get the date he wanted. HBO is standing up to him. This is bad for Bob Arum and good for Boxing. I agree with 90% of what you said, Cotto could have fought in December and had the rematch with Margarito in June 2011. A double header with Martinez and Cotto would have been nice if it were signed that the winners square off but there are 2 many varibles

@Jrose I like the idea of double header as well but I think HBO may have to offer around 1.5 to get Zin vs Martinez done. They may have to offer a similar number for a Cotto fight, and I'm not sure they would be willing to put that type of money up for both fights. Of course would not be willing. Neither fighter is a Golden Boy nor Al Haymon fighter. That smart? The actual day of the fights conflicting is not the issue. It's the money from HBOs budget that they've decided to invest elsewhere, that's what Uncle Bob is upset about. Martinez and Cotto would be an expensive fight for HBO. There would be no televised undercard. If they wanted Cotto and Martinez on a double header, Cotto and Sergio would take up the vast majority of the budget. That would mean their opponents would have to be bums willing to take the fight for a few thousand dollars each. Definitely no Vanes, Mayorga or Dzinziruk. Two **** fights on one night.....that does not sound like a very good idea to me. Cotto-Vanes would have been for 1.5mil. Martinez-TBA depending on who the opponent would have a different budget. Cotto brings in ratings. He maybe done or it might be garbage but he brings in ratings. If you trying to showcase Martinez you want people to watch no? Then why not have him with the who had the highest ratings on HBO boxing last year? HBO paid almost 3mil for the triple header of JMM-Katsidis, Berto-Hernadez, and Caballero-Litzau. They also paid almost 3mil for just Williams-Martinez II(just one fight, not a double header) And, neither of those events did close to the ratings of what Cotto did. And, Martinez-Williams had to get help from the Pac-Margarito replay to get those ratings. For 3mil, you get what you want and that is showcase Martinez possibly against Dzinziruk(which is not a shit fight mind you) and you get guaranteed ratings, viewers with Cotto-Vanes(which is not a shit fight again) Cotto would bring a fan base that might not be familiar with Martinez. See that is a show case. And, not only that it could lead to a possible build up for a potential(don't know how serious) Martinez-Cotto at the end of the year which has been talked about. You really couldn't go wrong with that set up. And, HBO budget is brand new, so they have money. And again they paid almost what would they pay for this double header just last month but this will give them guarantee ratings and will not be garbage fights. But, at the end of the day HBO is not that smart to even try to talk to the promoters about this. Ross Greenburg needs to go, they need a boxing guy. Go bring back Seth Abraham.

Corrales was considered to be a dangerous fight for Floyd at the time. And you bet your ass Arum is protecting Cotto. You just said it yourself. Arums protecting Cotto from Martinez (and Cintron and Angulo) and any other dangerous fight until he can cash in on the Margarito rematch PVV. That's why HBO is telling Arum/Cotto to get lost in the first place. Dude Angulo has legal issues right now, and isn't even an option. Also, do you honestly think they would be in a rush to put Cintron on after the Williams fiasco? Then plan was never Cotto vs Martinez in the spring, rather the hope was that it can happen in th fall. Now if you brought up Berto then you might have a point bro.

Well when you wanna fight guys like Judah, Gatti, Corrales, Baldomir and Castillo....well I wouldn't consider those risk. And Arum isn't protecting Manny and Cotto rather taking fights that will benefit him the most finacially. No matter what you think Cotto vs Margarito rematch makes more money for Arum than Cotto vs Martinez. Corrales was considered to be a dangerous fight for Floyd at the time. And you bet your ass Arum is protecting Cotto. You just said it yourself. Arums protecting Cotto from Martinez (and Cintron and Angulo) and any other dangerous fight until he can cash in on the Margarito rematch PVV. That's why HBO is telling Arum/Cotto to get lost in the first place.

did arum ever protect floyd? he was never concerned about floyd losing, he let him fight everyone he wanted to fight. he never did that with floyd what he does currently with cotto & pacquiao. proves that arum trusted floyd more than his current fighters. Well when you wanna fight guys like Judah, Gatti, Corrales, Baldomir and Castillo....well I wouldn't consider those huge risk. And Arum isn't protecting Manny and Cotto rather taking fights that will benefit him the most finacially. No matter what you think Cotto vs Margarito rematch makes more money for Arum than Cotto vs Martinez.

Or maybe HBO could have talk to both promoters and offered it as a double header from different venues. But, HBO is not that smart. That smart? The actual day of the fights conflicting is not the issue. It's the money from HBOs budget that they've decided to invest elsewhere, that's what Uncle Bob is upset about. Martinez and Cotto would be an expensive fight for HBO. There would be no televised undercard. If they wanted Cotto and Martinez on a double header, Cotto and Sergio would take up the vast majority of the budget. That would mean their opponents would have to be bums willing to take the fight for a few thousand dollars each. Definitely no Vanes, Mayorga or Dzinziruk. Two **** fights on one night.....that does not sound like a very good idea to me.

I guess people hate Arum to the point they are making something outta nothing. HBO isn't making a stand against Arum or giving him the middle finger. Also there is no "war" brewing. This is as simple as HBO giving Sergio the date first and honoring their commitment. That's some stand up sh1t and props to them for that because they could have shafted Sergio, a guy who doesn't have a big name, for a proven draw like Cotto. This happens all the time and really isn't that big of a deal. @Jrose I like the idea of double header as well but I think HBO may have to offer around 1.5 to get Zin vs Martinez done. They may have to offer a similar number for a Cotto fight, and I'm not sure they would be willing to put that type of money up for both fights.

did arum ever protect floyd? he was never concerned about floyd losing, he let him fight everyone he wanted to fight. he never did that with floyd what he does currently with cotto & pacquiao. proves that arum trusted floyd more than his current fighters. Wow thats something. But see where all that trust put him. But then again Bob Arum maybe ripped Floyd off.