Interesting article on Maxboxing with HBO

warp143215y ago

A positive spin... What HBO is Doing Right Wed 2-Mar-2011 12:56 By Matthew Paras It’s always big businesses that are easy targets for people to criticize. In the boxing world, there is no business that is easier to target than HBO. From respected journalists or angry fans on message boards, HBO is always getting the wrath of those who love or at least follow boxing. HBO is not the perfect company; they have definitely made some mistakes when it comes to running its boxing department. However, in 2011, HBO has made strides that have gone unnoticed by fans and media alike. The start of 2011 featured a mega-fight between Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander, two undefeated junior welterweight titlists. HBO shelled out a lot of money, spending around 4,000,000 dollars between the fighters’ purses and marketing, according to reports. Many criticize HBO for spending this amount but Bradley-Alexander was a fight that needed to happen. 2010 had too many fights that should have happened but didn’t, such as Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao, Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye. Bradley-Alexander could have been that but HBO made it happen. 2011 couldn’t afford another fight falling through. Bradley-Alexander was an interesting match on paper and attracted a 2.4 rating. Many believe the 2.4 to be a disappointment, considering the money spent, but fans need to realize that the 2.4 rating equaled out to around 1.5 million viewers. Miguel Cotto, who has a lot more star power than Tim Bradley and Devon Alexander, fought Yuri Foreman and had 1.9 million views in 2010. Cotto-Foreman was HBO’s highest rating in 2010, so Bradley-Alexander should not be considered a failure. There is also criticism that HBO promised both fighters return fights on HBO, with their purses around 1.5 million dollars each. This is a valid criticism because HBO is overpaying for Devon Alexander’s fight. However, look at the fights being lined up for each fighter. Timothy Bradley is negotiating a fight with Amir Khan, which would be the most interesting fight in boxing that doesn’t involve a Mayweather or Pacquiao for July 23rd, while Devon Alexander might face Lucas Matthysse, a very dangerous opponent for someone who is coming off a loss. Fans often say that Bradley-Alexander didn’t create a star but HBO’s next event certainly did. In just two short rounds, bantamweight Nonito Donaire sparked out Fernando Montiel with a monstrous left hook. It caught the public’s attention and placed Donaire among the best fighters in the sport. Donaire-Montiel came cheap for HBO too. The whole card was less than what Andre Berto made in his last fight against Freddy Hernandez. There is a large and very valid complaint that HBO overpays for Berto fights but it should be applauded they still know how to buy cheap fights that come with high quality. HBO’s next major fight is middleweight champion Sergio Martinez facing off against junior middleweight titlist Sergiy Dzinziruk. The fight is coming with controversy due to HBO forcing the fight to happen. Lou DiBella, Martinez’s promoter, originally wanted to pit Martinez against mandatory Sebastian Zbik or Andy Lee. After originally approving Lee, HBO later took back its word and only put up money for Martinez-Dzinziruk. Also upset with this move was Bob Arum. Arum pitched Miguel Cotto vs. Vanes Martirosyan to the network for a relatively cheap 1.5 million. HBO rejected this fight and Bob took his fighter to rival network Showtime. Now, Cotto fights Ricardo Mayorga on March 12, which goes up against the Martinez-Dzinziruk broadcast. With all these moves, it’s caused various people to cry for HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg’s head. Fans need to realize he made the right decision. People will ask, “How could he let Cotto go? How could he force Martinez to fight some guy I’ve never heard of?” What people don’t realize is that Martinez-Dzinziruk is the best fight to be made. Unlike Cotto-Martirosyan, Martinez isn’t a guaranteed winner of his fight versus Dzinziruk. HBO is paying around 2,000,000 dollars for this fight but for only 500,000 more, they are getting the better fight. Sure, Martinez-Dzinziruk has the potential to be a very technical fight but fans should want to see the best fighters fighting each other. Fans can’t criticize HBO for not showing the best match-ups and then complain because they didn’t give us Martinez vs. Lee. That fight is a blowout; Martinez-Dzinziruk is not. The bulk of HBO criticism has to be for Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Shane Mosley going to Showtime. They let their main superstar go to an opposing network, potentially creating a future rift between Bob Arum and HBO. Arum’s fighter, Yuriorkis Gamboa, fights on HBO’s “Boxing after Dark” on March 26 but a question mark still looms whether Pacquiao or Cotto will return to HBO. The decision for Pacquiao to take his talents to Showtime should not affect HBO’s decision making. Instead they should buy the best quality fights out there and recently it was announced that Bernard Hopkins is going to face light heavyweight champ Jean Pascal in a rematch on May 21st with Chad Dawson to fight Adrian Diaconu on the undercard. Hopefully, this wasn’t just a shot at Showtime for revenge but to have the best fights possible on HBO. Buying Hopkins-Pascal II was the right decision. HBO could have easily bought a Chad Dawson-Jean Pascal rematch but they chose to buy the Hopkins fight instead because of the public demand for it. Hopkins-Pascal was Showtime’s highest rated fight in years and it’s good that HBO is bringing the rematch to the fans sooner. If Golden Boy Promotions and GYM’s Yvon Michel would have waited for the rematch to be on Showtime, Hopkins-Pascal II would most likely be happening in July and not May. Also, a positive of Hopkins-Pascal II is that the winner is guaranteed to fight Chad Dawson, granted he beats Diaconu. This is somewhat controversial but it is good that Dawson just isn’t thrown to the side now that he has lost a fight. It could be argued that he didn’t show enough determination in his fight with Pascal but he should get another opportunity. Without a doubt, there are problems that have arisen at HBO over the years. They have been brought up in the past by writers far more respected but fans also need to realize the positives that have happened this year. They need to tune into these fights. HBO and Showtime has its calendars stacked for the first half of 2011. It’s now up to the fans to tune in. In the meantime, HBO should get a little credit where credit is due. Thoughts/Comments/Concerns?

Comments (11)

ghost_deini

HBO say they don't buy fighters they buy fights but then why does Amir Khan get a date set when he had no opponent at the time

15y ago

warp1432

but at the expense of the back end of the scheduling? the money allotted for this first half could very well limit them as to what they have towards the end. At the end of 2010, Bradley-Alexander was on the end of everyone's lists of what they wanted to see. Also, just because they might be low on funds by the end of the year doesn't mean they still can't make good fights. Showtime does more with less, HBO should too. We'll see what happens, but I definitely do take your points into consideration. but Cotto also brings ratings something Martinez has yet to do so while they may be similar in terms of money spent the ratings they would pull for a Cotto fight would be the difference it still does not make it okay to overspend even if it meant making the best matchup on paper. Martinez-Williams was the number 2 highest ratings of HBO and Cotto-Foreman just edged it. Cotto is a bigger name for sure, but Martinez has built a name for himself too. and what's to say that just because we see the arguably the two best available the match up will be entertaining? for every Donaire Montiel we often get Dawson Pascal which was largely unentertaining until the end. sometimes it's about styles as well not just putting in what we deem are the two best available Yes, but a large part of criticism for HBO is they don't do the first half of the match up, just showcases. Sometimes these match ups need to happen regardless of the circumstances. no it's not necessarily focusing on the negative IMO. To me, it's cause for concern that HBO owes Devon a 7 figure payday or that inspite of a risk of March 12th's fight being a stinker we will get one more Dzinzurik fight. this isn't to bash HBO solely but it is okay to point out that while they are trying to make good fights they are also spending their future budget on fighters instead of fights. Alexander and Dzinzurik being the latest cases While I do agree that HBO makes a lot of mistakes when it comes to guaranteeing fighters dates, I think if they are, they might as well match them up with great fighters in return. I'd gladly watch Alexander Matthyesse and Sergei-Kirkland. HBO makes mistakes, but a ton of people go after them. They don't do 100% wrong and they have done some things right. This is what the article was about.

15y ago

Eaner0919

Personally, I'm liking how HBO is doing its schedule for the top half because it shows they are wanting to make the best quality fight. but at the expense of the back end of the scheduling? the money allotted for this first half could very well limit them as to what they have towards the end. 2 million is only 500k more than what Arum wanted them to pay for Cotto Vanes. Also, HBO still probably would have forked over a lot of money for Martinez-Zbik/Lee. but Cotto also brings ratings something Martinez has yet to do so while they may be similar in terms of money spent the ratings they would pull for a Cotto fight would be the difference It was Dziniziruk who held out for more money and HBO forked over. They are going to overpay, sure. The author addresses that here and there (especially incases like Andre Berto), but HBO is making quality match ups for the first time in a while. it still does not make it okay to overspend even if it meant making the best matchup on paper. and what's to say that just because we see the arguably the two best available the match up will be entertaining? for every Donaire Montiel we often get Dawson Pascal which was largely unentertaining until the end. sometimes it's about styles as well not just putting in what we deem are the two best available People have always been focusing on the negative, but this is what it took to get those fights done. These were solid fights. no it's not necessarily focusing on the negative IMO. To me, it's cause for concern that HBO owes Devon a 7 figure payday or that inspite of a risk of March 12th's fight being a stinker we will get one more Dzinzurik fight. this isn't to bash HBO solely but it is okay to point out that while they are trying to make good fights they are also spending their future budget on fighters instead of fights. Alexander and Dzinzurik being the latest cases

15y ago

Left_Hook_Tua

It's an obvious winner. Who really thinks Vanes could compete with Cotto? Martinez's fight is a lot better of an option. yeah like dzindzurik will beat martinez.

15y ago

warp1432

That's exactly what i was thinking when i read your post...lol. It's an obvious winner. Who really thinks Vanes could compete with Cotto? Martinez's fight is a lot better of an option.

15y ago

jazluvr

i still don't understand how/why hbo turned down cotto-vanes. i actually liked that fight. That's exactly what i was thinking when i read your post...lol.

15y ago

warp1432

too glossy and rose colored glasses for me and he fails to see that while a potential Bradley Khan match up might come out of this they also spent a large portion of their budget on guaranteeing Alexander a seven figure payday for his next fight. While Lucas is a fine opponent does it necessarily warrant Devon getting paid 7 figures for it? same with Dzinzurik while the matchup (on paper-key phrase right there) with Martinez may be the best out there, why pay 2 million for it? also why guarantee that Dzinzurik gets to come back to HBO even if he loses? HBO still tries to pay forward way too much and this will be why we may get a Alexander- Matthysee towards the middle of the year or a Dzinzurik Kirkland as well but with what it will cost to cover those two fights we may see a picture where we see HBO limps towards the finish line with little to no cards. Personally, I'm liking how HBO is doing its schedule for the top half because it shows they are wanting to make the best quality fight. 2 million is only 500k more than what Arum wanted them to pay for Cotto Vanes. Also, HBO still probably would have forked over a lot of money for Martinez-Zbik/Lee. It was Dziniziruk who held out for more money and HBO forked over. They are going to overpay, sure. The author addresses that here and there (especially incases like Andre Berto), but HBO is making quality match ups for the first time in a while. People have always been focusing on the negative, but this is what it took to get those fights done. These were solid fights.

15y ago

Left_Hook_Tua

i still don't understand how/why hbo turned down cotto-vanes. i actually liked that fight.

15y ago

Eaner0919

15y ago

RoyJonesJrp4pno1

HBO does a lot of good things although isn't perfect. At the end of the day the promoters make a lot of the tune ups.

15y ago

warp1432

Some of those guys @ Maxboxing don't even get paid for their sh1t. It's almost as bad as bleacherreport. Exposure is exposure

15y ago