to me it looks like Top Rank will finish out on top with HBO.

-Deontay Wilder is the WBC world heavyweight champion; discredit the belt if you want, just don't expect anyone to go with you On the contrary, the belt is quite second-rate, because it was a vacated title, and because Wladimir Klitschko is the heavyweight champion of the world. Now you can say otherwise, but don't expect too many people to follow you. - Kovalev-Pascal II has nowhere near the interest of Stevenson-Fonfara II, because Kovalev-Pascal was a fight with a definitive result Kovalev-Pascal I had almost twice the audience Stevenson-Fonfara did. But it's interesting to read you selling the re by arguing how tough Stevenson had it. Still, Marcos Maidana vs TBA at the StubHub Center will likely draw a massive crowd I'm sure some people said the same thing about Chavez Jr., and maybe they were right, if they factored in the discounted tickets. As Dan Beckerman told Steve Kim, the Stubhub Center has been very busy this year and has holds on Saturdays stretching to November, so there will be plenty of boxing at the venue for fans to be more discerning when deciding what they want to spend their money on. But if you want to tout Haymon's Stubhub offerings so far like Fonfara-JCC jr and Guerrero-Martinez, have at it.

Hard to point to fights when the schedule isn't set and prospective fights still have work to be done. If Cotto beats Geale and Walters beats Marriagga, then let's see if Cotto-Canelo and Lomachenko-Walters happen. Both would be great fights. I think the Walters-Marriagga, Verdejo-Najera card looks very good, but there's no guarantees it lives up to it. Bradley-Vargas is a decent fight, but I'm more interested in the winner fighting Sadam Ali. Wilder holds a title of secondary distinction Just say it, and leave the fluff for PR people. Chavez Jr is a name, he is not yet a significant 168-pound win. If you're so excited for Stevenson-Fonfara II, would you be equally excited for Kovalev-Pascal II, or does it only go one way? Yes, they've had fights on TV. I love how you say nothing about Harmon TBA's. As for Golovkin and Kovalev... Golovkin is trying to make fights at 160, he's not the one putting obstacles in front of fights with Cotto or Canelo. If he fights someone like Lemieux or Lee, or moves up for Froch, I have no complaints. As far as Kovalev, he made his business decision. Just as Stevenson did. I don't hate on either for doing it. If Stevenson's side won't negotiate, and Kovalev's side won't go to a purse bid, then so be it, I have waning interest in both. But hey, I'd love to see Stevenson-Beterbiev. Pretty sure Top Rank is going to slow walk Walters-Lomachenko, so yeah. Still: -Deontay Wilder is the WBC world heavyweight champion; discredit the belt if you want, just don't expect anyone to go with you. - Kovalev-Pascal II has nowhere near the interest of Stevenson-Fonfara II, because Kovalev-Pascal was a fight with a definitive result; Fonfara was loosing the fight early, rallied over the second have, and started to take control in the later rounds, before petering out. With experience under his belt, Fonfara comes into the rematch ready, for a fight that he was rallying in the first time. I haven't said much about the TBAs, because I'm not all that sure what type of opponents get plugged in. For example, Marcos Maidana is likely to be fighting September/October (after working all that weight off). Who do you put in their with him, acknowledging that he's coming off of two losses, but also two quality performances on the sport's biggest stage? He'd probably want to fight Khan or Danny Garcia, though I'd doubt if he'd get either fight, and he'd probably not be too keen on fighting a guy like Keith Thurman or Shawn Porter. Looking at the roster, you're likely looking at a Guerrero or Berto or Lopez to fight. Then you'd have to fit Maidana into one of the available dates, for his likely demanded good money, on a time schedule that would make for a fight. And then you'd have to weigh Maidana's outlook against the dozen of other fighters in his position. There are too many known unknowns to really say anything about the TBA. Still, Marcos Maidana vs TBA at the StubHub Center will likely draw a massive crowd and a good TV rating, simply because of the increase profile of his name due to the Mayweather fights and his performance in them.

Ya'll better pump your brakes on this Beterbiev bullshi.t. Steven Hawking has better head movement. Did you see the way his legs collapsed under him when club fighter Page barely tapped him? Dude is there to be had. Pump the breaks? Stevenson's gonna turn 38 in a few months. The clock is ticking on his career, and people are talking about Fonfara reruns and Oosthuizen as though those fights will do much for him.

No matter wich way you slice it. Thurman/Guerrero. García/Peterson. Broner/Porter have all been great matchups and the year is still young. It;s clear Al is trying to put on the best fights possible for no extra charge$$. We should be thankful, i am.

I want them both to succeed because as an ACTUAL FAN OF BOXING competition is a good thing I get better fights because of it. Exactly. Skills knows what's up.

Steven Hawking has better head movement. :lol1: :lol1:

i have a feeling Al Haymon is going to fade into obscurity eventually. HBO is doing a great job. This may very well be. But in going to support anyone who at the very least makes an attempt to bring boxing back to national TV. Can't say what Haymon has done has been perfect. But fvck it at least he's trying. For years and I mean years Arum would tease us about putting of this show and that show and all we got were crappy Latin fury and Pinoy power ppvs. He never made an attempt to bring us more free boxing. Haymon is at least trying. WE SHOUKD ALL ENJOY IT while it last.

As a subscriber, I've actually been pretty underwhelmed with HBO in the last year or so. I'm liking what I'm seeing from PBC so far. We've had solid fights like Thurman-Ghost, Kid Chocolate-Lee, Peterson-Garcia and Omar Figueroa-White Guy. Then we have Dirrell-Degale and Porter-Broner coming up. Good stuff. This seems to be killing Showtime though. I'm wondering if I still need to pay for Showtime if PBC is taking all of its would-be fights. Matthysse vs Provodnikov isn't better than those fights? You have been under whelmed by HBO? HBO is doing great this year. And looks to be finishing out the year good as well.

again, still not a single HBO fight that you can point to and say "yeah, I'm looking forward to that one", lol. Hard to point to fights when the schedule isn't set and prospective fights still have work to be done. If Cotto beats Geale and Walters beats Marriagga, then let's see if Cotto-Canelo and Lomachenko-Walters happen. Both would be great fights. I think the Walters-Marriagga, Verdejo-Najera card looks very good, but there's no guarantees it lives up to it. Bradley-Vargas is a decent fight, but I'm more interested in the winner fighting Sadam Ali. Wilder is an American heavyweight champion, in an era when the American audience is thirsting for an American heavyweight champion (Stiverne-Wilder drawing 1.3m Wilder holds a title of secondary distinction Just say it, and leave the fluff for PR people. Fonfara came into the Stevenson fight with no name ID; fought well against Stevenson, looked good in his next Showtime fight in his hometown, and bludgeoned Chavez Jr, arguably the biggest name at 168. If you earnestly believe that Stevenson-Fonfara II wouldn't have more interest than the first showdown, where no one knew who Fonfara was, so be it. Chavez Jr is a name, he is not yet a significant 168-pound win. If you're so excited for Stevenson-Fonfara II, would you be equally excited for Kovalev-Pascal II, or does it only go one way? both fights feature a Charlo brother, fighters who have had their respective rises followed on TV. Yes, they've had fights on TV. All of the TBA fights involve fighters that the viewing public is interested in seeing, regardless of what you think. Golovkin's next two fight, at least, will be against TBAs, as is likely the case for Kovlev's next 3, and no gripe has emerged with you there. I love how you say nothing about Harmon TBA's. As for Golovkin and Kovalev... Golovkin is trying to make fights at 160, he's not the one putting obstacles in front of fights with Cotto or Canelo. If he fights someone like Lemieux or Lee, or moves up for Froch, I have no complaints. As far as Kovalev, he made his business decision. Just as Stevenson did. I don't hate on either for doing it. If Stevenson's side won't negotiate, and Kovalev's side won't go to a purse bid, then so be it, I have waning interest in both. But hey, I'd love to see Stevenson-Beterbiev.

You ask what big fights HBO has lined up and then you proceed with a list of mostly non-"big" fights and TBA's. You criticize "blatant mismatches" and then you ignore fights like Wilder-Molina, Guerrero-Martinez and Khan-Algieri. You're also silent on the weight situations that have come up with almost every signficant PBC fight card so far....Quillin overweight, Figueroa overweight, the Garcia-Peterson catch-weight, the catch-weight/rehydration clause with Broner-Porter. Anyways, let's take a look at your list.... a heavyweight belt without much credibility as long as Klitchko is the champion, to be defended against a mandatory a rematch of a fight that averaged 672k and peaked at 800k. a return match for Chavez Jr. who was beaten and boo'd in his last fight, which averaged at 618k viewers, and only peaked at 836k, a huge drop from the viewership of his HBO days. we'll see who he fights, but a Bundrage fight probably won't move the needle much vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA, and no critique of the Algieri match-up vs. TBA for a fighter who's coming off a disappointing fight many, if not most, had him losing vs. TBA vs. TBA, though obviously a major fight and event, though hardly definitely his "final" one again, still not a single HBO fight that you can point to and say "yeah, I'm looking forward to that one", lol. Wilder is an American heavyweight champion, in an era when the American audience is thirsting for an American heavyweight champion (Stiverne-Wilder drawing 1.3m homes, on a network that is 20% smaller than HBO and without the Mayweather-Pacquiao hype to help lift the general boxing attention, should've told you that) Fonfara came into the Stevenson fight with no name ID; fought well against Stevenson, looked good in his next Showtime fight in his hometown, and bludgeoned Chavez Jr, arguably the biggest name at 168. If you earnestly believe that Stevenson-Fonfara II wouldn't have more interest than the first showdown, where no one knew who Fonfara was, so be it. Bundrage is the draw in the proposed showdown, and neither is Andrade for that matter; both fights feature a Charlo brother, fighters who have had their respective rises followed on TV. All of the TBA fights involve fighters that the viewing public is interested in seeing, regardless of what you think. Golovkin's next two fight, at least, will be against TBAs, as is likely the case for Kovlev's next 3, and no gripe has emerged with you there.

A lot of those fights are gonna end up on Showtime rather than PBC, so while they're still Haymon fighters it's not really the same thing. End up on PBC than Showtime, but the point is still that the pool available to PBC/Showtime for the rest of the year is significantly deeper and with better fightsm than anything HBO can honestly point to as big fight to carry the rest of their calender.

Hymen has TOO MANY MOUTHS TO FEED. You can't promise them all millions, promise them all 5 fights a year, promise to make them all stars. Something has to give.

As a subscriber, I've actually been pretty underwhelmed with HBO in the last year or so. I'm liking what I'm seeing from PBC so far. We've had solid fights like Thurman-Ghost, Kid Chocolate-Lee, Peterson-Garcia and Omar Figueroa-White Guy. Then we have Dirrell-Degale and Porter-Broner coming up. Good stuff. This seems to be killing Showtime though. I'm wondering if I still need to pay for Showtime if PBC is taking all of its would-be fights.

Broner vs Porter and Spence vs R.Garcia > GGG & Chocolito mismatch doubleheader What? You serious? Broner-Porter would actually be a great fight except for the stupid CW which was only implemented to hurt Porter via draining. Spence is fighting a 35 year old man with 3 losses, that fight isn't "top billing".

what other big fights does HBO have lined up for the year? You ask what big fights HBO has lined up and then you proceed with a list of mostly non-"big" fights and TBA's. You criticize "blatant mismatches" and then you ignore fights like Wilder-Molina, Guerrero-Martinez and Khan-Algieri. You're also silent on the weight situations that have come up with almost every signficant PBC fight card so far....Quillin overweight, Figueroa overweight, the Garcia-Peterson catch-weight, the catch-weight/rehydration clause with Broner-Porter. Anyways, let's take a look at your list.... Wilder-Povetkin/Perez winner a heavyweight belt without much credibility as long as Klitchko is the champion, to be defended against a mandatory Stevenson-Fonfara II a rematch of a fight that averaged 672k and peaked at 800k. Chavez Jr-Bute a return match for Chavez Jr. who was beaten and boo'd in his last fight, which averaged at 618k viewers, and only peaked at 836k, a huge drop from the viewership of his HBO days. Charlo/Bundrage for the IBF title, Charlo/Andrade for the WBO title we'll see the return of Marcos Maidana vs. TBA at least two Thurman fights vs. TBA at least two Khan fights vs. TBA, and no critique of the Algieri match-up at least 2 Danny Garcia fights vs. TBA for a fighter who's coming off a disappointing fight many, if not most, had him losing his slew of prospects (Spence, JRock,etc) looking to step up vs. TBA the final Mayweather fight vs. TBA, though obviously a major fight and event, though hardly definitely his "final" one

HBO is going nowhere. They've cemented themselves as a tier 1 brand. All I know is that I want pbc to succeed so the sport can grow as well. Mismatches will be done til the end of time. Clearly no one thought an 80-1 underdog would knock off ggg on HBO did they? I've enjoyed this year a lot. Fights are being made and shown on multiple platforms. Top Rank has their guys so they'll be ok. But i like that HBO is working with gb, k2, me and others

Yea, I don't get the point of the whole enterprise, if he isn't going to immediately make dangerous mouth watering wars. It's the same old story. Easy fights. Or somewhat easy fights, instead of going for the kill immediately. I think it HAD to have some classic fights immediately, in both of the first two dates, but hasn't happened. There's nothing to lure in the casuals, and the horrible numbers for PBC, and the decreasing ratings prove this. Agree, from memory, Showtime put on a better 2013 than PBC has managed so far in 2015. I guess Schaefer deserves some of the credit there.

Amen. I don't understand the HBO/Top Rank trollers hoping for Haymon to fail. You best believe if his name were Al Hernandez they'd be his biggest fans. Yeah the fighters will dictate who "Finish Out On Top" and who fades away. If all the Top Fighters are jumping to PBC like all the Top MMA Fighters jumped to the UFC. It is really nothing the fans can do but complain like many MMA fans was complaining back when the UFC first started to "Monopolize MMA". So this is typical, at first people complain until a fighter they like joins it, then all of a sudden they start pretending like they always been a fan As for the Haymon "Hate" that is mostly because he is attached to Mayweather. Everybody that is attached to Mayweather in boxing is "HATED"

It can if he gets sponsorship, that's the key. The other key is where the networks go with the PBC after the current deals end. The PBC is paying both sides right now, they're paying the networks and the fighters, so there's no reason for the networks or the fighters NOT to like the current deal.

Sounds like wishful think more than anything. However I totally disagree! PBC will likely continue to grow, haven't even started on ESPN/ABC yet, that starts in the Summer. I think the Roster will continue to grow and fighters will continue to make the jump to PBC for the Money and Exposure. Top Rank will be fine, them along with HBO will have their events and stars and continue to maintain and do well. Top Rank Roster is getting thin though, Pacquiao is towards thing end, I do think Crawford and Verdejo can be those next stars for Top Rank but it is going to take time. HBO going more international is smart though with GGG, Kovalev, Gonzalez and fighters like that on their Network I will gladly continue watch and support all because I'm a Boxing Fan. I don't tune into Boxing for the Network of the Promoters, I support the fighters and I tune in strictly to watch and support them! Fuk The Networks and Promotions, I don't work for either nor do I own stocks in either so why do I give a fuk how they're doing financially and how they make money :dunno: