It seems like PBC's biggest problem will be establishing itself as the premium boxing offering, problem is they have no one who can be established as "the best," in any division. And to do so, they would have to fight credible opponents and win, regularly.
Looking at all the divisions, the only division PBC can lay claims to is 140 with Garcia, and that will be up for despute once Crawford is established at the weight and Garcia will likely move up to 147 anyways.
So is the PBC where you watch second rate fighters compete to one day perform on the big stages outside the PBC? Or where you watch second rate fighters fight each other in entertaining fights for a PBC belt while ignoring the rest of the boxing world?
If not, and the PBC is meant to encompass the best fighters, how do they get over this? It seems like they have 200 names but limited talent, and even more limited options for matching the limited talent.
Does Wilder fight Klitschko and Povetkin? No way.
Does Quillin fight GGG? No Way.
Does Stevenson fight Kovalev? Possibly, but will likely lose, and will most likely be sacrificed to Beterbiev when the time is right before he fights Kovalev.
Do Jack or Dirrell fight Ward? Probably not.
Do Bey and Figueroa take on Linares/Mitchell/Zepeda? Possibly, but highly unlikely.
Santa Cruz with Rigondeaux or Frampton? LOL.
It looks like he's close to signing Huck, but now there's a bunch of CW's who can claim to be #1 that he will not fight if he is with the PBC (Drozd, Lebedev and rising Chakhkiev/Kudryashov).
I just can't see it guys, I'm not a hater, I hope they do well, but I'm just trying to figure out how this flourishes into a situation where your actually watching the best in the world and not some fluff piece segments followed up by mismatches (this guy has cancer, this guy is from the ghetto, this guy loves to fight, blah blah blah).
http://www.pix-host.com/allimages/50654299.jpg
Kovalev is an elevated trash, and believe it or not, he duck Stevenson so hard, they bring up Ward name to patch the hole.
What?, suddently Kove doesn't want the biggest belt nor the lineal Champion recognition; Come on... So close to a big deal, just released from an HBO exclusivity contract.
1) 03/14/2015 Duva says Kovalev terminated his contract after the Jean Pascal fight.
2) 04/17/2015 Duva says Kovalev just sign a new contract, when the WBC ordered the purse bid.
3) 05/13/2015 Duva says on twitter, Kovalev never re-sign any contract, but Kovalev was still under an exclusivity arrangement with HBO.
4) 05/18/2015 Duva says Kovalev just sign up a new contract with HBO which garanty him 1 fight each 3 months.
Kathy Duva is just a liar, a cheap poker face bluffer. Look, team Kove/Duva build up Kovalev's reputation by making the audience believe Stevenson was running away from him, when if FACTS, they never wanted any part of a pissed off Stevenson, which they used to maximize Kovalev reputation for almost 2 years. An angry Stevenson would make Kovalev swallow his own teeth.
http://www.pix-host.com/allimages/69957449.gif
Steveson destroyed Chad Dawson, let's not forget that then proceeded to put a beating on Bellew, Cloud, Bika and Fonfara. 3 of those names are very good light heavyweights. I think Kovalev is probably edging Stevenson right now, with that win over Pascal but let's not put down Stevenson. He is a very important inclusion to the PBC line up and brings legitimacy to an other wise mediocre bunch of names.
I don't disagree with what you say
But I don't see how Stevenson's lineal title has any more legitimacy than Kovalev's ABC titles. The vice versa also applies
Lineal titles shouldn't be taken on face value alone
Still in a very early stage, fans want too much too soon while they have to take time and introduce the fighters to a new Audience that don't watch boxing like we do. The Big Fightes are coming, can they at least introduce these fighters to Network TV first? :dunno:
Boxing Fans are not very patient, some of you act like you're on your death bed and need to see every big Boxing match up in 1 Year! Patients!
You're not even paying for anything and you're complaining about every little thing :nonono:
A lot of things are technically free, doesn't stop them from being ****. PBC needs to make the best fights it can make right now not later when people have already made up their mind.
Still in a very early stage, fans want too much too soon while they have to take time and introduce the fighters to a new Audience that don't watch boxing like we do. The Big Fightes are coming, can they at least introduce these fighters to Network TV first? :dunno:
Boxing Fans are not very patient, some of you act like you're on your death bed and need to see every big Boxing match up in 1 Year! Patients!
You're not even paying for anything and you're complaining about every little thing :nonono:
I don't take lineal titles on face value alone
How is Stevenson's lineal title worth any more than Kovalev's ABC titles?
Lineal titles generally follow consensus more often than ABC's, but in this case fails to do so.
I think the lineal championship should be vacated if a fighter below rank 2 beats a lineal champion, with that fighter then becoming no.1. But thats a debate for another time and another thread
Steveson destroyed Chad Dawson, let's not forget that then proceeded to put a beating on Bellew, Cloud, Bika and Fonfara. 3 of those names are very good light heavyweights. I think Kovalev is probably edging Stevenson right now, with that win over Pascal but let's not put down Stevenson. He is a very important inclusion to the PBC line up and brings legitimacy to an other wise mediocre bunch of names.
It seems like PBC's biggest problem will be establishing itself as the premium boxing offering, problem is they have no one who can be established as "the best," in any division. And to do so, they would have to fight credible opponents and win, regularly.
Looking at all the divisions, the only division PBC can lay claims to is 140 with Garcia, and that will be up for despute once Crawford is established at the weight and Garcia will likely move up to 147 anyways.
So is the PBC where you watch second rate fighters compete to one day perform on the big stages outside the PBC? Or where you watch second rate fighters fight each other in entertaining fights for a PBC belt while ignoring the rest of the boxing world?
If not, and the PBC is meant to encompass the best fighters, how do they get over this? It seems like they have 200 names but limited talent, and even more limited options for matching the limited talent.
Does Wilder fight Klitschko and Povetkin? No way.
Does Quillin fight GGG? No Way.
Does Stevenson fight Kovalev? Possibly, but will likely lose, and will most likely be sacrificed to Beterbiev when the time is right before he fights Kovalev.
Do Jack or Dirrell fight Ward? Probably not.
Do Bey and Figueroa take on Linares/Mitchell/Zepeda? Possibly, but highly unlikely.
Santa Cruz with Rigondeaux or Frampton? LOL.
It looks like he's close to signing Huck, but now there's a bunch of CW's who can claim to be #1 that he will not fight if he is with the PBC (Drozd, Lebedev and rising Chakhkiev/Kudryashov).
I just can't see it guys, I'm not a hater, I hope they do well, but I'm just trying to figure out how this flourishes into a situation where your actually watching the best in the world and not some fluff piece segments followed up by mismatches (this guy has cancer, this guy is from the ghetto, this guy loves to fight, blah blah blah).
Feeder system to what?
After Klistchko fights Fury, his next biggest fight possible is against Deontay Wilder.
If Canelo-Cotto happens (likely around the end of the year), who does Golovkin fight, this summer and in the fall?
Kovalev has his mandatory and then literally nothing lol
Adonis Stevenson -175 lineal champ
Danny Garcia - 140 lineal champ
When Floyd vacates 154 Lara and the Charlos will hold all of the belts.
When Floyd vacates at 147 PBC will have all of the top 147 contenders.
And he's got a lot of the Olympians. I don't see the problem. As long as he can keep his guys busy everybody should be happy.
But who will his Olympians face? They might be part of the PBC that needs to fight outside fighters once in a while, but eventually you will get a completely insular universe where the best of the PBC is paraded around as the best in the world without coming remotely close to fighting any legitimate threat from the sanctioning body champions.
That's the point, it's not about who's gonna grab the trinket belts once Floyd vacates, or if the Charlo's or Lara will grab a trinket belt while Canelo is clearly #1 at 154 (not counting FMJ).
And it'll definitely reach a point (if it hasn't already) where the best in the world will obviously refuse to fight in the PBC on one-off deals (as they won't need to, and won't be dictated to, nor will they enter a fight where they will be given every disadvantage in the book). Most of the one-off PBC fights (Andy Lee, Ricky Burns, Jamie McDonnell, James DeGale) have been purse bids, B-sides, or mandated. Guess what's left when the PBC belt is unveiled? Just the B-sides.
My understanding was that the plan was to attract sponsorship which would generate millions to then attract the best fighters over from other networks with bigger paydays. So all the best guys would eventually be PBC fighters.
Entertaining fights is a bit about luck, but also about matchmaking. Thurman-Collazo is unlikely to be entertaining for example, but Maidana-Thurman likely would be.
PBC already has 100s of millions of dollars available, what they pull off before sponsorships and license fees from broadcasters is what is likely to continue once those are achieved. The only difference is they are burning money ATM and will be getting paid in the future (if it all works out).
PPV will always be the home of the mega-stars of the sport (if it's a credible match-up) b/c that's what makes economic sense.
PBC could have every title in every weight class and it would make no difference as to whether it survives or not. The ONLY thing that matters are the ratings numbers.
Adonis Stevenson -175 lineal champ
Danny Garcia - 140 lineal champ
When Floyd vacates 154 Lara and the Charlos will hold all of the belts.
When Floyd vacates at 147 PBC will have all of the top 147 contenders.
And he's got a lot of the Olympians. I don't see the problem. As long as he can keep his guys busy everybody should be happy.
Isn't Stevenson on PBC? Say what you want but he is the lineal LHW champion and it was Kovalev and his team who turned the fight down this time.
I don't take lineal titles on face value alone
How is Stevenson's lineal title worth any more than Kovalev's ABC titles?
Lineal titles generally follow consensus more often than ABC's, but in this case fails to do so.
I think the lineal championship should be vacated if a fighter below rank 2 beats a lineal champion, with that fighter then becoming no.1. But thats a debate for another time and another thread
Isn't Stevenson on PBC? Say what you want but he is the lineal LHW champion and it was Kovalev and his team who turned the fight down this time.
A fight has to be offered before it can be turned down. GYM refused to even attempt to negotiate terms.
I get what you mean
It's called 'premier boxing champions' showcasing contenders fighting each other
Like you said, the only champion they really have is Garcia, who hasn't fought at his weight recently
Premier Boxing Contenders
...which actually reflects the reality of it all. Free TV is never really going to showcase the best of the bunch when they often get paid more on premium tv. This works for me though, isn't necessarily a bad thing
Isn't Stevenson on PBC? Say what you want but he is the lineal LHW champion and it was Kovalev and his team who turned the fight down this time.
Agreed! I am with you but also view the structure as a whole for the long term to be an issue if they cannot establish any of their fighters as the best.
Entertaining fights? It's kind of your luck what you get after the match is set.
But the model you implement, and your long term plan is what will either breed a successful monopoly of the sport, or will flush 100s of millions down the toilet.
My understanding was that the plan was to attract sponsorship which would generate millions to then attract the best fighters over from other networks with bigger paydays. So all the best guys would eventually be PBC fighters.
Entertaining fights is a bit about luck, but also about matchmaking. Thurman-Collazo is unlikely to be entertaining for example, but Maidana-Thurman likely would be.
If you're the best and you're boring, no one cares to watch you, ask Andre Ward and Guillermo Rigondeaux.
If you're second best but you're entertaining, millions will tune in, ask Carl Froch and Adrien Broner.
Right, but PBC isn't club fighters, they have a lot of top 5 guys.
Anyhow, my point is the main problem so far imo has been the match-ups, not the ranking of the fighters.
Agreed! I am with you but also view the structure as a whole for the long term to be an issue if they cannot establish any of their fighters as the best.
Entertaining fights? It's kind of your luck what you get after the match is set.
But the model you implement, and your long term plan is what will either breed a successful monopoly of the sport, or will flush 100s of millions down the toilet.
I wouldn't watch Maidana-Thurman over Mayweather-Pacquiao, but that's just opinion and totally subjective.
One of boxing's problems is pleasing "the casuals", boxing will either flourish or not for what it is; a sport that is at times the best in the world, and sometimes boring as hell.
Casuals want to see the best in the world, in whatever they are watching.
If you're the best and you're boring, no one cares to watch you, ask Andre Ward and Guillermo Rigondeaux.
If you're second best but you're entertaining, millions will tune in, ask Carl Froch and Adrien Broner.
If it was so easy, it wouldn't be hard to promote club shows with **** fighters who just bang it out.
Right, but PBC isn't club fighters, they have a lot of top 5 guys.
Anyhow, my point is the main problem so far imo has been the match-ups, not the ranking of the fighters.
It's been 6 months.
I'm not saying PBC isn't the best already so it will fail, I'm asking how it will establish it's guys as the best in the world to people.
Because I have a feeling that will be a major issue moving forward. It'll end up with the PBC on a similar standing to Bellator, and the sanctioning bodies on a similar standing to the UFC.
Sure Bellator has a LWT champ, but obviously wouldn't be considered the best in the world.