Donaire-Rigondeaux got $2.1 million and 1.1 million viewers on HBO

they overpayed and saw it as a future investment most likely, Donaire's carreer ended that night and Rigo proved to be one of the least fan friendly fighters in boxing, probably being smarter with there money now cant blame them

And Walters almost KILLED Donaire so.... Irrelevant. At the time, Donaire was getting Fighter of the Year accolades and was drawing a ton of attention. Rigo was this new boogeyman and the build up to the fight was huge. Though I want to see Walters/Loma, it has zero pull with casuals and neither guy has the momentum that Donaire/Rigo had. That was a really big deal and the 1mil viewership was surprisingly low. Could have been that the UFC aired a free show that night. Doesn't matter what has happened to either fighter since then, what matters is that it was a big deal at the time. Walters/Loma is one for the hardcore fans and if this princesses can't come to terms w/ splitting 1mill, then they need to learn how to build a name.

There's isn't an arena in the entire world where Gonzalez could headline a show and even draw $100K at the live gate. He's a great little fighter, but he's invisible. It could be possible in Asia against the right opponent. It would be a huge risk though.

How many threads has this guy made about HBO's downfall? HBO obviously has a tough budget and the previous leadership left Peter Nelson to deal with some serious budget constraints (like probably paying millions to andre ward)...But HBO is still doing well, considering.

And Walters almost KILLED Donaire so.... Almost 3 years later though bro, but anyway he asked a question I answered him, nothing really to do with Walters or Lomachenko. Lomachenko and Walters should split that 1 million down the middle in my opinion. 500k is a damn good number for that fight. The winner fights for no less than that from that point on. Walters is coming off of a draw, even though we know he won the fight. 500k is fair. Lomachenko hasn't been fighting top competition since winning the title at 126. 500k is fair.

The "big draw"? Based on what metric exactly? You're right, he never was a huge draw. What I meant was they were trying to push him as the next big filipino star. Trying to get some of Pacquiao's huge following, so they may have thought it was worth investing money in him.

The entire sport might need to head back to the days when boxers fought much more often for less money per fight. They won't be able to make a worthwhile living otherwise. It would probably be a good thing for the sport to go back to those days, too.

Those days are over. Boxers would be stupid to sign contracts with HBO, unless it's a guaranteed contract where the fighter gets paid a minimum every fight. These smaller fighter, less popular fighters should stay away from HBO. I mean it's still better than UFC purses by like 10x, but damn that's a huge drop. Lomachenko, Walters popularity level fighters would be getting $10k-50k a fight in UFC, so splitting $1 million is not bad when compared to that lol. personally i think the little guys should be fighting on network tv, get them some exposure and then put the big fights as undercards or the biggest as headliners on PPV.....For example....put Chocolatito v estrada with GGG vs someone in the top ten as a double main event and if the lil guys are not fighting each other, put them on the same card to be televised on TV....I know, wishful thinking.

Donaire was ranked in the top 5 on the p4p list and running thru everybody at the time of the rigo fight. And Walters almost KILLED Donaire so....

I'm don't remember, but at the time wasn't Donaire the big draw, which is why so much was offer for the fight? Weren't they trying to make him the next Filipino superstar and therefore maybe thought the money was good investment? The "big draw"? Based on what metric exactly?

I'm don't remember, but at the time wasn't Donaire the big draw, which is why so much was offer for the fight? Weren't they trying to make him the next Filipino superstar and therefore maybe thought the money was good investment? Donaire was ranked in the top 5 on the p4p list and running thru everybody at the time of the rigo fight.

It's not HBO's fault it's called the Trickle Down Effect. Time Warner is losing a billion dollars a year on the new deal they signed with the Dodgers. 70% of Los Angeles has Direct TV. And since Time Warner have failed to reach a distribution deal with Direct TV they are losing out on 70% of the ad money in Los Angeles. So things such as boxing suffer in the process.

I remember he was being pushed as the next big filipino star. Maybe he didn't reach Pacquiao heights, but they were trying to push him. Maybe that's why they risked so much on him. Yes that's definitely true.

Donaire has never been a big draw I remember he was being pushed as the next big filipino star. Maybe he didn't reach Pacquiao heights, but they were trying to push him. Maybe that's why they risked so much on him.

I'm don't remember, but at the time wasn't Donaire the big draw, which is why so much was offer for the fight? Weren't they trying to make him the next Filipino superstar and therefore maybe thought the money was good investment? Donaire has never been a big draw

Now Walters-Lomanchenko is offered less than half Donaire-Rigondeaux while possibly generating 1 million viewers? HBO boxing is obviously in BIG trouble. I'm don't remember, but at the time wasn't Donaire the big draw, which is why so much was offer for the fight? Weren't they trying to make him the next Filipino superstar and therefore maybe thought the money was good investment?

So what? HBO would be in gargantuan trouble and people won't give a damn. Most of their subscribers are not boxing fans, anyway. HBO would rather spend their money on Game of Thrones types. A friend of mine signed up because of that guy on Real Time. They're not hurting doe. You're lucky they're still able to produce some boxing. Otherwise, fans would laser-focus their wrath on Showtime/PBC's endless mismatches. Showtime aren't the ones who should be getting criticized right now https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdSdMOOWwAEZ6pp.jpg:large

If that was true neither Kovalev or GGG would be getting a million. Kovalev-Mohammed did nothing. Yeah, as I said, that's not how boxing purses are determined. I said it seems like HBO will now use that logic for lesser fighters. And GGG and Kovalev are big fighters signed to contracts, they are not on a fight by fight basis. Don't they get a guarantee? That's what I said, that the only fighters getting paid are those signed to HBO and get minimum guarantees.

Jose Aldo from UFC got $400k in UFC 194 vs Conor McGregor. Aldo was the #1 P4P fighter if i'm not mistaken. Is it me or is HBO trying to copy Dana White purses? I think that's what they're trying to do. Maybe they are asking themselves, hey these guys want a million dollars but can't even generate a million dollars. They're leaving the million dollar pay days to the more popular fighters it seems. And that clown Roman Gonzalez wants $2million for Estrada, i'd be surprised if he can headline his own show and sell $2million worth of tickets. I know that's not how boxing purses are determined, but it seems like HBO is trying to give boxers what they can actually generate. And even then, that is still pretty generous compared to UFC. If that was true neither Kovalev or GGG would be getting a million. Kovalev-Mohammed did nothing.

Jose Aldo from UFC got $400k in UFC 194 vs Conor McGregor. Aldo was the #1 P4P fighter if i'm not mistaken. Is it me or is HBO trying to copy Dana White purses? I think that's what they're trying to do. Maybe they are asking themselves, hey these guys want a million dollars but can't even generate a million dollars. They're leaving the million dollar pay days to the more popular fighters it seems. And that clown Roman Gonzalez wants $2million for Estrada, i'd be surprised if he can headline his own show and sell $2million worth of tickets. I know that's not how boxing purses are determined, but it seems like HBO is trying to give boxers what they can actually generate. And even then, that is still pretty generous compared to UFC.