Is every competitive fight on HBO going to be PPV now?

I think if it gets around 250K, it'll be a success. ^^^close enough, i guess

Maybe so, but there's enough in the matchup that it's unlikely to flop (Kovalev and Ward are both proven top fighters, the matchup is a truly 50/50 fight, and Ward can carry the promotion of the fight in American English; just saying). The amount of free media that they're likely going to get from ESPN pushing a bigtime 50/50 fight (no different than with Cotto-Alvarez) is gonna likely be worth 100k-200k PPV buys, with Kovalev-Ward, on it's own, like;y projecting at 200k-300k PPV buys. With Ward running the media circuit, though the fight won't do astronomical business, 300k-600k PPV buys (my guess at the number) isn't all that bad a start. I think if it gets around 250K, it'll be a success.

overall I think what you're saying is right, but I doubt they can garner enough interest from casual fans by November Maybe so, but there's enough in the matchup that it's unlikely to flop (Kovalev and Ward are both proven top fighters, the matchup is a truly 50/50 fight, and Ward can carry the promotion of the fight in American English; just saying). The amount of free media that they're likely going to get from ESPN pushing a bigtime 50/50 fight (no different than with Cotto-Alvarez) is gonna likely be worth 100k-200k PPV buys, with Kovalev-Ward, on it's own, like;y projecting at 200k-300k PPV buys. With Ward running the media circuit, though the fight won't do astronomical business, 300k-600k PPV buys (my guess at the number) isn't all that bad a start.

Ward is still America's last Olympic gold medalist, in addition to not having lost a fight since he was twelve years old; you add that he's a clear a straightforward spoken Black man with roots in the inner city (though not apparently much of the raw hip hop edge), and you've got a guy with a story that you can take through the entire press gauntlet and shine with. NYC radio (Hot97/106.1), the ESPN programs circuit, the late night circuit on the eve of fight (The Late Show/Tonight Show), and even daytime TV (The View w/Rosie Perez). As long as Ward gets in another fight this summer(to keep his name in the ether), you can roll right from that fight into the tour to launch Kovalev-Ward. overall I think what you're saying is right, but I doubt they can garner enough interest from casual fans by November

I don't think so man. Casual fans really don't know about them. That fight probably needs another year of promoting with both fighters being active. It's sad because that fight deserves attention. Ward is still America's last Olympic gold medalist, in addition to not having lost a fight since he was twelve years old; you add that he's a clear a straightforward spoken Black man with roots in the inner city (though not apparently much of the raw hip hop edge), and you've got a guy with a story that you can take through the entire press gauntlet and shine with. NYC radio (Hot97/106.1), the ESPN programs circuit, the late night circuit on the eve of fight (The Late Show/Tonight Show), and even daytime TV (The View w/Rosie Perez). As long as Ward gets in another fight this summer(to keep his name in the ether), you can roll right from that fight into the tour to launch Kovalev-Ward.

People are underselling how big Ward-Kovalev is going to be, largely because people are underestimating the amount of promo that Ward is going to be able to do for the fight, especially if the fight ends up in NYC (ESPN headquarters are on the East Coast, with The Late Show and The Tonight Show both broadcasting in NYC). I don't think so man. Casual fans really don't know about them. That fight probably needs another year of promoting with both fighters being active. It's sad because that fight deserves attention.

I wouldn't have a problem if they'd charge 20-30 bucks for these PPVs like they use to back then.

Hopefully. I spend a lot of time worrying about the HBO shareholders and would be happy to help out in any way I can. Corporations are people too.

These fights will bomb

Blame inflated purses. Now everyone wants big bucks for cans and even bigger bucks for a tough fight. This will blow up soon and purses will drop but until then, expect this.

You morons kept spouting that "boxing is a business" to support floyd. You think there werent people from these companies reading this schit? You idiots asked for this.

That looks to be the case right now. Fights that don't belong on PPV are heading to PPV and now as fans were stuck with mismatches on regular HBO. Postol vs. Crawford is not a PPV fight.

I didn't really think of it that way, but it seems true. What truly competitive main event have they put on or going to put on? Ward vs Barrera was a cool fight, but nobody expected it to really be competitive. I love Ward vs Kovalev, but lets be real. That fight isn't going to do that well on ppv. People are underselling how big Ward-Kovalev is going to be, largely because people are underestimating the amount of promo that Ward is going to be able to do for the fight, especially if the fight ends up in NYC (ESPN headquarters are on the East Coast, with The Late Show and The Tonight Show both broadcasting in NYC).

Maybe the want to be like the UFC and have a PPV every month. UFC is getting successful numbers and I'm sure that's what Bob wants for TR too.

It seems like any match-up they can sell the people as being competitive will be on hbo. First it was ggg-lemieux, not crawford-postol(this isn't a bad fight whatsoever.) I really hope they don't have cotto vs kirkland on ppv(or a similar opponent) Nor do I need to see Canelo vs Khan on ppv neither but I guess hbo's plans are gearing towards more ppvs for mediocre to less than mediocre match ups

I didn't really think of it that way, but it seems true. What truly competitive main event have they put on or going to put on? Ward vs Barrera was a cool fight, but nobody expected it to really be competitive. I love Ward vs Kovalev, but lets be real. That fight isn't going to do that well on ppv.

Is HBO the leader in boxing? PBC gets higher ratings and puts on better fights. Has HBO had a good fight in last year? thats true all the hate and people being paid to bash pbc on twitter sure dont seem to be giving hbo same treatment. sorry but if hbo only going to put competitive fights on hbo thats lame as hell

Once again thank you al haymon for not digging in our pockets for every good.fight

Competitive fights are unaffordable now. Which is understandable when top fighters get $1 million plus for fighting cab drivers. What exactly would you expect when they're asked to fight top level opponents? Loma/Walters didn't get made. Crawford is asking too much money for a Postol fight. He got $1.21 mil in the Lundy fight, so why not ask for more? So the only solution is to do it on PPV.

Crawford/Postol as a PPV main-event doesn't make much sense. At best, it would be a PPV co-main like Garcia/Matthysse was.