ESPNClassic did something strange

[Fox McCloud]

They are showing Jeff Lacy vs. Syd Vanderpool right now, and they have the Showtime announcers commentating, the Showtime round clock. Hell, they even started the show with the whole Showtime intro...

The strangest part of it all is that the main fight for this broadcast is supposed to be W. Klitschko vs. Williamson, which would be promoting an HBO fight. It seems strange that they gave such a massive shoutout to Showtime.

[Scott9945]

They are showing Jeff Lacy vs. Syd Vanderpool right now, and they have the Showtime announcers commentating, the Showtime round clock. Hell, they even started the show with the whole Showtime intro...

The strangest part of it all is that the main fight for this broadcast is supposed to be W. Klitschko vs. Williamson, which would be promoting an HBO fight. It seems strange that they gave such a massive shoutout to Showtime.

ESPN just bought the Showtime fight library. Expect to see plenty more of it.

[neils7147933]

They are showing Jeff Lacy vs. Syd Vanderpool right now, and they have the Showtime announcers commentating, the Showtime round clock. Hell, they even started the show with the whole Showtime intro...

The strangest part of it all is that the main fight for this broadcast is supposed to be W. Klitschko vs. Williamson, which would be promoting an HBO fight. It seems strange that they gave such a massive shoutout to Showtime.

Actually Wladimir Klitschko vs. Davarryl Williamson was a Showtime fight. It was on Showtime up against the HBO PPV Felix Trinidad vs. Ricardo Mayorga.

I believe it's the only time Wlad fought on Showtime. Vitali's comeback fight vs. Jameel McCline was to be on Showtime as well.

[Easy-E]

Showtime has some really good fights though, I was getting sick of seeing the Friday Night Fights bull**** and have ESPN try and pull it off as classic.

[warp1432]

Well here's hoping they show Corrales vs Castillo and Lacy vs Calzaghe.

[JL FightFan]

ESPN Classic is showing a bio of Jim Braddock right now.

[Fox McCloud]

Actually Wladimir Klitschko vs. Davarryl Williamson was a Showtime fight. It was on Showtime up against the HBO PPV Felix Trinidad vs. Ricardo Mayorga.

I believe it's the only time Wlad fought on Showtime. Vitali's comeback fight vs. Jameel McCline was to be on Showtime as well.

No, I was saying that they were showing Wladimir Klitschko's old fight to promote tonight's HBO fight of Klitschko vs. Ibragimov. I just thought it was a tad strange that HBO is paying ESPN to promote their fight, and they had the Showtime intro and announcers and what not.

I guess it didn't bother them enough to pull on the deal, but still... it probably irked them a bit.

[Kball15]

No, I was saying that they were showing Wladimir Klitschko's old fight to promote tonight's HBO fight of Klitschko vs. Ibragimov. I just thought it was a tad strange that HBO is paying ESPN to promote their fight, and they had the Showtime intro and announcers and what not.

I guess it didn't bother them enough to pull on the deal, but still... it probably irked them a bit.

Hbo isnt paying them, ESPN Classic does that voluntarily.

They are aware that if a name fighter is fighting this weekend, people probably want to see that man fight if they can.

So the ratings are better.

It doesnt cost HBO a dime, but it helps them most of the time, certainly.

In this case though, lol, it hurts them. That fight was awful, sloppy, boring, and ended abruptly. Which means people are now more likely to tune into ESPN classic then HBO. lol!!!

[Fox McCloud]

Hbo isnt paying them, ESPN Classic does that voluntarily.

They are aware that if a name fighter is fighting this weekend, people probably want to see that man fight if they can.

So the ratings are better.

It doesnt cost HBO a dime, but it helps them most of the time, certainly.

In this case though, lol, it hurts them. That fight was awful, sloppy, boring, and ended abruptly. Which means people are now more likely to tune into ESPN classic then HBO. lol!!!

Are you sure HBO doesn't pay them? I can't imagine ESPN showing a whole week of Vargas and Mayorga bouts before their fight (which was Showtime obviously) just for the hell of it.

It's a bargaining chip, and I'm sure they got something out of it.

[Kball15]

Are you sure HBO doesn't pay them? I can't imagine ESPN showing a whole week of Vargas and Mayorga bouts before their fight (which was Showtime obviously) just for the hell of it.

It's a bargaining chip, and I'm sure they got something out of it.

well in cases like vargas-mayorga im sure Showtime gives them stuff for free, like the countdown show and a few fights, but i dont think they pay them. Maybe they do in instances like that.

But im 90% sure HBO didnt pay for ESPN classic to show that Klitschko fight. It would have hurt business. They arent even showing Klitschko fights on HBO.