Spending On the Past With No Investment in the Future

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Jake Donovan - Today - Wednesday August 20, 2008 - will represent to most just another mid-week happy hump day. For the boxing world, it's Day 110 in the search of the perfect Golden ending.

The journey began with HBO investing heavily in Oscar de la Hoya's May 3 infomercial in their hopes (and nobody else's) of immediately thereafter securing the planned September 20 rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Those plans were obviously thwarted the moment Mayweather called it a career. Regardless of the real reason why, it's abundantly clear that whatever was on the table isn't enough to change his mind.

No worries, they thought. It's not like there's any shortage of fighters wanting a crack at de la Hoya, especially this deep into his career.

Chief among the list has been Manny Pacquiao in a potential matchup that started out as a "what if" scenario played out in the mind of longtime HBO color commentator Larry Merchant, but has since taken on a life of its own in dominating headlines on a daily basis.

All that changes is the original blueprint – three fights in his last year as a professional fighter now changes to two. Release the September date and instead invest heavily into the December 6 curtain call. [details]

[MANGLER]

Too many ****in PPV's, and the undercards always need more work. The whole Cotto-Tony card was pretty good, but that's a rarity. And all the other old guys who are on their last legs are fightin game opponents in quality fights. DLH is the only one bein a ***** about it, which he can get away wit cuz he's the biggest star.

[Mojita]

Too many ****in PPV's, and the undercards always need more work. The whole Cotto-Tony card was pretty good, but that's a rarity. And all the other old guys who are on their last legs are fightin game opponents in quality fights. DLH is the only one bein a ***** about it, which he can get away wit cuz he's the biggest star.

Exactly.

Casamayor-Marquez belongs on regular HBO, as well as Hopkins-Pavlik.

DLH-???, and Joe-Jones is a reasonable PPV.

but all these PPVs are getting out of hand, $50 isn't exactly chump change. Especially with todays situation with economony

[adrsan84]

I won't buy any of these PPV's. Some of them are decent fights that I would like to watch but if people keep buying the PPV's they'll keep selling them.

[MR. V]

oscar is a straight up ******, nuff said. i used to like him as a fighter but hes a straight up ***** as a person. i cant respect that. .

[jk4real]

I think it's pretty obvious that DLH never learned the business right. I don't like Arum that much but even I have to say that he at least if in charge puts together solid cards (like Tony-Cotto). DLH knows about the money aspect... marketing... but he does it with old ones... I guess the saying is true... There are no young or old ones... there are only good and bad ones... if money is on the table... you can bet that DLH is going to be involved... but don't blame it takes a lot to build a young prospect up... a lot of time... and time is money...

The Gamboa kid that is mentioned in the article is dynamite... he's unbelievable... I just hope he stays straight and doesn't get ****ed up like so many Cubans... he has some serious talent and punching power... I would love to see him down the road against Vitali Tajbert... this could be a classic...

Yeah... but what do you want to do... I mean a Roy Jones makes still more money for HBO then a young up and coming fighter... also HBO did throw out all the real boxing folks a long time ago... now business men running the ship... and money doesn't stinks... I hope it changes a bit when DLH retires... because he then doesn't fight anymore so they couldn't care less about his GBP... with the exception of some fighters. But I doubt it... they will believe in DLH (he probably will buy HBO or become the president of HBO)

[DoomCity202]

Why doesn't this clown leave and just promote.

At this point its obviously not about the money for him.

I personally wish he would leave.

I never thought I'd get tired of hearing one of my fav fighters name.

[TheSurgeonMDMPH]

I wont be paying for PPV til the RJJ/***azhe fight! Its looking pretty sad for GBP now. They play too many games and treat real fans like we are ****** and expect us to buy into their BS. Safe to say the next superstar won't be under that banner!

[BattlingNelson]

Very good article by Jake Donovan. The main point here is that the promotors and networks has failed and continue to fail making new stars. The continuing trend of putting old fighters against other old fighters is bad. Maybe these fights are recognizable by the casual fan which is ok I guess but a weak undercard not showcasing some young lions is very shortsighted.

3 'problems' are in boxing today:

1) The heavies lack good americans and a champion who catches the eye of Joe Average.

2) A historical low in US boxing stars which might be even worse considering the age of several superstars.

3) Failure by the networks to produce new stars. It's my conviction that there's as much talent in boxing at present as there have been in the past. It's just not in the US. US networks needs to build stars from other countries. I'm sure that the american public will be happy to embrace a talent regardless of his origin. The talent just needs to be showcased.

[Catrin]

Oscar You Make Me Sick!!!! This Is What Happens When Fighters Are More Worried About Making Money Than Building A Legacy Like Our True World Boxing Champs... It Is Very Sad But True... Leave Oscar !!!the World Of Boxing Does Not Need You!!! People Like You Give Boxing A Bad Rep....