ESPN Vit/Gomez coverage sucks!!

[Libido Sanchez]

It costs a lot of money to put on a boxing match and televise it. I recall reading an article about The Dream Match revenue and if I remember correctly, I think it stated that half of the PPV money went to cover cost.

I don't know the financial details about this event, but I've had some TV production experience and if ESPN has a big production team going overseas, that alone is gonna cost big money (more than likely, however, most of the production will be local I would imagine, meaning camera operators, techs, equipment and stuff like that will be from Germany).

I personally don't know anything about what goes on behind-the-scenes at ESPN, but don't be surprised if any number of factors are in play for ESPN not properly promoting this fight. Internal politics happen at networks and priority is definitely given to proven ratings winners like the NCAA Tourney. The fact that there's tons of games to promote for college basketball stretching through March Madness versus a one-time event like a boxing match might be one reason for lack of promo.

I've seen networks spend millions on shows and then not promote them because they're trying to save money. A good show will probably tank in the ratings without necessary promotion (these days, with hundreds of channels to choose from you got to almost force people to watch your programming by enticing them beyond belief). But if a show that wasn't promoted tanks, the network usually blames the show for not being good enough.

[Chase8400]

Yeah, there's definitely a few reasons this isn't being hyped up much. For a start, the Klitschkos' are not big draws. They're seen as rather boring in the ring and out of it, and that's by the people who actually know who they are. Then you have Gomez, who isn't even that well known by boxing fans let alone anybody else. The little that some people have seen of him hasn't been enough to impress them. That's partly due to the fact he hasn't fought in America much, partly due to his style, and partly due to him not fighting to his potential in the fights he has been seen in.

If it were a, let's say, Ike Ibeabuchi, who was coming off some devastating knockouts and had a bandwagon behind him, then it may well by a different story. I actually think the Klitschko vs Gomez fight might be fun, despite the possibility it may be dull.

You are making a mistake by labelling both the Klitschko's based solely on Wladimir's reputation.

Vitali has never been in a dull fight and goes for the KO every time. He doesn't allow somebody to 'one up' him. Not Lennox Lewis, not Kirk Johnson, not Corrie Sanders, not Sam peter and he won't allow Gomez. The only thing that landed shots will do for Gomez is ensure that he gets hit twice for each one he lands. The more agressive he gets, the ealier he gets to go to sleep. Mark my words.

[paul750]

You are making a mistake by labelling both the Klitschko's based solely on Wladimir's reputation.

Vitali has never been in a dull fight and goes for the KO every time. He doesn't allow somebody to 'one up' him. Not Lennox Lewis, not Kirk Johnson, not Corrie Sanders, not Sam peter and he won't allow Gomez. The only thing that landed shots will do for Gomez is ensure that he gets hit twice for each one he lands. The more agressive he gets, the ealier he gets to go to sleep. Mark my words.

Vitali is only in an exciting fight if the opponent makes it one. In fairness, that isn't altogther his fault, but his style is still rather awkward and robotic. Mike Tyson could have went into the ring and punched a bodybag filled with sand and people still would have been entertained because of the explosiveness of him.

[ferocity]

i agree espn is ****ing up, they could sell this fight with the network they have but don't doesn't make sense

[STEELHEAD]

......This is potentially a huge event for them IMO and they are giving it next to nothing in coverage on TV or on their website. Why the hell did they even want this fight if they were just going to piss away an opportunity to excite a potential fan base and give the die hard heavyweight fans something to talk about? When was the last time ESPN televised a heavyweight title fight? What a joke!!! Maybe it's the competing NCAA tourney coverage or something.

you know its been explained to me that espn is made up of dozens of competing divisions. each division has a hard ass ceo ruling who alocates money theyve been given to each project under him. evidently espn doesnt find boxing worthy. i'mean when fnf is preempted by college basketball i don't like it. but looking at exects side theres a lot of playa s into ncaa.
teddy atlas , tessatori,pappa can't do nothing about it.

a year ago january i think it was teddy did the cardinal sin of biting the hand that feeds him when on the air he complained about new exect at espn2 allowing one promotor to showcase his stable which was leading to some sub par matchups. he was fired for two weeks.
whats that tell you.

for those interested i have an over/under bet on this one:

http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253248

[beez721]

The Klitschkos are hugely popular in Europe, but for some reason they get no press or bad press in the US.

Vitali is one of the most exciting heavyweights ever. Anyone who says he is obviously prejudiced.

if they were americans they'd be huge as they are in germany. european fighters never get respect in america

[marooncat1600]

thats because theyre boring as hell

[BrooklynBomber]

Hey, just because they are big does not mean they are smart.

This goes especially true for the ESPN network.

[KILLA RIGHT]

You are making a mistake by labelling both the Klitschko's based solely on Wladimir's reputation.

Vitali has never been in a dull fight and goes for the KO every time. He doesn't allow somebody to 'one up' him. Not Lennox Lewis, not Kirk Johnson, not Corrie Sanders, not Sam peter and he won't allow Gomez. The only thing that landed shots will do for Gomez is ensure that he gets hit twice for each one he lands. The more agressive he gets, the ealier he gets to go to sleep. Mark my words.

word wlad isnt close to vitali. Vitali might not be tyson in his prime but dude is alot better then wlad to watch

[Ben_London.]

You are making a mistake by labelling both the Klitschko's based solely on Wladimir's reputation.

Vitali has never been in a dull fight and goes for the KO every time. He doesn't allow somebody to 'one up' him. Not Lennox Lewis, not Kirk Johnson, not Corrie Sanders, not Sam peter and he won't allow Gomez. The only thing that landed shots will do for Gomez is ensure that he gets hit twice for each one he lands. The more agressive he gets, the ealier he gets to go to sleep. Mark my words.

Excellent post!