Why isn't the Wlad-Haye match being promoted properly in the US?

[The Gully Gad]

I dont even watch the heavies nor do i get excited about a matchup
but im excited about this one and im watching it!

[FreshPrince]

A big heavyweight fight like this in which both fighters are pretty unknown in the US needs more than just a countdown show, though, IMO. They should make an exception in this case. I think it deserves at least a 24/7.

It's not a ppv fight. There will be no 24/7. If Haye wins the rematch might get a 24/7. At most I think HBO will put commercials on ESPN and a few other channels.

[Motofan]

It's because nobody in the US outside of SERIOUS boxing fans have ever heard of Haye. They would assume it was just another hype job being sold to them. Also, it isnt like Wlad gets his fights hyped much. He may be the best heavyweight in the world, but he isnt the most people pleasing. So basically, it isnt being promoted much because you have (from the casual fans view) a no name and a boring guy fighting in the least popular division in Boxing. We care, nobody else will. All the trash talking and magazine pictures in the world wont change that.

[J.B.moneY.]

seems like hbo is pushing arreola a bit....he gets a lot of mention to me, when they discuss the hw division

[Motofan]

seems like hbo is pushing arreola a bit....he gets a lot of mention to me, when they discuss the hw division

It's because they know how loyal Mexican fight fans are. They know that if "The Nipple" turns out to be any good they will have a huge built in fan base for him. That and Merchant loves guys who come to fight. He loves Arreola.

[J.B.moneY.]

It's because they know how loyal Mexican fight fans are. They know that if "The Nipple" turns out to be any good they will have a huge built in fan base for him. That and Merchant loves guys who come to fight. He loves Arreola.

very true...plus both merchant and leaderman hate defensive fighters

[Dave Rado]

It's because nobody in the US outside of SERIOUS boxing fans have ever heard of Haye.

Don't you think that part of the reason that they haven't heard of him is because the US media isn't giving him any coverage? Here's a recent quote from him:

“I’m taking this fight to save boxing. I’m doing this for Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and all the other great, smaller heavyweights of the past. I feel as though I’ve been sent by all the great heavyweights of yesteryear to clean up and save the heavyweight division. The clean-up operation starts with Wladimir on June 20. I guarantee I’ll knock him out in spectacular fashion, I’m his worse nightmare.”

He's a very quotable guy, whether you like his brash, arrogant style or not. He also has a very high KO record and is exciting to watch; and it's likely to be an explosive fight, potentially the most exciting heavyweight fight for many years - and it's going to be screened free to air in the US, so anyone will be able to watch it. I still think it would be a huge missed opportunity if the US media don't give it a lot of publicity, especially if HBO doesn't. The way to make him better known is to give him good publicity.

I think part of the problem may be that K2 is the sole promoter, and I doubt they have particularly strong US publicity and media contacts - but they could subcontract that part of the promotion to GBP if they wanted to.

[Pullcounter]

there will be no 24/7 for Haye/Wlad... neither are good enough for it.

they'll get a countdown for it though.

I'm pretty sure HBO will announce it every time they do a boxing show on regular HBO.

honestly, this fight sells itself in the UK and Germany.

in the US... meh... Haye isn't well known enough and I think the US is already familiar with Wlad, but don't like his boxing style.

Wlad has appeared on Leno before.

[Dave Rado]

Wlad has appeared on Leno before.

That's the sort of thing it needs to sell the fight - appearances on shows like Leno. If that happened, Haye's trash talking should be able to raise some interest in the fight and get him better known in the US.

[Pullcounter]

That's the sort of thing it needs to sell the fight - appearances on shows like Leno. If that happened, Haye's trash talking should be able to raise some interest in the fight and get him better known in the US.

yeah... boxers should go on shows to announce who they'll fight... just like arnold announced that he'd run for california state governor on leno