Thomas Hauser Crushes HBO Boxing Decisions

[IMDAZED]

I agree about the fact that he points out that Golden Boy holds a monopoly over HBO, but what I don't agree with is that he made it seem like Glen Johnson and Chad Dawson is a fight that shouldn't be happening. I agree about the Tarver-Dawson rematch being pointless. I don't remember exactly how he worded his opinion about the Dawson-Johnson rematch, but I think he said that he thought that was another fight that HBO shouldn't have picked it up.

Agreed. Dawson-Johnson II is money well-invested even if Dawson doesn't reach superstardom. He's slowly building up a name. I would expect 3000 in attendance for this one but hey, you never know. Neither of these guys pack the arena. Dawson isn't going to crossover Mayweather-style but if he continues to win, he'll get some bigger fights and perhaps reach the kind of popularity a Pea Whitaker had.

[Iceta]

He also may have his information wrong about HBO's budget cut. I'm sure that HBO will cut their budget somewhat, but I don't think they will make the kind of cut that he is talking about. I agree with the fact that a lot of HBO's fighters are way overpaid. I think the good of the article outweighs the negative. I like reading articles written by Thomas Hauser.

[DonTaseMeBrah]

Great article and information. Obviously HBO's deal with Golden Boy is what screwed them the most this year. Horrible!

And how much money they put into chad dawson is simply baffling, why would you ever think he's going to be a big star? He doesn't have the style, charisma, etc.

Greenburg’s decision to spend US$3,200,000 plus production and marketing costs on Dawson-Tarver II left a lot of people shaking their heads. Their first fight (on Showtime) had been twelve rounds of tedium that engendered a paid attendance of 911 (a true emergency number). The only reason they were fighting again was that Tarver exercised a rematch clause in his contract.


Dawson-Tarver II typified much of what’s wrong with the decision-making process at HBO Sports. It was summer stock on a Broadway budget. According to records filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, 1,426 tickets were sold. The live gate receipts totaled a meager $170,280. Something is very wrong when a network pays a license fee that’s nineteen times the live gate for a fight that can’t sell out a small hotel venue.

agree. he does not have that "it" quality about him. its definitely missing. the fact that he is not a power puncher & does not have exciting style will hurt him.

[ИATAS]

Great article and information. Obviously HBO's deal with Golden Boy is what screwed them the most this year. Horrible!

And how much money they put into chad dawson is simply baffling, why would you ever think he's going to be a big star? He doesn't have the style, charisma, etc.

Greenburg’s decision to spend US$3,200,000 plus production and marketing costs on Dawson-Tarver II left a lot of people shaking their heads. Their first fight (on Showtime) had been twelve rounds of tedium that engendered a paid attendance of 911 (a true emergency number). The only reason they were fighting again was that Tarver exercised a rematch clause in his contract.


Dawson-Tarver II typified much of what’s wrong with the decision-making process at HBO Sports. It was summer stock on a Broadway budget. According to records filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, 1,426 tickets were sold. The live gate receipts totaled a meager $170,280. Something is very wrong when a network pays a license fee that’s nineteen times the live gate for a fight that can’t sell out a small hotel venue.

[Iceta]

I agree about the fact that he points out that Golden Boy holds a monopoly over HBO, but what I don't agree with is that he made it seem like Glen Johnson and Chad Dawson is a fight that shouldn't be happening. I agree about the Tarver-Dawson rematch being pointless. I don't remember exactly how he worded his opinion about the Dawson-Johnson rematch, but I think he said that he thought that was another fight that HBO shouldn't have picked it up.

[Glamour Puss]

Hauser is in a league of his own among boxing writers.

What a masterpiece!!

[Spear]

Not to mention Greenburg acting as some sort of go-between for HBO and GBP. Remember when they "suggested" GBP promote Calzaghe-Jones?

golden boy promotions are a bunch of amateurs in boxing promoting. they only make it because of oscar's name & now floyd's. they have not developed a single fighter to elite status. not one.

[IMDAZED]

the real blame is on ross greenburg. he is the one who gave golden boy those deals. greenburg is not really a boxing guy. hbo bad was "bad" when lou dibella was head of hbo boxing department. he's a boxing guy through & through. You should buy exciting fights, not unproven fighters who you think might be exciting.

Not to mention Greenburg acting as some sort of go-between for HBO and GBP. Remember when they "suggested" GBP promote Calzaghe-Jones?

[Spear]

I would almost put half the blame at least on Golden Boy promotions. When they struck the deal with HBO and started putting piss poor cards together, things really started to crumble.

the real blame is on ross greenburg. he is the one who gave golden boy those deals. greenburg is not really a boxing guy. hbo bad was "bad" when lou dibella was head of hbo boxing department. he's a boxing guy through & through. You should buy exciting fights, not unproven fighters who you think might be exciting.

[krazyn8tive]

I would almost put half the blame at least on Golden Boy promotions. When they struck the deal with HBO and started putting piss poor cards together, things really started to crumble.