Comments Thread For: HBO's Call on Sergio Martinez's March 12 Opponent

[OnePunch]

It's Damon/Dibella productions! And it would be with the Forbes.com Video Network....

Here's the link: http://video.forbes.com/fvn/sportsmoney/mo_sm041307

welcome to 4 years ago. That deal already went bust.............

[Scott9945]

A few possbilities:

Max - another premium network trying to gain ground since SHO and HBO have pulled away.

ESPN - Could be upping the game, but seems doubtful (they seem content with FNF and have a ton of other programming).

Versus - Just got rights to World Series of Boxing. Then again, they got burnt a few years ago on boxing. Plus, I dont think they have that deep of pockets (then again, they have the NHL, Indycar, and a few other high profile sports).

Fox Sports - Wide reach, decent name, seems to have had some success with Top Rank Live. However, they are relatively disorganized (due having the regional network model) and Bellitor (MMA) has been a disaster for them by way of programming.

USA/TNT/etc. - top tier cable companies could try to add a sports package, but seems odd that boxing would be place to start (seems more likely to something like mid-major college basketball).

****e - in bed with UFC. But rumor is UFC may make own network in coming years like WWE is doing. ****e may be planning for the future. Then again, they dont have deep pockets either.

NBC/ABC/CBS/Fox - One can hope...

Any other types I am missing?

Then again, they may be blowing smoke on this mystery new network entry.

You can cross Max off the list. They (Cinemax) are owned by HBO. Your last line seems the most likely to me.

[Antwuan Maxx]

A few possbilities:

Max - another premium network trying to gain ground since SHO and HBO have pulled away.

ESPN - Could be upping the game, but seems doubtful (they seem content with FNF and have a ton of other programming).

Versus - Just got rights to World Series of Boxing. Then again, they got burnt a few years ago on boxing. Plus, I dont think they have that deep of pockets (then again, they have the NHL, Indycar, and a few other high profile sports).

Fox Sports - Wide reach, decent name, seems to have had some success with Top Rank Live. However, they are relatively disorganized (due having the regional network model) and Bellitor (MMA) has been a disaster for them by way of programming.

USA/TNT/etc. - top tier cable companies could try to add a sports package, but seems odd that boxing would be place to start (seems more likely to something like mid-major college basketball).

****e - in bed with UFC. But rumor is UFC may make own network in coming years like WWE is doing. ****e may be planning for the future. Then again, they dont have deep pockets either.

NBC/ABC/CBS/Fox - One can hope...

Any other types I am missing?

Then again, they may be blowing smoke on this mystery new network entry.

I think it could possibly be FX. They already have a Boxing television series called "Lights Out" slated to premiere next month. Also, it seems like their pockets would be deep enough to entice an HBO fighter away to their network since they are owned by Fox.

[prsi]

isnt cotto gonna fight on march 12 too, most likely in msg..... hope its a double header, thatll be great. i doubt it though.

i think cotto fights in las vegas.

yea cottos fighting on the same date but at MGM vegas not at the garden...looks like this will be a double header, all boxing fans circle march 12th on the calendar

I still dont know why pirog isnt being considered....either pirogs being blackballed by HBO or martinez camps wants nothing to do with a high risk/low reward dangerous fighter like pirog

I really doubt that this is a doubleheader. Cotto is with Arum and he has already said that his fight might go on Top Rank PPV probably with Mayorga and I really doubt, and i also consider it a bad idea, that Dibella will want to go against a Cotto-Mayorga fight the same night, especially when he is still trying to build a fan base for Martinez. One of these fight will not take place on that date, only IF(and this is a big IF), Dibella and Arum agree to put on the main event Berto-Cotto and then put Sergio as a "co-main event" in the MSG. For that to happen there have to be a lot of negotiations about the income as Dibella will have 2 fighters althoug the fan base will strongly be in favor of Cotto.
On a previous thread Dibella mentioned that he would make Berto-Cotto happen on March 12 and i do not think he would put his 2 best figters to compete for rating on the same night so we never know!!!.

[isbj]

CBS already has Saturday Night Fights in place that they were showcasing MMA on, so I would guess they could add boxing to that very easily. Not to mention that they own Showtime.

[mathed]

HBO needs to stop d*cking Martinez around and let him fight who he wants to fight. People just want to see him clown someone...they don't care who it is.

[007geyweather]

BoxingScene.com was advised by Lou DiBella, promoter for WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, that HBO is going to make the final call on Martinez's next opponent. DiBella has already reserved the date of March 12 at the WaMu Theater in New York's Madison Square Garden. The three opponents under consideration are WBC interim-champion Sebastian Zbik, WBO 154-pound champion Sergei Dzinziruk, and once-beaten Andy Lee.

[Click Here To Read More]

Andre Berto Vs. Martinez should be made since Martinez wants to fight pacquiao. He should just pull up all the Welterweight

[Iceta Lives]

Just fight Pirog. Dibella said he wanted Martinez to fight three times in 2011, but HBO isn't gonna let him just fight anybody. It has to be a quality match up and both Dzinziruk and Pirog are acceptable opponents. Although from what I understand Dzinziruk comes with a high price tag as far as purse parity because of what his promoter has to give him as a minimum for every fight and I think that is what is killing any chance of him getting a crack at Sergio.

[hitking]

Dzinziruk is the best of the bunch, by far.

[sw33tsci3nc3]

HBO needs to stop d*cking Martinez around and let him fight who he wants to fight. People just want to see him clown someone...they don't care who it is.

Martinez..Never gonna cross over...never gonna get a PPV... flash in the pan guy.... A bum...