Why is HBO starting a war with top rank?

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

I applaud HBO for this.

Top Rank is in full cherry pick mode.

[Safety]

I actually like all the fights. But I think that I'll tune in for both

[Safety]

did arum ever protect floyd?
he was never concerned about floyd losing, he let him fight everyone he wanted to fight.
he never did that with floyd what he does currently with cotto & pacquiao.
proves that arum trusted floyd more than his current fighters.

Wow thats something. But see where all that trust put him. But then again Bob Arum maybe ripped Floyd off.

[Khalid X]

I guess people hate Arum to the point they are making something outta nothing.

HBO isn't making a stand against Arum or giving him the middle finger. Also there is no "war" brewing.

This is as simple as HBO giving Sergio the date first and honoring their commitment. That's some stand up **** and props to them for that because they could have shafted Sergio, a guy who doesn't have a big name, for a proven draw like Cotto.

This happens all the time and really isn't that big of a deal.

@Jrose

I like the idea of double header as well but I think HBO may have to offer around 1.5 to get Zin vs Martinez done. They may have to offer a similar number for a Cotto fight, and I'm not sure they would be willing to put that type of money up for both fights.

[paulf]

Or maybe HBO could have talk to both promoters and offered it as a double header from different venues.

But, HBO is not that smart.

That smart?

The actual day of the fights conflicting is not the issue. It's the money from HBOs budget that they've decided to invest elsewhere, that's what Uncle Bob is upset about.

Martinez and Cotto would be an expensive fight for HBO. There would be no televised undercard.

If they wanted Cotto and Martinez on a double header, Cotto and Sergio would take up the vast majority of the budget. That would mean their opponents would have to be bums willing to take the fight for a few thousand dollars each. Definitely no Vanes, Mayorga or Dzinziruk.

Two **** fights on one night.....that does not sound like a very good idea to me.

[Khalid X]

did arum ever protect floyd?
he was never concerned about floyd losing, he let him fight everyone he wanted to fight.
he never did that with floyd what he does currently with cotto & pacquiao.
proves that arum trusted floyd more than his current fighters.

Well when you wanna fight guys like Judah, Gatti, Corrales, Baldomir and Castillo....well I wouldn't consider those huge risk.

And Arum isn't protecting Manny and Cotto rather taking fights that will benefit him the most finacially.

No matter what you think Cotto vs Margarito rematch makes more
money for Arum than Cotto vs Martinez.

[paulf]

Well when you wanna fight guys like Judah, Gatti, Corrales, Baldomir and Castillo....well I wouldn't consider those risk.

And Arum isn't protecting Manny and Cotto rather taking fights that will benefit him the most finacially.

No matter what you think Cotto vs Margarito rematch makes more
money for Arum than Cotto vs Martinez.

Corrales was considered to be a dangerous fight for Floyd at the time.

And you bet your ass Arum is protecting Cotto.

You just said it yourself. Arums protecting Cotto from Martinez (and Cintron and Angulo) and any other dangerous fight until he can cash in on the Margarito rematch PVV. That's why HBO is telling Arum/Cotto to get lost in the first place.

[Khalid X]

Corrales was considered to be a dangerous fight for Floyd at the time.

And you bet your ass Arum is protecting Cotto.

You just said it yourself. Arums protecting Cotto from Martinez (and Cintron and Angulo) and any other dangerous fight until he can cash in on the Margarito rematch PVV. That's why HBO is telling Arum/Cotto to get lost in the first place.

Dude Angulo has legal issues right now, and isn't even an option. Also, do you honestly think they would be in a rush to put Cintron on after the Williams fiasco?

Then plan was never Cotto vs Martinez in the spring, rather the hope was that it can happen in th fall. Now if you brought up Berto then you might have a point bro.

[jrosales13]

@Jrose

I like the idea of double header as well but I think HBO may have to offer around 1.5 to get Zin vs Martinez done. They may have to offer a similar number for a Cotto fight, and I'm not sure they would be willing to put that type of money up for both fights.

Of course would not be willing. Neither fighter is a Golden Boy nor Al Haymon fighter.

That smart?

The actual day of the fights conflicting is not the issue. It's the money from HBOs budget that they've decided to invest elsewhere, that's what Uncle Bob is upset about.

Martinez and Cotto would be an expensive fight for HBO. There would be no televised undercard.

If they wanted Cotto and Martinez on a double header, Cotto and Sergio would take up the vast majority of the budget. That would mean their opponents would have to be bums willing to take the fight for a few thousand dollars each. Definitely no Vanes, Mayorga or Dzinziruk.

Two **** fights on one night.....that does not sound like a very good idea to me.

Cotto-Vanes would have been for 1.5mil. Martinez-TBA depending on who the opponent would have a different budget.

Cotto brings in ratings. He maybe done or it might be garbage but he brings in ratings. If you trying to showcase Martinez you want people to watch no? Then why not have him with the who had the highest ratings on HBO boxing last year?

HBO paid almost 3mil for the triple header of JMM-Katsidis, Berto-Hernadez, and Caballero-Litzau. They also paid almost 3mil for just Williams-Martinez II(just one fight, not a double header) And, neither of those events did close to the ratings of what Cotto did. And, Martinez-Williams had to get help from the Pac-Margarito replay to get those ratings.

For 3mil, you get what you want and that is showcase Martinez possibly against Dzinziruk(which is not a shit fight mind you) and you get guaranteed ratings, viewers with Cotto-Vanes(which is not a shit fight again) Cotto would bring a fan base that might not be familiar with Martinez. See that is a show case.

And, not only that it could lead to a possible build up for a potential(don't know how serious) Martinez-Cotto at the end of the year which has been talked about.

You really couldn't go wrong with that set up. And, HBO budget is brand new, so they have money. And again they paid almost what would they pay for this double header just last month but this will give them guarantee ratings and will not be garbage fights.

But, at the end of the day HBO is not that smart to even try to talk to the promoters about this. Ross Greenburg needs to go, they need a boxing guy. Go bring back Seth Abraham.

[Devils Advocate]

HBO wanted Cotto to face Angulo, then Cintron, then Martinez. Uncle Bob turned down all those fights, because he wants to protect Cotto until he can cash in on the Cotto/Margarito II PPV.

Bob thought he could just turn down all these solid fight offers from HBO, then offer them a Cotto vs Bum fight and automatically get the date he wanted.

HBO is standing up to him. This is bad for Bob Arum and good for Boxing.

I agree with 90% of what you said, Cotto could have fought in December and had the rematch with Margarito in June 2011. A double header with Martinez and Cotto would have been nice if it were signed that the winners square off but there are 2 many varibles