Why is HBO starting a war with top rank?

[paulf]

I dont think Cotto vs VAnes is a bum fight, thats the fight Bob offered HBO originally.

HBO wanted Cotto/Angulo in the fall, then someone (Angulos promoter says it was Arum protecting Cotto) blew the whistle on Angulos immigration status.

Then they wanted Cotto/Cintron, an all Puerto-Rican fight in NYC or PR in December. Arum declined.

Then, and this one HBO really wanted, the Martinez offer came through. Cotto actually loved the idea of this fight and was interested in the challenge to become unified middleweight champ, but once again Arum turned the fight down.

The Vanes fight isn't terrible but it's one with a pretty clear Cotto victory. HBO knows that Arum isn't willing to put Cotto in with anyone who poses a real threat, because he doesn't want to lose interest in a PPV Cotto/Marg rematch.

Angulo, Cintron, and Martinez are all top-shelf HBO fighters who have appeared on the network 4+ times each. Arum declined all three fights so HBO decided not to waste their money on a Cotto tuneup.


In my opinion this is a great, great move by HBO and a sign of good things to come. HBO and Showtime are the ones giving the handouts, why should they let the scumbag "promoters" push them around?

[Khalid X]

Both will suffer from this

They need eachother equally but i think this is a one time thing and this "war" will work itself out

Im just suprised they would shun cotto after he gave them the highest rating of the year

I'm shocked Arum had to convince them to pick up Donaire vs Montiel. I wish they would hire someone, like promotional companies do when they hire matchmakers, that knows about the sport and has an eye for great matchups.

[Russian Crushin]

The thing that displeases me the most about this is having the two cards on the same day on diff networks competing. Its bad for the sport.

Yes i agree

If The Cotto fight was on an independant date then i would have brought it most likely since he is one of my fav fighters

But with Sergio on HBO, i just cant push myself to pay $50 for cotto when i already have a good fight going

[gancho_al_igado]

Yes i agree

If The Cotto fight was on an independant date then i would have brought it most likely since he is one of my fav fighters

But with Sergio on HBO, i just cant push myself to pay $50 for cotto when i already have a good fight going

You see thats what i mean, Cotto will fight anybody and he dont really deserve that.

[paulf]

Yes i agree

If The Cotto fight was on an independant date then i would have brought it most likely since he is one of my fav fighters

But with Sergio on HBO, i just cant push myself to pay $50 for cotto when i already have a good fight going

If Cotto's promoter had allowed him to accept the Martinez fight he'd be fighting on HBO on that March HBO date along with Martinez.

Cotto is a warrior but, just like Pacquiao, he's letting Arum guide him away from the fights fans really want to see.

I mean, there were multiple titles and p4p status to be gained from fighting Martinez.

[ChampBox@PR]

Cotto deserves to be push aside by HBO. Fighting Mayorga is a TR PPV thing. Im glad they didnt pay for it. Cotto and the rest of TR fighters needs to man up and stan to arum. He is ruing them and boxing. I know for a fact Cotto wanted Martinez badly.

[Motofan]

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.

Exactly. ^^^^^^^

[Left Hook Tua]

I actually praise HBO for not buying the bullshit ass fight with Mayorga.

But to be fair, Cotto deserves to be on HBO way more than Berto. Berto gets away with way too much bullshit.

it was cotto-martirosyan hbo didn't buy.

which i think is a good fight imo.


it only became cotto-mayorga when it was to be ppv.

[Las Vegas,]

Why would I buy Cotto-Mayorga?
I can just watch Sergio Martinez for free and download Cotto-Mayorga. I'm not paying 50 dollars for that unless it's on Showtime or HBO PPV. Besides, it's a bad move putting it on PPV considering how I think UFC will also be on that date.

TR doesn't get mr excited or hype up like HBO does. Theres a huge difference.

[serv]

Yes i agree

If The Cotto fight was on an independant date then i would have brought it most likely since he is one of my fav fighters

But with Sergio on HBO, i just cant push myself to pay $50 for cotto when i already have a good fight going

I believe you will buy Sergio than Cotto PPV but casual fans will buy the latter.
Arum knows where he stands on this issue. Just to make a point, I think he will go for that same date without HBO because he knows Cotto's PPV even not under HBO will outsell HBO's Sergio.

I know Arum is doing boxing a big disfavor with his **** match-ups, but this is one battle with HBO that I think he will win. He holds the ace on Cotto.

However, I do hope that HBO will stick to their gun just to make a point with promoters making BS fights.