Comments Thread For: HBO Picks The Wrong Fighter To Take The Right Stance

[Bushbaby]

This was a truly awesome read!!

[Kevin Malone]

Damn, HBO really needs to promote shitty fights. This idea that they will only televise a legitimate contender instead of Andy Lee really disturbs me. I really wanted to see an HBO card headlined by Andy Lee.

[warp1432]

"Wrong Fighter, Right Stance" sums it up perfectly. I think HBO, as a network that has prominently featured boxing for years, has always represented themselves as an objective bystander trying to show the public the best fights available.

How much of what fights get made depend on the network's approval is one of the mysteries of boxing politics the general public isn't aware of. The fact that HBO has enough pull - in the revenues the fighters see if their fight is shown on the network- should leave them with a responsibility to the sport to help the best fights get made. This hasn't always been the case and, to start with Sergio Martinez- a man who is going to fight the best opponent he can regardless of HBO's push- is laughable.

To me, I think it shows that HBO realizes the boxing megastars like Pacquiao and Mayweather have transcended the need for their network to back their fights. Without HBO on board Pac or Floyd could easily have Showtime throw them money or, at worst, have Golden Boy or Top Rank - respectively- throw a PPV together for them. The big stars don't really need HBO anymore and- the two fighters we most want to be strongly urged to fight each other, as mentioned, are immune to HBO's weapons.

Sergio Martinez, on the other hand, still needs the exposure of HBO. He's fought hard, become a champion, and is coming off an enormous KO win that has his career full of momentum- but he hasn't transcended the sport. He isn't known to the general sports fan. So, despite is championship status, HBO can take a hard line with him- demand a man who would have fought a worthy opponent anyway- fight a specific guy. It shows that HBO wants to check the big boys into fighting, can't, and the best they can do is prod around the middleweight champion to march to their drum. Unnecessary.

This is where I disagree with a lot of people. Zbik and Lee are not worthy opponents. Lee's most notable win since his loss to Vera is Michael Walker. Zbik's most notable win is not as good as Daniel Santos.

I won't bash for HBO providing a quality fight. Sure Martinez has had tough fights, but he's getting paid good money for them. Why are people complaining? Originally he said he wanted to get money, not have easy fights.

HBO promised Dziniziruk a date for some reason, but I'm not complaining about this fight. I agree with others that they should push it on others, but how they have treated Martinez isn't that blasphemous. This the best fight in the spring made so far.

[danny711]

It's funny how Berto gets over a mil for half a round against a weak opponent but Sergio gets hardballed.

[Pullcounter]

It's funny how Berto gets over a mil for half a round against a weak opponent but Sergio gets hardballed.

hopefully that was berto's last bum on HBO

[jbpanama]

HBO, at the moment, considers the middle weights, "lack Luster",
but this fight makes Sergio a MILLION DOLLAR MAN!!!

[Njord777]

This is where I disagree with a lot of people. Zbik and Lee are not worthy opponents. Lee's most notable win since his loss to Vera is Michael Walker. Zbik's most notable win is not as good as Daniel Santos.

I won't bash for HBO providing a quality fight. Sure Martinez has had tough fights, but he's getting paid good money for them. Why are people complaining? Originally he said he wanted to get money, not have easy fights.

HBO promised Dziniziruk a date for some reason, but I'm not complaining about this fight. I agree with others that they should push it on others, but how they have treated Martinez isn't that blasphemous. This the best fight in the spring made so far.

It isn't a blasphemous idea, no - I just strongly feel like there's a large list of boxers who HBO does need to push to fight strong opponents. Sergio is a middleweight and I think he should be fighting at 160; it does lack a strong roster of opponents, though.

I mean you can be against the Lee fight, but whose really out there at middleweight? If he can't find a big resume, he might as well get as big a name as he can- avoiding people isn't the issue with Martinez. I suppose I'd just like the network to use its clout with some other boxers first, and I think starting with Martinez is a sham. He deserves to bask in his achievements. Pavlik was allowed to **** around and do nothing with his reign, so I'm not going to start pointing fingers at Maravilla.