Boxing needs to align themselves with the FOX network!

[Trapped Bird]

Not true at all...

Les Moonves, the president and CEO of CBS Corp., was hosting Top Rank officials Bob Arum and Todd duBoef at a dinner in New York in late January when he spoke words that may ultimately change the course of boxing in the United States.

The meal came only a few days after Top Rank had closed a deal with CBS and Showtime to distribute and help it promote its May 7 pay-per-view bout between Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley, which will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Top Rank’s decision to move to CBS/Showtime and away from HBO Pay-Per-View, which had dominated the industry for the last dozen years or so, sent shockwaves reverberating throughout the boxing industry.

Moonves looked at Arum and duBoef and, referring to the May 7 pay-per-view card, said, “We’ll make this work.” And then, in words that boxing fans in the U.S. have been dying to hear for more than two decades, he added, “I want you guys to figure out how to help me get boxing back [on network television] on Saturday night.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-iole_cbs_pacqiao_mosley_push_042911

But HBO offers big fees and PPV makes more money than free TV, so it's business as usual. And as long as that happens, Boxing will sink further and further into niche and obscurity especially when Pacquiao retires for good. Meanwhile the UFC will be sitting pretty alongside the NFL on FOX.

Further and further into obscurity? Isn't is bad enough that the entire world can only name 2 boxers?

[Battle*Hardened]

Further and further into obscurity? Isn't is bad enough that the entire world can only name 2 boxers?

Please tell me you are kidding with this. statement.

[ThePrince]

Further and further into obscurity? Isn't is bad enough that the entire world can only name 2 boxers?

Yup, and then when those 2 fighters retire. The entire world won't be able to name any.

[Deevel916]

It's a big fight to be fair, but no one really knows who those two guys are.

To be honest, aside from Mayweather and Pacquiao, the casual fan walking down the street couldnt differentiate between Marquez, Martinez, or Morales. They couldnt put a name to the face. At work I had a guy ask me if Paul Williams was a white guy!

[_original_]

It's a big fight to be fair, but no one really knows who those two guys are.

Well if they don't know now they're going to know them after all the promotions kicks off into gear and the fight gets huge ratings. People know Cain, at least for being "that Mexican dude who has the HW belt" or the "guy that kicked Brock's ass".

[Battle*Hardened]

To be honest, aside from Mayweather and Pacquiao, the casual fan walking down the street couldnt differentiate the difference between Marquez, Martinez, or Morales. They couldnt put a name to the face. At work I had a guy ask me if Paul Williams was a white guy!

Im not denying that either, but at work there are two fight fans me and another guy. I like boxing he likes mma. The rest of the guys could care less about any of it, and honestly more of the guys that dont care respect boxing more.

Boxing could be huge if it was allowed to.... Shit it once was. Baseball, boxing and horse racing use to be the big sports in America.

[Deevel916]

Im not denying that either, but at work there are two fight fans me and another guy. I like boxing he likes mma. The rest of the guys could care less about any of it, and honestly more of the guys that dont care respect boxing more.

Boxing could be huge if it was allowed to.... Shit it once was. Baseball, boxing and horse racing use to be the big sports in America.

In order for boxing to be successful on a tv network, we would need to show mainly action packed fighters. The average person tuning in doesnt want to see a 12 round technical fight where fighters are more worried about NOT getting hit than actually hitting. Imagine having Wlad/Ibragimov on prime time TV. Sponsers will pull thier ads immediately. Casual fans want to see a Fight! Not a display of Capoeira