Tweet
I've noticed HBO bias for a long time, it seems they are told to make certain fighters to look good. I think this has to do with how young and marketable a fighter is. For example, Manny Pacquiao was (given that FMW is/was semi retired) the biggest draw in boxing. And it is plain as day that he gets too much credit when he throws. An example of this is Lampley's "**** ****" comments. I'm not saying Manny was not winning, but some of those shots were being caught on gloves yet he made it seem as though all the shots were going through and scoring. Furthermore, in the Marquez III Manny was given tons of credit for grazes and near misses (compubox). In contrast, when Marquez would land combinations it was blatantly ignored by Lampley and co. I watched this fight on a primetime stream and Amir Kahn (Pac stablemate) gave the fight to Marquez!!! Yet on HBO it seemed they gave rounds to Pacquiao due to "ring generalship" even though most people thought that Marquez imposed his rhythm/distance and style on the fight, not to mention he scored the clean effective punches. The analysts for the English stream were livid about the decision, yet on HBO (where they have a vested interest in the big money fighter winning) it was said "some fans" thought the fight may have been controversial. There are countless examples of this type of favoritism.
And now it was pretty obvious (at least to me) that HBO was trying to discredit the Marquez win last night by suggesting that he may have been on PEDs. It started in the post-fight interviews with Merchant asking Marquez if his "muscles" made a difference, then asking Pacquiao if Marquez "felt" different. On Lampley's show he mentions Heredia and Marquez working together, mentioning that he is involved with PEDs, then we are told that Marquez looked physically stronger and are left to draw our own conclusions. Then he goes on to declare in his award show that his fighter of the year was Donaire because he submits himself to 365/7/24 testing. He doesn't mentions that he works with Conte, a person known to have been involved with PED's. I am NOT saying that Donaire is on drugs, I am simply saying they should mention it given that Marquez is being suspected simply because he works with Heredia. People will say that Donaire is not suspected simply because he submits to the most stringent testing available but as many people have pointed out on this forum professional s&c coaches know how to produce undetectable peds. Lampley then goes on to give the Person of the year award to a doctor who developed a strict drug testing procedure. He ties in his su****ion of Marquez, donaire strict test, and an anti-doping doctor all in one segment leaving the public to make inferences.
This type of bias by HBO serves to question the win of Marquez therefore producing the need for a 5th fight with Manny which would further line the pockets of HBO. The doubt also serves to raise the stock of Manny because the win may have not been legitimate, therefore he is still the top fighter. Furthermore, the accolades thrown at Donaire serves to increase the popularity of a fighter who is not as popular as Manny. In summation, HBO bias is present because they have a vested interest in manufacturing and/or maintaining big names (PPV wise), so they can profit.
And now it was pretty obvious (at least to me) that HBO was trying to discredit the Marquez win last night by suggesting that he may have been on PEDs. It started in the post-fight interviews with Merchant asking Marquez if his "muscles" made a difference, then asking Pacquiao if Marquez "felt" different. On Lampley's show he mentions Heredia and Marquez working together, mentioning that he is involved with PEDs, then we are told that Marquez looked physically stronger and are left to draw our own conclusions. Then he goes on to declare in his award show that his fighter of the year was Donaire because he submits himself to 365/7/24 testing. He doesn't mentions that he works with Conte, a person known to have been involved with PED's. I am NOT saying that Donaire is on drugs, I am simply saying they should mention it given that Marquez is being suspected simply because he works with Heredia. People will say that Donaire is not suspected simply because he submits to the most stringent testing available but as many people have pointed out on this forum professional s&c coaches know how to produce undetectable peds. Lampley then goes on to give the Person of the year award to a doctor who developed a strict drug testing procedure. He ties in his su****ion of Marquez, donaire strict test, and an anti-doping doctor all in one segment leaving the public to make inferences.
This type of bias by HBO serves to question the win of Marquez therefore producing the need for a 5th fight with Manny which would further line the pockets of HBO. The doubt also serves to raise the stock of Manny because the win may have not been legitimate, therefore he is still the top fighter. Furthermore, the accolades thrown at Donaire serves to increase the popularity of a fighter who is not as popular as Manny. In summation, HBO bias is present because they have a vested interest in manufacturing and/or maintaining big names (PPV wise), so they can profit.
Comment