Ward/Rodriguez pay causing negative ripples for HBO?

[Loque-san]

True, he hates Ward and Rigo to death..... but then there's the facts

Ward/E-Rod cost 2.9 between the two of them, 3.15 for the card

Stevenson is unhappy that he produced more viewings than Ward and got paid less.

There are multiple fights ahead of Ward/Rodriguez, some who got paid less and a majority, if not all, who's entire card cost less than Ward/E-rod

HBO clearly overpaid for Ward-Rodriguez, but they had no choice. They wanted Ward back and Edwin Rodriguez was the only option. They had to pay him well.

The real question is: why did they overpay Ward?
As far as I'm concerned, Ward has earned it and it's guys like Chavez Jr who are overpaid, but hey "boxing is a business, tv ratings, etc."

[Hougigo]

HBO clearly overpaid for Ward-Rodriguez, but they had no choice. They wanted Ward back and Edwin Rodriguez was the only option. They had to pay him well.

The real question is: why did they overpay Ward?
As far as I'm concerned, Ward has earned it and it's guys like Chavez Jr who are overpaid, but hey "boxing is a business, tv ratings, etc."

Well.... yea.

It sucks but that's how the boxing business is. It would be awesome if fighters got paid on their skill level and entertainment, but unfortunately that's not how it works and a majority of the time it's based on entertainment and numbers.

HBO wants views and Chavez Jr. is consistent with is. Dude has to average like 1.4 or 1.5 over the past 3 years thanks to him vs Rubio.

And that's what HBO is investing in

Chavez Jr. is nowhere near as good as Ward, but he earned it by giving HBO exactly what they wanted.

Hell, Rigo is a very skilled fighter, but he got the death sentence from HBO because they don't want to pay him what he wants if he can't meet their expectations.

[ShoulderRoll]

If we go by just popularity then Stevenson gets ratings AND he puts butts in seats in arenas...he was right to want to get paid more.

[Loque-san]

Well.... yea.

It sucks but that's how the boxing business is. It would be awesome if fighters got paid on their skill level and entertainment, but unfortunately that's not how it works and a majority of the time it's based on entertainment and numbers.

HBO wants views and Chavez Jr. is consistent with is. Dude has to average like 1.4 or 1.5 over the past 3 years thanks to him vs Rubio.

And that's what HBO is investing in

Chavez Jr. is nowhere near as good as Ward, but he earned it by giving HBO exactly what they wanted.

Hell, Rigo is a very skilled fighter, but he got the death sentence from HBO because they don't want to pay him what he wants if he can't meet their expectations.

Rigondeaux's style is the problem, not money. HBO won't televise his fights even for $50K.

[Bigg Rigg]

Can't argue with wards check but HBO shoulda never gave Rodriguez that much money. They was so desperate for an opponent for Ward that they gave that bum a million dollars. Smh

[jas]

hbo has no idea

[Hougigo]

If we go by just popularity then Stevenson gets ratings AND he puts butts in seats in arenas...he was right to want to get paid more.

HBO's problem was they wanted a guarantee for Kovalev.

Don't know what Stevenson's last purse was, but his ratings would indicate he deserve money, alongside Golovkin and Kovalev

If he puts himself up for bid again, which should happens since this move was for business and the fight after is what's in demand for both networks, then he'll get way more.

[Hougigo]

Can't argue with wards check but HBO shoulda never gave Rodriguez that much money. They was so desperate for an opponent for Ward that they gave that bum a million dollars. Smh

I've been focusing too much on the overall costs.... but you're right.

I still think Ward's viewing to paycheck ratio is a little low, but the biggest problem from the 3.15M price tag was Al Haymon.

1M and a guaranteed return date was too much, because that means they have to deal with him again.

[Chiboxing123]

Steve Kim is a big Ward hater though. We have to take these rumours with a grain of salt.

Yeah what's up with that I've noticed how much steve kim dislikes ward. Any idea why kim is always bashing him?

[wiz1030]

I'm still amazed at how Haymon was able to squeeze 1 million out of HBO to give to Edwin Rodriguez.


Funny enough, Rodriguez only got $800K from missing weight.