Lower PPV buys is a good thing for the sport

[WilkinsOlajuwon]

First of all 700K-900K is not a failure. Very few fighters can and have done that much.

But the real point here is that we should all (even fanboy trash) be rooting for lower PPV numbers. Successful, one-sided PPVs from both Manny and Floyd have helped create a divide in the sport and make it that much harder to get the fights we want. Make no mistake they have both jobbed the system and created fans that widened the divide.

If promoters can't keep one-sided fights in house and be successful, they will be forced to matchup the best fighters inside their respective stables and work with rival promoters. The weakening of PPV is the only way we will get any progress.

[JDD1]

First of all 700K-900K is not a failure. Very few fighters can and have done that much.

But the real point here is that we should all (even fanboy trash) be rooting for lower PPV numbers. Successful, one-sided PPVs from both Manny and Floyd have helped create a divide in the sport and make it that much harder to get the fights we want. Make no mistake they have both jobbed the system and created fans that widened the divide.

If promoters can't keep one-sided fights in house and be successful, they will be forced to matchup the best fighters inside their respective stables and work with rival promoters. The weakening of PPV is the only way we will get any progress.

I agree for the most part. The exception being HBO not working with Haymon or GBP isn't about PPv numbers.

Soon as Herschman is fired or decides to work with Haymon, things will be better.

[JDD1]

My neighbor and I were talking about the the other day. If the price of entry was lower, more people may want to watch. It's so simple, yet they haven't done anything about it.

Price is a factor as well. PPV prices are getting ridiculous.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

I think the days of PPv for tune up fights with no undercard is over...

After Floyd and manny, there is no one that is gonna be a huge draw, and most fights will be on regular tv and off PPv... The only PPv fights will be truly big fights, or ones that are stacked with emerging talent similar to the gbp triple-quad headers

[-MAKAVELLI-]

I think the days of PPv for tune up fights with no undercard is over...

After Floyd and manny, there is no one that is gonna be a huge draw, and most fights will be on regular tv and off PPv... The only PPv fights will be truly big fights, or ones that are stacked with emerging talent similar to the gbp triple-quad headers

it's gonna be awesome when we see ppv-type main events on free cable again

[The Tase]

First of all 700K-900K is not a failure. Very few fighters can and have done that much.

But the real point here is that we should all (even fanboy trash) be rooting for lower PPV numbers. Successful, one-sided PPVs from both Manny and Floyd have helped create a divide in the sport and make it that much harder to get the fights we want. Make no mistake they have both jobbed the system and created fans that widened the divide.

If promoters can't keep one-sided fights in house and be successful, they will be forced to matchup the best fighters inside their respective stables and work with rival promoters. The weakening of PPV is the only way we will get any progress.

[Ryn0]

First of all 700K-900K is not a failure. Very few fighters can and have done that much.

But the real point here is that we should all (even fanboy trash) be rooting for lower PPV numbers. Successful, one-sided PPVs from both Manny and Floyd have helped create a divide in the sport and make it that much harder to get the fights we want. Make no mistake they have both jobbed the system and created fans that widened the divide.

If promoters can't keep one-sided fights in house and be successful, they will be forced to matchup the best fighters inside their respective stables and work with rival promoters. The weakening of PPV is the only way we will get any progress.

Usually I agree with you, but remember that 900k is a failure if its not turning showtime a profit. I'm worried we will end up in a situation where its just isn't profitable for showtime to be in boxing anymore and pull out.

It happened to network TV in the US when it was no longer sustainable to show boxing on terrestrial TV, HBO were thinking about pulling out of boxing a few years ago if I remember correctly before they changed strategy.

I think it would be better if promoters acted as monopolies a bit like Don King without the corruption and arranged the matches for the boxers instead of boxers being able to pick and choose who they fight. That way everything is kept in house and we get the best match ups, fighters get a more even guarantee money and losses don't mean as much since everyone is fighting the best.

Additionally if a single promotion company had all the power, they could freeze out the multiple belts, so all the fighters under their stable fight the number one contender instead of pandering to mandatories created by the WBC etc eg. so JCCjr doesn't jump up to the number 1 spot after being demolished by Martinez, going life and death with Vera and then getting a shot at the WBC belt at 168.

The obvious issue is there is no worldwide commission so this wouldn't work due to managers, promoters, fighters exploiting the system. Corruption would exist in a monopoly without a commission to punish people who exploit fighters and networks.

[New England]

I think the days of PPv for tune up fights with no undercard is over...

After Floyd and manny, there is no one that is gonna be a huge draw, and most fights will be on regular tv and off PPv... The only PPv fights will be truly big fights, or ones that are stacked with emerging talent similar to the gbp triple-quad headers

that's when things will change. fighters won't have this fantastically inflated purses.


what's funny is that these purses got inflated by a fight that never even happened. boxing is a unique quantity.

[Dr Rumack]

I think the days of PPv for tune up fights with no undercard is over...

After Floyd and manny, there is no one that is gonna be a huge draw, and most fights will be on regular tv and off PPv... The only PPv fights will be truly big fights, or ones that are stacked with emerging talent similar to the gbp triple-quad headers

Probably how it needs to be too.

Usually I agree with you, but remember that 900k is a failure if its not turning showtime a profit. I'm worried we will end up in a situation where its just isn't profitable for showtime to be in boxing anymore and pull out.

It happened to network TV in the US when it was no longer sustainable to show boxing on terrestrial TV, HBO were thinking about pulling out of boxing a few years ago if I remember correctly before they changed strategy.

I think it would be better if promoters acted as monopolies a bit like Don King without the corruption and arranged the matches for the boxers instead of boxers being able to pick and choose who they fight. That way everything is kept in house and we get the best match ups, fighters get a more even guarantee money and losses don't mean as much since everyone is fighting the best.

Additionally if a single promotion company had all the power, they could freeze out the multiple belts, so all the fighters under their stable fight the number one contender instead of pandering to mandatories created by the WBC etc eg. so JCCjr doesn't jump up to the number 1 spot after being demolished by Martinez, going life and death with Vera and then getting a shot at the WBC belt at 168.

The obvious issue is there is no worldwide commission so this wouldn't work due to managers, promoters, fighters exploiting the system. Corruption would exist in a monopoly without a commission to punish people who exploit fighters and networks.

Good post. The big problem with a monopoly is the collapse in the negotiating power of the fighters. If the fighters had a working union then that might counteract it to some degree, but that's never going to happen as long as the sport is run by businessmen. If it was run by a commission with legislative backing, then you never know.

The key to properly regulating boxing is regulating the American TV market. The US is still the biggest boxing audience in the world. Promoters might scuttle off to Wild West spots around the globe to dodge regulations, but they'll always want their fights to be broadcast in the US.

[A-Wolf]

But what will any of these "boxing fans" have to talk about? Accountingscene must live on.