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There is a serious, serious discussion to be had about what Al Haymon just oversaw in boxing in the year 2014.
IMO, it was a complete and utter disaster, considering he has a Welterweight roster of Thurman, Porter, Khan, Broner, Guerrero, Maidana, - and that's before you throw in 140ers like Garcia, Peterson, Matthyse, who could also all move up to 147. None of these fighters fought each other - which is especially annoying because you could throw all those names in a hat, pick out two randomly, and it would result in a great match-up.
(I'm not including Devon and Paulie, because they are awful, and nothing more than gatekeepers, along with Soto Karass and Julio Diaz).
The problem is, if you try to call Haymon out on this, you are drowned out by his supporters (jeez, even advisers have supporters these days) who will say...."but what about Arum".
It's this "what about him" culture that ruins boxing discourse. It's the same thing that happens when you criticise Floyd - "but what about Pacquaio?".
Same with Quillin - "but what about Golovkin - why is he ducking Ward?"
Adonis - "but what about Kovalev?".
And honestly, I fear for where the sport is going if Haymon is the biggest player in town. I honestly think he has lost sight of what is required in boxing - the sport lives and dies by great match-ups. Not every week, not even every month - but to go a whole year, leaving the sport in a state of statis, because there might be an NBC deal down the line?
Al Haymon is obviously an incredibly smart person. But he needs to understand that he is creating such resentment, such disillusionment with boxing fans with this paradigm he is trying to create - that a lot of people won't care once he gets his NBC deal.
Hey Al? Build up your fighters, including taking bigger risks than the likes of Russell Jr and Wilder got (which leaves them badly exposed when it's time for the step up).
Get them on Showtime AND HBO. The Showtime gravy train won't last forever.
Don't sign up so many fighters because you are insecure about what happens to you once Floyd retires because fighters need to be active.
Work with other promoters FFS.
Tell us about your intentions and how you view the future of the sport.
Stop trying to control the whole sport because it cannot happen, nor is it healthy.
IMO, it was a complete and utter disaster, considering he has a Welterweight roster of Thurman, Porter, Khan, Broner, Guerrero, Maidana, - and that's before you throw in 140ers like Garcia, Peterson, Matthyse, who could also all move up to 147. None of these fighters fought each other - which is especially annoying because you could throw all those names in a hat, pick out two randomly, and it would result in a great match-up.
(I'm not including Devon and Paulie, because they are awful, and nothing more than gatekeepers, along with Soto Karass and Julio Diaz).
The problem is, if you try to call Haymon out on this, you are drowned out by his supporters (jeez, even advisers have supporters these days) who will say...."but what about Arum".
It's this "what about him" culture that ruins boxing discourse. It's the same thing that happens when you criticise Floyd - "but what about Pacquaio?".
Same with Quillin - "but what about Golovkin - why is he ducking Ward?"
Adonis - "but what about Kovalev?".
And honestly, I fear for where the sport is going if Haymon is the biggest player in town. I honestly think he has lost sight of what is required in boxing - the sport lives and dies by great match-ups. Not every week, not even every month - but to go a whole year, leaving the sport in a state of statis, because there might be an NBC deal down the line?
Al Haymon is obviously an incredibly smart person. But he needs to understand that he is creating such resentment, such disillusionment with boxing fans with this paradigm he is trying to create - that a lot of people won't care once he gets his NBC deal.
Hey Al? Build up your fighters, including taking bigger risks than the likes of Russell Jr and Wilder got (which leaves them badly exposed when it's time for the step up).
Get them on Showtime AND HBO. The Showtime gravy train won't last forever.
Don't sign up so many fighters because you are insecure about what happens to you once Floyd retires because fighters need to be active.
Work with other promoters FFS.
Tell us about your intentions and how you view the future of the sport.
Stop trying to control the whole sport because it cannot happen, nor is it healthy.
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