Comments Thread For: The Boxing Landscape: Still a Heavyweight Market

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Cliff Rold - The biggest rating for a live boxing match in the US in 2013 was HBO’s airing of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Brian Vera II.

Chavez has a lot going for him. His name ID is high. He’s been part of a profitable pay-per-view. He attracts tons of eyes from the rabid Latino fan base. Chavez was a carefully constructed project for years with several HBO appearances by the time he got to the Vera fight.

A known commodity.

That rematch, at peak, did around 1.5 million homes.

Last weekend, Deontay Wilder-Bermane Stiverne didn’t quite hit that number. As reported here at BoxingScene, it peaked at 1.34 million homes. Like Chavez, the new WBC Heavyweight titlist Wilder (33-0, 32 KO) was a carefully constructed project.

Unlike Chavez, his name ID wasn’t particularly high. That’s even considering a Bronze Medal Olympic run in 2008.

He’s never been a pay-per-view headliner.

He’s been lightly promoted to date.

Stiverne was the first serious top ten Heavyweight he’d faced.

The house was rumored to be heavily papered.

The weigh-in was lightly attended.

And in one night, Wilder almost matched the highest rating for a fight in the previous year.

This is why some in US fight circles and in the US press have so adamantly wanted a draw in the Heavyweight division again. They know what history has told us many times over.

Boxing in the States in never bigger than it is when the big men catch fire.

It’s true outside the States as well.

Is there another fighter in Europe who can regularly do packed stadium shows besides Wladimir Klitschko? He’s made a habit of it. [Click Here To Read More]

[The Hammer]

Over half the people in Ukraine watch Klitschko's fights on INTER, and many millions more watch in Germany (RTL), Poland (ORANGE), Hungary, Romania, Kazakhstan, etc.

It adds up to nearly 100 million viewers.

[crold1]

Over half the people in Ukraine watch Klitschko's fights on INTER, and many millions more watch in Germany (RTL), Poland (ORANGE), Hungary, Romania, Kazakhstan, etc.

It adds up to nearly 100 million viewers.

I know. This was just looking at US TV. Klitschko does ridiculous TV abroad.

[Tobi.G]

Wilders numbers are gonna raise big if he continues to win and stays spectacular while holding that belt. Maybe i will become a fan of him too.

[kafkod]

Wilders numbers are gonna raise big if he continues to win and stays spectacular while holding that belt. Maybe i will become a fan of him too.

How big Wilder becomes depends on 2 things.
1. Whether Haymon can sell him to the US audience as a legit heavyweight champ while the real champ, Wlad, is fighting in the US too. Wilder won't be looking to unify the titles by fighting Wlad any time soon. We all know what would happen if he did that, and it wouldn't be good for Wilder.
2. Will Haymon match him with credible opponents now he has the WBC belt? Wilder said he wanted Tyson Fury for his first defence, and Fury has said he is open to offers, but it doesn't look like Haymon is going to put his money where Deontay's mouth is on that one.
If Haymon does what Haymon usually does when matching his fighters, it will be back to the bum squad for Wilder, journey-men and shot US "names" like Tarver and Briggs.
How long will the American fans be willing to put up with that with far more credible challengers waiting in the wings?

[Tobi.G]

How big Wilder becomes depends on 2 things.
1. Whether Haymon can sell him to the US audience as a legit heavyweight champ while the real champ, Wlad, is fighting in the US too. Wilder won't be looking to unify the titles by fighting Wlad any time soon. We all know what would happen if he did that, and it wouldn't be good for Wilder.
2. Will Haymon match him with credible opponents now he has the WBC belt? Wilder said he wanted Tyson Fury for his first defence, and Fury has said he is open to offers, but it doesn't look like Haymon is going to put his money where Deontay's mouth is on that one.
If Haymon does what Haymon usually does when matching his fighters, it will be back to the bum squad for Wilder, journey-men and shot US "names" like Tarver and Briggs.
How long will the American fans be willing to put up with that with far more credible challengers waiting in the wings?

Holding that belt all of his future opponents will be better than anything he has fought yet besides Stiverne. He can make a few easy defences but then he has to prove himself against the best and he has to fight his mandatories anyway or they gonna take his belt away.