Tweet
By Jake Donovan - At some point you have to wonder what boxing-affiliated networks won’t be down with the Al Haymon takeover. It could be a question that HBO ponders, wondering if it will have any company— or enough fighters to remain competitive—when all is said and done.
For now, business is booming on both sides of the street, a win that boxing sorely needs after barely treading water in 2014.
The United States has its first heavyweight titlist in nearly eight years – Deontay Wilder, who is charismatic, down-to-earth, unbeaten and can fight a little bit as well. He’s also the first heavyweight under the Al Haymon advisory banner to lay claim to a major title, a feat that was undoubtedly key in the low-profile boxing powerbroker to take over the sport.
The fights haven’t yet happened, but that’s only because they’ve begun to roll out barely a month ago. What began as a headline-grabbing story of the sport returning to NBC—and in prime time, no less—has now grown into a tale of boxing going on everywhere you see.
CBS Corporation, Inc.—which includes Showtime, CBS Sports Network and of course the free terrestrial network itself, CBS—is the latest to get on board with Haymon. The announcement on late Tuesday morning wasn’t the one boxing fans quite expected, at least those who continue to wait with bated breath in hopes of being the first to hear that Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will in fact fight on May 2.
Those plans seem imminent. For now, boxing fans have to wait it out. The same can be said of Haymon’s current blueprint for the next several years.
The industry suffered through a forgettable 2014 campaign, with the [Click Here To Read More]
For now, business is booming on both sides of the street, a win that boxing sorely needs after barely treading water in 2014.
The United States has its first heavyweight titlist in nearly eight years – Deontay Wilder, who is charismatic, down-to-earth, unbeaten and can fight a little bit as well. He’s also the first heavyweight under the Al Haymon advisory banner to lay claim to a major title, a feat that was undoubtedly key in the low-profile boxing powerbroker to take over the sport.
The fights haven’t yet happened, but that’s only because they’ve begun to roll out barely a month ago. What began as a headline-grabbing story of the sport returning to NBC—and in prime time, no less—has now grown into a tale of boxing going on everywhere you see.
CBS Corporation, Inc.—which includes Showtime, CBS Sports Network and of course the free terrestrial network itself, CBS—is the latest to get on board with Haymon. The announcement on late Tuesday morning wasn’t the one boxing fans quite expected, at least those who continue to wait with bated breath in hopes of being the first to hear that Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will in fact fight on May 2.
Those plans seem imminent. For now, boxing fans have to wait it out. The same can be said of Haymon’s current blueprint for the next several years.
The industry suffered through a forgettable 2014 campaign, with the [Click Here To Read More]
Comment