Comments Thread For: Lara: I'll Fight GGG, Canelo Fights Cotto - Winners Meet!

[JJRod]

Boxing is a sport. In sports, winning and losing matters most. Not entertainment. That's part of the problem. Used to be you won fights and got better fights-hence guys learned all aspects of the sport so they had the best chance to win.

Now networks give opportunities to guys that "lose well" even though they can't win a fight. They disincentive winning which should be a concern for every fan.

The fight would be entertaining so long as GGG kept fighting his style. He'd either eventually KO Lara late (like Chavez/Taylor) or he gets caught late or loses a decision.

The only way it isn't entertaining is if GGG stops punching because he can't cut off the ring or is tired of eating counters. That ain't Lara's fault.

This isn't true. Sport is not just about winning or losing. Entertainment plays the biggest part. It's why the NFL has made the game about the QB and made offense easier. It's the reason the NBA loves Lebron and ratings are higher when he's in the playoffs. It is the reason baseball is trying to speed up the game. All in an effort to make this more entertaining!

Boxing is no different. Entertainment plays a big roll as to whether fans tune in and whether networks pay. As stated Lara has had his chance to shine and failed.

[Larry the boss]

Is Lara high? he said he landed more power punches?

[The Big Dunn]

Tell that to Rigo who as talented as he is cant find a network nor a solid promoter who wants to pick up his fights. Its a shame too because Rigo actually commits to his punches and tries to hurt his opponents despite his technical style.

Boxing will always be sport that thrives mainly off of entertainment. Its not like any other sport where the only thing that matters to the fans is if their team wins, and if its a barnburner of a game then its a plus.

No, it thrives off winning and losing, which certain networks and promoters are disincentivizing by giving opportunities to fighters who lose fights and freezing out and "punishing" those who win.

Alvarado v Rios is the best example-lose to Mike at JWW and get a shot at Manny's ww title-among others. Why as a fan would you tolerate that?

When you reward winning, fighters will do what it takes to win. If you reward entertainment, you end up with incomplete fighters who make great TV primarily because they were too lazy or not good enough to develop all the skills necessary.

It's always more exciting when a bad FT shooter goes to the foul line, needing to make 2 to win.

[The Big Dunn]

This isn't true. Sport is not just about winning or losing. Entertainment plays the biggest part. It's why the NFL has made the game about the QB and made offense easier. It's the reason the NBA loves Lebron and ratings are higher when he's in the playoffs. It is the reason baseball is trying to speed up the game. All in an effort to make this more entertaining!

Boxing is no different. Entertainment plays a big roll as to whether fans tune in and whether networks pay. As stated Lara has had his chance to shine and failed.

The QB position has been given a better chance to shine, agreed. But Qb's are judged primarily by winning Super Bowls and games, not their rating. See Manning, Peyton v Brady, Tom.
.
If Lebron didn''t win, he wouldn't be in the playoffs dude. That he is entertaining is a bonus-but he doesn't get to be entertaining if he doesn't win.

[Deevel916]

No, it thrives off winning and losing, which certain networks and promoters are disincentivizing by giving opportunities to fighters who lose fights and freezing out and "punishing" those who win.

Alvarado v Rios is the best example-lose to Mike at JWW and get a shot at Manny's ww title-among others. Why as a fan would you tolerate that?

When you reward winning, fighters will do what it takes to win. If you reward entertainment, you end up with incomplete fighters who make great TV primarily because they were too lazy or not good enough to develop all the skills necessary.

It's always more exciting when a bad FT shooter goes to the foul line, needing to make 2 to win.

This is the way it should be but given today's economic climate where everything thrives off of viewers and advertisers, its not the way it is.

If people were tuning in by the masses to see fighters like Lara and Rigo, the networks would be clamoring to put them on tv. Unfortunately they don't bring in viewers or sponsor money the way other fighters do.

Floyd despite his safety first style found a way to draw attention to himself by being a brash and controversial individual. Combine that with an undefeated record and an aura of invincibility that has people tuning in who appreciate his style along with the millions who tune in because they hate him and want to see who can beat him, it worked out well for him.

Lara and Rigo don't have the personality to pull that off.

Look at the Kardashian show. The show is total crap with absolutely no substance but the network keeps throwing millions at them to keep them on TV. It's all about business these days and where there's viewers and sponsor money there's big business.

[-PBP-]

If Lebron didn''t win, he wouldn't be in the playoffs dude. That he is entertaining is a bonus-but he doesn't get to be entertaining if he doesn't win.

Exactly. It's like saying Deandre Jordan is greater than Tim Duncan because he's exciting. Even though he can't make a damn free throw.

[ИATAS]

Natas, that's not exactly true. HBO has stated their "only if the price is right" policy regarding Haymon fighters.

When will the price ever be right for both sides? I'm guessing never. SO its a defacto ban. Now with PBC, I think it's much more difficult.

Hopefully, fight will get made. If I'm GGG, Lara is a good test for his "dream fight".

Actually that shows HBO is willing to work with Al Haymon. We haven't seen Haymon willing to work with HBO though. Like I said there have been a couple of opportunities at least for Haymon fighters to fight good names on HBO and they passed.

To me this just seems like more talk from DeCubas. He's a **** talker, talks all types of crazy **** on social networks. When he translates he says **** that his fighters don't even come close to saying lol. He's a bull****ter, he's trying to get his guys names out there. Is this a real offer, does team Lara really want to fight Golovkin on HBO? I'm skeptical. I don't doubt LARA the fighter isn't willing, I think he's a warrior in the sense he'll fight the best, he's from Cuba that's all they know (best fighting the best) so I'm sure it's no problem for him, his handlers though...I'm not sold. After Lara & GGG's upcoming fights, I want to see if there is real communication, real offers being made, not twitter talk.

[JJRod]

The QB position has been given a better chance to shine, agreed. But Qb's are judged primarily by winning Super Bowls and games, not their rating. See Manning, Peyton v Brady, Tom.
.
If Lebron didn''t win, he wouldn't be in the playoffs dude. That he is entertaining is a bonus-but he doesn't get to be entertaining if he doesn't win.

Yes, but the Nfl has made it easier for these QBs to win by making it a much more offensive game. They know a more offensive game draws more eyeballs.
The NBA has made the game more offensive. Baseball is attempting to do the same. All in an effort to make their sport more entertaining.

Boxing does the same. They feature guys people want to see. It's no just about winning. Look at Soto Karass. Dude lost most of his major fights but guy was invited back constantly because he entertained and out up good fights. Guys like Maidana get opportunities because the entertain, not necessarily winning every fight.
Do they have to win a few? Of course they can't lose every time, but more important in boxing now is how you look when you lose. You know this just as well as I.

Lara wants his shot. Great, so do many others. He can earn his shot fighting other top contenders and making HBO want to put on his fight.

[bojangles1987]

Exactly. It's like saying Deandre Jordan is greater than Tim Duncan because he's exciting. Even though he can't make a damn free throw.

The Heat deserved the decision. Spurs too boring, too fundamental, not enough hero ball.

[The Big Dunn]

This is the way it should be but given today's economic climate where everything thrives off of viewers and advertisers, its not the way it is.

If people were tuning in by the masses to see fighters like Lara and Rigo, the networks would be clamoring to put them on tv. Unfortunately they don't bring in viewers or sponsor money the way other fighters do.

Floyd despite his safety first style found a way to draw attention to himself by being a brash and controversial individual. Combine that with an undefeated record and an aura of invincibility that has people tuning in who appreciate his style along with the millions who tune in because they hate him and want to see who can beat him, it worked out well for him.

Lara and Rigo don't have the personality to pull that off.

Look at the Kardashian show. The show is total crap with absolutely no substance but the network keeps throwing millions at them to keep them on TV. It's all about business these days and where there's viewers and sponsor money there's big business.

They don't need personality. They need HBO to match them with competitive fighters that will go all out to win. Rigo v Donaire was exciting. Lara v Angulo was exciting.

SO it still comes back to the competitive spirit of the individual fighter. Some guys only show it when they have an easy win in front of them because they are too afraid to risk everything to win.

If you can only entertain with a certain type of opponent, than you are not entertaining. Canelo this weekend is the perfect example. Gatti on the other hand entertained regardless of who he was in with.

Do we really care that he did that to Kirkland when he never tried to do it against Floyd for fear of getting Ko'd.

Entertainment is not just the ability to get KO's.