The 'PBC Underdog Effect'?

[Tom Cruise]

Haymon has a huge stable and he is building a more than friendly business relationship with Hearn. Haymon's franchise isn't "belt-based", it is rather "brand-based"... Haymon is clearly targeting the U.K. market also.

Not sure about that so far. He seems to be targeting UK fighters, but not the UK market.

Selby, Frampton and Degale have/will have their first PBCfight in North America

[glenn mcrory]

Is it just me or does there seem to be way more 'underdog' performances in the PBC than everywhere else.

We got two more last night with Martinez beating Alexander and well past prime underweight Montiel giving FW belt holder Lee Selby a great fight.

More off the top of my head,

Fonfara beating Chavez Jr
Alejandro Gonzalez Jr giving Frampton hell.
Chris Arreola getting a lucky draw vs Fred Kassi
Willy Nelson KOing Harrison
Ricky Burns (seemingly shot and in a division above his best) giving Figueroa a very tough night

Most of these were set up as showcase fights for the star to look good but ended up either being losses or very rough nights. Some can be put down to underestimating opponents (Fonfara is obviously not just an 'opponent') but the others were pretty clear underdogs.

Am I looking too much into this?

I think its because Al Haymon's stable isnt very good. People think that just because they are "names" for whatever reason that they are better than they actually are. I think its hard for their matchmakers to get a good read on their fighters because they're are always working with an unknown quantity. There are very few, if any established fighters in his stable, mostly prospects, and the guys they feed to the prospects.
What looks like a mismatch/winnable fight on paper isnt because Al Haymon/the matchmakers overrate them, then **** like Porter-Brook and Russell-Lomachenko happen.

[The Big Dunn]

I think Postol vs Matthysse was a pretty even fight going in, though i dont know the odds. A lot of people (including me) thought Postol would give Matts a tough night, even if I didnt realise quite how tough.

Some can be put down the Underdogs being better than percieved. Fonfara is a good fighter and a solid top 10 LHW. In retrospect Chavez JR should probably have been the underdog in that fight. Willie Nelson is also a pretty good fighter and it was Harrisons first step up.

Some of those guys though arent that good and are definitely worse than other opponents that the A-side has beaten

I picked Postol as well.

Yes, you are correct that some of Haymon's names are not as great as they are marketed. That said, its clear that the matchmaker is putting them in with quality (relative to their experience) opposition. the scoring of the fights has been right for the most part.

It appears that Haymon puts guys in tougher early and then gives them a slew of easy wins once they show they can beat tough up and comers. Not the way I would do it because I think that can regress a fighter.

I just think if more fans watched boxing on more platforms they would know about some of these guys.

[Eff Pandas]

I think its because Al Haymon's stable isnt very good.

Besides HBO (the industry leader) I'd be hard pressed to name someone who's got more world class guys in his stable or vs respectable sized stables a better % of world class fighters. Without thinking too hard about who's in TR's stable maybe you could throw him ahead of Haymon, but I think #3 is the floor. If the group with the #3 stable in the business has a stable that "isn't very good" what does that say about how much you think boxing sucks?

[Eff Pandas]

That is true. Theres nothing scientific about how I have come to this. I just get the feeling that PBC events throw up quite a few upsets/ good performances from the underdog.

More than I see on HBO or Skysports in the UK at least.

Edit: I also wouldnt say thats just a handful of fights. All of those happened since the PBC debut in March

PBC is putting on A LOT of fights doe. I mean this week they had 3 shows iirc. In the 7 months PBC has been around I'd guesstimate they've had more shows than HBO has had in the last 7 years give or take a year or two.

[hhs661]

I would love for Haymon to expand his brand into the Japanese scenery outside of the kamedas. I thunk the fact that uk fighters are working with him is a great thing for his company. I'm enjoying the fights and love when underdogs like martinez get their just due, even after getting a controversial los in their previous pbc showing

[glenn mcrory]

Besides HBO (the industry leader) I'd be hard pressed to name someone who's got more world class guys in his stable or vs respectable sized stables a better % of world class fighters. Without thinking too hard about who's in TR's stable maybe you could throw him ahead of Haymon, but I think #3 is the floor. If the group with the #3 stable in the business has a stable that "isn't very good" what does that say about how much you think boxing sucks?

It isnt very good relatively speaking since to prove they're better they actually have to match-up, and so far thats been going terribly.

He has so many fighters and yet, has a somewhat competitive stable(I say this to be nice. For the few times their stables have fought, he loses 99% of the matchups.)
Quality>Quantity
After Mayweather(whos done), who do you usually hear guys bring up from this stable? Thurman? Spence? Imam? Notice a trend? All prospects, all unproven.
Beterbiev's his best chance, and who knows how long that will last? Everyone else seems quite far behind.
Hes got some of the contenders, none of the big dogs.

[PK3434]

There is a card like every few days. Of course there are going to be upsets, knockouts, bad fights, good fights, etc.

Overall, the product is disappointing so far in my view.

[soul_survivor]

It's horrendous how some of these guys were being viewed as push overs, especially on this forum. I wasn't surprised at all by Burns or Fonfara for example, although I think Fonfara stopped Chavez didn't he? That was unexpected.

I think you can mention Algieri v Khan, s omany people were ****ting on that but I think they underestimated CA.

[bigjavi973]

I just don't get it. They talk about "pbc mismatches" as if they are the only ones putting on mismatches. HBO are the ones signing fighters strictly to HBO. Meanwhile these "fans" complain about PBC fighters fighting on PBC, even though they also fight on Showtime. You even have UK fighters fighting in america for the 1st time. Has been a couple of times already that has happened.