The HBO Budget Crisis and What it Means

[-PBP-]

Funny thing is if this was a thread about PBC and it's budget crisis it'd be halfway to a dozen pages by now. This is how you separate the boxing fans from the graft.

And this ain't no Reddit post. This is the truth.

[-DSG-]

I've been reading a lot lately and it seems this HBO budget issue is becoming serious. I'm not a business expert but the main issue is Time Warner made some budget cuts and HBO sports took a significant hit.

This is coming up in a lot of articles:

1. HBO has no interest in Cotto's next fight unless it's PPV

http://espn.go.com/blog/dan-rafael/post/_/id/15415/cottos-june-18-ring-return-in-planning-stages

2. Per Bob Arum, they are not interested in pushing Lomachenko or Postol. This is somewhat confirmed here:

http://espn.go.com/blog/dan-rafael/post/_/id/15410/arum-working-hard-on-lomachenko-walters-card

So now, they will likely pass on one of the best cards of the year: Walters/Lomachenko and Postol/Granados. It's become the network of mismatches and the upcoming schedule is full of them. Rumor is Showtime might be picking that card up.

Why should we care?

They have nearly the entire top 10 p4p list to exclusive network deals but can't afford to bring in top competition for them. Then you have PBC across the street paying big bucks so would want to fight on HBO anyways.

Are they just going to continue to shove Kovalev, Golovkin and Crawford down our throats in these one sided mismatches?

So basically, it's not looking good. What are your thoughts?

Not good hopefully this divide starts to thaw and we will start to see more PBC guys on HBO and HBO guys on SHO/PBC.

[Cinci Champ]

I assume most of their money comes from PPVs and they don't have anyone now outside of Caenlo for that. I don't think it's a long term problem though. Someone else will come in and be a big draw for HBO in the next couple of years.

u missed the point kovalev ggg are already big draws the problem is unless its on ppv hbo only puts on one sided fights. even pbc is putting on more competitive fights now

[Cinci Champ]

Not good hopefully this divide starts to thaw and we will start to see more PBC guys on HBO and HBO guys on SHO/PBC.

ya its too bad bob arum and gbp had to go and sure pbc

[original zero]

Not good hopefully this divide starts to thaw and we will start to see more PBC guys on HBO and HBO guys on SHO/PBC.

the divide thawing would be the worst thing for boxing. HBO is finally on the ropes. we have a legitimate shot in the next 5-10 years of all the top fighters ending up under the same umbrella.

this is what the sport has desperately needed for decades.

once HBO is out of the equation and haymon controls everything, the sport will finally be able to deliver whatever fights the fans want whenever the fans want them.

the NFL & AFL merged for a reason. the NBA & ABA merged for a reason. the public wants one league, not two.

the best thing for boxing is one winner in this war, not a "thawing" that brings us right back where we were.

[-DSG-]

ya its too bad bob arum and gbp had to go and sure pbc

Sounds like bob is already starting to change his tune and De La Hoya is one Canelo loss away from being out of business.

[-DSG-]

the divide thawing would be the worst thing for boxing. HBO is finally on the ropes. we have a legitimate shot in the next 5-10 years of all the top fighters ending up under the same umbrella.

this is what the sport has desperately needed for decades.

once HBO is out of the equation and haymon controls everything, the sport will finally be able to deliver whatever fights the fans want whenever the fans want them.

the NFL & AFL merged for a reason. the NBA & ABA merged for a reason. the public one league, not two.

the best thing for boxing is one winner in this war, not a "thawing" that brings us right back where we were.

Hopefully that happens I agree that would be best.

[Razcal26]

You could literally see this coming.

[aldo5408]

No interest in someone that consistently produces high HBO ratings. But Nelson has interest in letting others fight no hopers

[-PBP-]

ya its too bad bob arum and gbp had to go and sure pbc

I think Arum could be a big asset to PBC because despite his shortcomings, you have to admit he's the best star builder in the sport right now. That's something Haymon has yet to be able to achieve.

I hope they can eventually build s working relationship.