HBO only offering $1 Million for Walters-Lomanchenko?

[Dr Rumack]

HBO have a budget of something like $1.8 billion for original content this year (according to Morgan Stanley). If they're continually reducing the boxing budget in that context it doesn't look good for the sport generally.

[al-Xander]

500K each is more than just fair for 2 guys who could barely fill up stadiums.

I don't care how much these guys make. They're not my relatives, why should I? Boxing business is getting destroyed precisely because it's no longer affordable. Why should I encourage its destruction? Apparently, these Haymon fanatics do.

Look at how difficult and expensive making meaningful fights now. Top fighters are getting $1 mil for fighting bums. Of course, they would want 10x more if they're asked to face top fights.

Boxing is f%$ckd.

[nacho daddy]

Damn, HBO is done. They will only give decent paydays to the real big stars now.

that is the way it should be. they got burned signing multi fight deals and vastly overpaying

[original zero]

Big Dunn -

For Espinoza and Haymon's plan to work, they need as much talent in one family as possible. The demise or neutering of TR benefits them way more than any short term benefit from buying that fight.

Don King wasn't edged out of the business on accident. It was a long and well thought out process to only deal with him when absolutely necessary.

It's not absolutely necessary for Showtime to work with TR. Much better for Showtime long term for TR to fade away. I don't expect SHO to bail out TR. I understand fans just want to see fights, but it's a lot more complicated than just buying fights fans want to see. They're trying to take over the sport. TR needs to starve to help make that happen.



PKing -

Exactly.



Big Dunn -

What's best for fans tomorrow and what's best for fans long term are very different things. What's best for fans long term is for most of the top fighters to end up in one umbrella so the fights fans want to see can almost always get made (ala UFC).

[FeFist]

You can't please some boxing fans. On one day it is complaints over fighters getting too much money, and on another it is complaints about fighters not getting paid enough.

I don't think HBO's offer is unreasonable. They need to take into consideration how much money Walters and Lomachenko. It is pointless looking at the Rigondeaux and Donaire fight as that more than likely influenced their decision; they invested a lot in the fighters and it resulted in a cash calf getting slaughter and the Ritalin man. There's also Bradley and Alexander to consider. In addition to investing money on the likes of Victor Ortiz. History has probably taught them not to invest a lot of money on a fighter in the hopes that they become a big star.

[-Kev-]

You can't please some boxing fans. On one day it is complaints over fighters getting too much money, and on another it is complaints about fighters not getting paid enough.

I don't think HBO's offer is unreasonable. They need to take into consideration how much money Walters and Lomachenko. It is pointless looking at the Rigondeaux and Donaire fight as that more than likely influenced their decision; they invested a lot in the fighters and it resulted in a cash calf getting slaughter and the Ritalin man. There's also Bradley and Alexander to consider. In addition to investing money on the likes of Victor Ortiz. History has probably taught them not to invest a lot of money on a fighter in the hopes that they become a big star.

I would think that too, but this happens in baseball as well. A GM/Owner gives loads of money in a huge contract to a seemingly promising player, then he's a bust and they have to pay millions to that player for mediocre production, injuries, and no return, and they never learn. The difference between HBO and MLB is that in MLB obviously there is plenty of money to go around, the owners are billionaires who owns the team as a hobby. Case in point is, MLB team owners still overpay players because they can afford it, there's money in that league. HBO's budget for boxing was cut, I think if there was a lot money to go around, we'd be still be seeing fighters getting paid $1-3mill. In short, I don't think that it's HBO putting their foot down on purses willingly, what i'm saying is they have no choice with their limited budget.

However, I have speculated that HBO is actually bringing down purses like you say, on fighters who they haven't seen can back up that purse. We agree but for different reasons. I think HBO will start to give lesser boxers the UFC purse treatment. Regardless these $500k paydays for the little/lesser known guys are much better than UFC purses. Give me HBO Featherweight money over big PPV UFC money (e.g.: Aldo $400k as UFC champ, Tate $46k+$46k win bonus[not a typo $46,000 is correct: That is 5 digits you are seeing], Holm $500k as UFC champ and PPV co-main event).

Ridiculous yes, but just look at those guys at UFC beating the hell out of each other, having short careers, the lesser guys getting $50k, former champs like Misha Tate getting a guaranteed $46,000 dollars with a $46,000 win bonus, for a total of $90,000. And if UFC bonuses are like a normal bonus, you know those things get taxed like hell unless it's reported altogether as one salary for Tate which I doubt it.

[Pigeons]

Boxing problem is talent vs. value. The most talented expect to get paid. Thats how it is in every other sport. But boxing's ROI isn't talent based. It's based on fan interest. Some of boxing's best are really boring (Lomachenko) or unknown (Walters, Lomachenko).

Why fight the best if you're fighting for scraps?

[-PBP-]

Boxing problem is talent vs. value. The most talented expect to get paid. Thats how it is in every other sport. But boxing's ROI isn't talent based. It's based on fan interest. Some of boxing's best are really boring (Lomachenko) or unknown (Walters, Lomachenko).

Why fight the best if you're fighting for scraps?

Yup. People complain about fights needing to marinate and this is why. Walters and Loma need to be built up to justify their financial demands.

[original zero]

Walters has one fight at superfeatherweight. A draw.

Lomachenko doesn't have any fights at superfeatherweight.

Why is anybody supposed to care about these two fighting at superfeatherweight? Nothing is at stake and most people have no idea who they are.

Yes, it might be an action packed fight, but FS1 pays peanuts for action packed fights, as do many other outlets.

Arum is trying to sell a fight nobody was asking for that has nothing at stake.

[al-Xander]

Only ones asking for this fight are the Haymon/Floyd fanbase. And now they're complaining Arum is offering small money. You'd wonder if they're really interested in the fight or just interested in insulting Arum. LOL.