Top Rank series on ESPN to feature: Pac/Horn, Loma/Salido 2, Crawford/Indongo

[BWC]

Details haven't been released yet but the PBC model and the top rank model seem to be completely different. Haymon literally tried to take over boxing by buying time on every network and signing hundreds of fighters. Haymon was trying to shut down other promoters from being able to do any business. That is the main reason why it failed. If pbc bought time on one or two networks and then gave them good fights and eventually turned it into a deal where they were being paid by he network, that would be awesome. That should be the ultimate goal of time buys: to prove to the network you have a product worth paying for.

TR model is exactly the same as the PBC model on a smaller scale. This Pacquiao-Horn fight basically sucks, but since it's Pacquiao on free to air, it will get viewership. Put enough of these cards together and you hope to monetize the ratings into a long-term deal. That's the goal of both TR and PBC, PBC is just trying out a larger number of outlets.

[Sweet Jones]

Details haven't been released yet but the PBC model and the top rank model seem to be completely different. Haymon literally tried to take over boxing by buying time on every network and signing hundreds of fighters. Haymon was trying to shut down other promoters from being able to do any business. That is the main reason why it failed. If pbc bought time on one or two networks and then gave them good fights and eventually turned it into a deal where they were being paid by he network, that would be awesome. That should be the ultimate goal of time buys: to prove to the network you have a product worth paying for.

Respectfully, the flaw with this argument is, and continues to be, that:

a) No one knows if PBC did in fact attempt to do that,

and

b) No one ever proclaiming this can ever name any 'one or two networks' who were fully prepared to just hand over massive blocks of prime time on its network to broadcast a proof of concept for a 'niche' sport.

Or, better yet:

[hectari]

TR model is exactly the same as the PBC model on a smaller scale. This Pacquiao-Horn fight basically sucks, but since it's Pacquiao on free to air, it will get viewership. Put enough of these cards together and you hope to monetize the ratings into a long-term deal. That's the goal of both TR and PBC, PBC is just trying out a larger number of outlets.

When people say it sucks, its misleading.

To me Pacquiao vs Mayweather sucks, it was boring.

For me Arturo gattiv s Ward was exciting and dint suck even though neither guy was a top fighter.

Pacuqiao vs Horn could be just what the casuals need, just like Tyson, Pacquiao is loved for his action fight style, if Horn comes forward and they trade blows it will be worth it in terms of excitement.

I dont really care to watch top guys who are defensive its not worth ppv, only fights worthy of ppv should be guaranteed action since casuals are the main buyers of ppv.

[BWC]

When people say it sucks, its misleading.

To me Pacquiao vs Mayweather sucks, it was boring.

For me Arturo gattiv s Ward was exciting and dint suck even though neither guy was a top fighter.

Pacuqiao vs Horn could be just what the casuals need, just like Tyson, Pacquiao is loved for his action fight style, if Horn comes forward and they trade blows it will be worth it in terms of excitement.

I dont really care to watch top guys who are defensive its not worth ppv, only fights worthy of ppv should be guaranteed action since casuals are the main buyers of ppv.

Oh I agree, I meant sucks in terms of "big names" fighting that will actually draw casuals in to pay $64.99 for a PPV.

These are exactly the type of fights that are good for these early stages of "free" fights. Potentially exciting fights that don't cost a fortune that don't feature two huge PPV names, but that can help build the names of fighters. Sort of like Thurman, Wilder, and Spence fights on PBC..

[Eff Pandas]

Seeing some random stuff about this on Steve Kim's twitter although too lazy to embed it (I know...I'm part of the problem), but anyway he's quoting Bob as saying TR PPV isn't dead. But it can't be a random PPV it gots to be special. So I read that as Manny vs whoever & Crawford vs that Dong guy are on ESPN, but Manny vs Crawford would be on PPV.

[hectari]

Oh I agree, I meant sucks in terms of "big names" fighting that will actually draw casuals in to pay $64.99 for a PPV.

These are exactly the type of fights that are good for these early stages of "free" fights. Potentially exciting fights that don't cost a fortune that don't feature two huge PPV names, but that can help build the names of fighters. Sort of like Thurman, Wilder, and Spence fights on PBC..

Thats the positive, we dont have to pay some hefty price its on free or basic cable.

What to take into consideration is, the Australian market, so many people focus on USa, but this fight is huge in Australia 50 thousand will attend Horn Pacquiao

Another thing is in boxing they build stars fast, shining stars, who was Mayorga, who was Pacquiao these guys were nobodies who shined beating a top guy by devastation.

Nobody knew Pacquiao before he fought Ledwaba or Barrera, wasnt Pac a 20 to one underdog versus Barrera and Pac moved up from 122 to 126 and he destroyed Barrera.

horn has the chance to do the same here, horn might not be a name but never count out a younger hungry fighter.

If horn wins guess what? Australia just got a new sporting hero, and American Viewers in the USA will know him, and he will continue to get fights on ESPN, so Arum has a stake in horn, it is a win win for Arum.

If horn wins and they get good viewership, ESPN will replay the win over and over on sportscenter, they will interview him, and have dibs to produce his title defense in Australia or whoever.

Then they can pit Tim Bradley against Horn or Jessie Vargas against Horn or even Algieri, etc.

Im sure the Australians will treat Horn like a king if he is able to beat Pac, beat Bradley, beat Vargas, etc.

[hectari]

Seeing some random stuff about this on Steve Kim's twitter although too lazy to embed it (I know...I'm part of the problem), but anyway he's quoting Bob as saying TR PPV isn't dead. But it can't be a random PPV it gots to be special. So I read that as Manny vs whoever & Crawford vs that Dong guy are on ESPN, but Manny vs Crawford would be on PPV.

yeah, Arum was on Espn this morning and said it on First Take, that Pacquiao vs Crawford or any top welter would be PPv, im guessing ESPN will be part o the PPV broadcast.

Top Rank used ESPN PPV for Margarito vs Cintron and I think it cost 39 bucks.

[BWC]

Thats the positive, we dont have to pay some hefty price its on free or basic cable.

What to take into consideration is, the Australian market, so many people focus on USa, but this fight is huge in Australia 50 thousand will attend Horn Pacquiao

Another thing is in boxing they build stars fast, shining stars, who was Mayorga, who was Pacquiao these guys were nobodies who shined beating a top guy by devastation.

Nobody knew Pacquiao before he fought Ledwaba or Barrera, wasnt Pac a 20 to one underdog versus Barrera and Pac moved up from 122 to 126 and he destroyed Barrera.

horn has the chance to do the same here, horn might not be a name but never count out a younger hungry fighter.

If horn wins guess what? Australia just got a new sporting hero, and American Viewers in the USA will know him, and he will continue to get fights on ESPN, so Arum has a stake in horn, it is a win win for Arum.

If horn wins and they get good viewership, ESPN will replay the win over and over on sportscenter, they will interview him, and have dibs to produce his title defense in Australia or whoever.

Then they can pit Tim Bradley against Horn or Jessie Vargas against Horn or even Algieri, etc.

Im sure the Australians will treat Horn like a king if he is able to beat Pac, beat Bradley, beat Vargas, etc.

That's exactly why you want these type of fights on ESPN. Let's say Horn gives a good account, even has Pacquiao in trouble, or dare I say wins, he'll already be somebody in boxing in the US. Arum can keep using him on ESPN cards, he can become a really solid TV fighter that can fight 3 times a year and make good money.

That's so much harder to do on say HBO these days because they only want the big PPV-level fights. It's really a lot more opportunity for the fighters.

[hectari]

That's exactly why you want these type of fights on ESPN. Let's say Horn gives a good account, even has Pacquiao in trouble, or dare I say wins, he'll already be somebody in boxing in the US. Arum can keep using him on ESPN cards, he can become a really solid TV fighter that can fight 3 times a year and make good money.

That's so much harder to do on say HBO these days because they only want the big PPV-level fights. It's really a lot more opportunity for the fighters.

yup Horn is is a possible money maker. also Micky Conlan is going to be on the undercard of Pacquiao Horn, from what im guessing is this Pacuqiao Horn Card will be like a PPV broadcast they will have two co feature undercard bouts right before the main event.

If Arum wants to build his stars, he should put Conlan and Stevenson on the undercard or maybe some other rising prospect.

The big fight in 3 years time is Conlan vs Shakur Stevenson that is the fight Top Rank is really trying to build up and ESPN will help big time, get those guys on there doing interview for the next three years throwing shade on each other and bam big ppv. especially if both guys keep winning in big fashion or capture titles.

[Mitchell Kane]

Wow good research and looking out man, are you a Boxing writer? you really know how to do research.

Man over 25 thousand fights Top Rank has lol dang, looks like ESPN made a good move, that Vault is insane.

I used to do a bit of it.

Yeah, I think some people are under-estimating the value Top Rank's fight library could have.

I could certainly see a hedge fund looking at Top Rank's fight library and thinking that has potential to bring in some money once it's fully digitized and available for customers to stream.....especially once you put that library together with regular live fights, along with other content (like weigh-ins, press conferences, interviews, etc.).