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

[Mitchell Kane]

I was throwing out a random number for an example not specific purse(s). I'm just saying if Bud makes the same money, but has to fight an extra fight to get it its a problem for Bud & other fighters the longer that goes on.



For the time being. But Oscar & Gilberto have potential to be in the 7 digit region soon.

But if everyone is fighting 3 times a year, or more maybe for the younger cats just reaching the serious prospect/fringe contender range, then the big names will likely be giving up millions of dollars if they aren't paying HBO money while the lesser guys aren't giving up as much is all I'm saying.

So the guys driving the audience to ESPN & this streaming app will actually be doing more to change the current paradigm, but receiving less in return. Or speculatively anyway, like I keep saying who knows for sure, I just have trouble believing there is premium cable money waiting to be paid for guys fighting on basic cable. I could be wrong or it could just be a short term play as previously mentioned that the fighters are onboard for & understand.

I would doubt Top Rank would work it out to where Crawford was taking a significant paycut to fight on ESPN.

Although, I could see Top Rank arranging to have Pacquiao and Crawford fight on ESPN with it eventually leading to a Pacquiao-Crawford on PPV.

That's a big money fight that would make sense for a lot of reasons, if Top Rank can get both sides to agree on it.

[Mitchell Kane]

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.

It's not exactly the same, because Top Rank is only dealing with ESPN, not a whole bunch of other channels, and they appear much closer to a streaming service than the PBC was when it started.

Thomas Hauser wrote about the possibility of the PBC going towards a subscription streaming service....but that was speculation, and the PBC only really had live fights to sell, unlike Top Rank with their massive fight library.

Plus, Top Rank has been producing and streaming their own content for years now...and they've done their own PPV's.

They know how to do it, they know what it costs, etc.

So a Top Rank streaming service seems like it's much more realistic for TR now than it was, or is, for the PBC.

[SkillspayBills]

Damnit I love this sport. Some quality fights on FREE FREAKING TV. There's nothing better than that.

[Eff Pandas]

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.

Was he hyping Ward on there? They were talking on the Morning Punch In show today that Arum/Top Rank is picking him up & that Roc Nation is finally folding.

[Mitchell Kane]

Michael Woods woodsy1069
Said bobarum: "@espn gives us something that only they are equipped to give us. The premium networks can’t do it, they reach a..

Michael Woods woodsy1069
.. much smaller audience. And on another network on which you have programs other than sports programs, you can’t do it. ESPN is sports!”

Michael Woods woodsy1069
“We’ve been talking to ESPN on this and other matters for months,” #Arum said. He reiterated “I can’t comment” when I asked if another..

Michael Woods woodsy1069
..shoe would drop about a longer term arrangement between TRBoxing and @ESPN.

Michael Woods woodsy1069
ARUM: “Long term, these fights on ESPN, now your talkin! The NFL playoffs, the Super Bowl, the whole season, it’s not on pay per view.

Michael Woods woodsy1069
"Without free TV, you’re doing a disservice to the sport. Now, that doesn’t denigrate what HBO and Showtime have done.

[hectari]

Damnit I love this sport. Some quality fights on FREE FREAKING TV. There's nothing better than that.

who is that beautiful thick juicy Chun Li woman in your avatar?

[Mitchell Kane]

Michael Woods with some quotes from Arum....

-“I can’t get into it,” Arum told me. “But ESPN will show not only the fights, but also a two hour program the night before and will plug it on ESPN programs, and create tremendous awareness that nobody else can. They give us something that only they are equipped to give us. The premium networks can’t do it, they reach a much smaller audience. And on another network on which you have programs other than sports programs, you can’t do it. ESPN is sports!”


-“This is a win-win for boxing,” Arum continued. “This not a greed thing, using ESPN to make more money. ESPN is being used and wants to be used…we will be creating awareness for the program.”


-Arum said he and his crew were involved with CAA, the agency, and agents Nick Khan and Alan Gold were instrumental in shepherding. “We’ve been talking to ESPN on this and other matters for months,” Arum said. He reiterated “I can’t comment” when I asked if another shoe would drop about a longer term arrangement between Top Rank and ESPN.


-“Long term, these fights on ESPN, now your talkin! The NFL playoffs, the Super Bowl, the whole season, it’s not on pay per view. Without free TV, you’re doing a disservice to the sport. Now, that doesn’t denigrate what HBO and Showtime have done. They were the market and free and over the air wasn’t. They helped keep the sport alive. But it wasn’t the best of all possible worlds.” He spoke aout the difference in possible reach, between an HBO, or Showtime, with 30 million or fewer connections in the US, and ESPN’s breadth, closer to about 90 million homes. “We’re very enthused. I think this will work.”

http://www.everlast.com/teameverlast/indefatigable-arum-talks-up-pacquiao-horn-on-espn-deal/

[hectari]

Was he hyping Ward on there? They were talking on the Morning Punch In show today that Arum/Top Rank is picking him up & that Roc Nation is finally folding.

Naw they asked him about Canelo GGG toward the end with a few seconds left.

I knew Roc Nation boxing would fold soon, when Cotto left, and Ward signed Shakur to Top Rank over Roc Nation.

I do believe Ward if he goes anywhere its with Top Rank, he has a good relationship with Arum and Todd, plus he is managed by James Prince who is good with Arum.

[Mitchell Kane]

Steve Kim tweet:

Arum makes it clear that ''the architect'' of this deal was Top Rank president, Todd duBoef. This was his vision.... #boxing

[BWC]

Was he hyping Ward on there? They were talking on the Morning Punch In show today that Arum/Top Rank is picking him up & that Roc Nation is finally folding.

Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5GRgdw1g7U