Comments Thread For: How Top Rank's Deal With ESPN Changes Boxing

[aboutfkntime]

Is that the blonde that was next to Buffer B4 PAC vs Horn?

nope, the brunette.....

[Mitchell Kane]

No different than what Arum did in teasing Pacquiao to Showtime, he's likely using whatever ESPN dates that he purchased (I doubt that ESPN is paying up) to build up assets that he can take back to HBO, who still give the most TV dates to Top Rank.

Crawford will have his ESPN, only in the name of setting the stage for Pacquiao-Crawford on PPV (Pacquiao showed major age faster than Arum expected, so the cash out timeline had likely been sped up; Pacquiao's drew 2.5m homes, Crawford should likely draw 1m homes, and Top Rank will hope that ESPN will be able to convince enough of the maybe 3m unique homes to pay the $65/$70 on PPV to cover Pacquiao's final ask. 500k homes, plus the site fee from MGM Resorts should be about to cover everything).

Lomachenko is fighting a stay-busy fight on ESPN, but HBO isn't going to let Loma-Berchelt/Miura happen anywhere else (Loma-Corralles may end up possibly on ESPN, but I don't see HBO giving that one up either)

HBO's options on Lomachenko and Crawford expired.

I would guess Crawford-Indongo will do over 1 million...Crawford was doing that number on HBO with lesser opponents than Indongo.

Dan Rafael has already outline some of the potential upcoming fights....

Mike (DC)
Anything in the works for Gilberto Ramirez?

Dan Rafael, The Boxing Guy (1:11 PM)
He will fight Jessie Hart in September.

http://www.espn.com/sportsnation/cha...ith-dan-rafael

Mike (DC)
What's next for Oscar Valdez?

Dan Rafael, The Boxing Guy (12:58 PM)
Probably a late Sept. title defense in Tucson.

http://www.espn.com/sportsnation/cha...ith-dan-rafael

Fritz (Kalamazoo, MI) [via mobile]
Any names mentioned for Tim Bradley's return in the fall? Would LOVE to see him and Spence Jr.

Dan Rafael, The Boxing Guy (12:25 PM)
Might see him with unbeaten Olympian Jose Ramirez in a very interesting crossroads fight.

http://www.espn.com/sportsnation/cha...ith-dan-rafael

[b Murphington]

Yeah great points -- if they revert back to form and largely ignore their boxing content like they've traditionally done in the past, then all bets are off. But something tells me this is different, because they actually made a play for two of the brightest young stars in the sport (Crawford & Lomachenko). And I don't know how accurate this is but I coulda swore I read somewhere that they plan to treat the Crawford & Lomachenko fights in August in similar fashion to the Pacquiao/Horn fight (heavy promotion with basically an entire night dedicated to those fights).

We'll see.

Lomachenko and Crawford are the kind of boxers that the world deserves to see.

I think sports fans will fall in love with them on ESPN, especially Lomachenko. He seems like a once in a lifetime type of fighter.

[BWC]

Way too much. Can anyone argue that as a televised series, PBC hasn't put on the most competitive matchups compared to others? Over a 2-3 year period? It's not even close.

We had to see this coming. Boxing media blowing Arum while bashing PBC even though is the one that changed the game forever.

Can't wait until Fox gives PBC a big deal..

[Mitchell Kane]

They talk about the PBC mismatches and then give Lomachenko a pass. You can't expect every top fighter to always be in a tough fight. It takes time to build fights, and these guys fight schedules have to meet around the right time, so sometimes a tune up is necessary.

Marriaga is a weak opponent, however, if Lomachenko fights three times this year - which he's on pace to do, and which did not appear possible for him or Crawford on HBO, presumably part of the reason Top Rank left HBO - and his next opponent is quality, then I don't see much of an issue.

[BWC]

Yeah great points -- if they revert back to form and largely ignore their boxing content like they've traditionally done in the past, then all bets are off. But something tells me this is different, because they actually made a play for two of the brightest young stars in the sport (Crawford & Lomachenko). And I don't know how accurate this is but I coulda swore I read somewhere that they plan to treat the Crawford & Lomachenko fights in August in similar fashion to the Pacquiao/Horn fight (heavy promotion with basically an entire night dedicated to those fights).

We'll see.

Something definitely seems different this time as i always listen to ESPN radio on my commute. They were trashing maymac to high heavens but ever since Manny's fight their tone on boxing totally changed. Its almost like a memo went out to talk about boxing lol

[Scipio2009]

HBO's options on Lomachenko and Crawford expired.

I would guess Crawford-Indongo will do over 1 million...Crawford was doing that number on HBO with lesser opponents than Indongo.

Dan Rafael has already outline some of the potential upcoming fights....




http://www.espn.com/sportsnation/cha...ith-dan-rafael



http://www.espn.com/sportsnation/cha...ith-dan-rafael




http://www.espn.com/sportsnation/cha...ith-dan-rafael

Ramirez-Hart, Valdez-tomato can, and Bradley-Ramirez are all main event matchups HBO would've passed on (Ramirez looks like he can fight, but he's still an unknown prospect outside of the Central Valley/California to boxing fans)

[killakali]

now every week we will be told this is greattttt for boxing because its freeeeeee! Lmfao! These same scumbags bashed fights like danny vs guerrero and kid chocolate vs andy levy on nbc! Now they are praising loma vs marrriaga and manny vs horn!

exactly bro. We know u love boxing on basic cable so u are rooting hard for top rank on espn!!!!

[killakali]

to some people free boxing is bad when a black promoter does it! But when a mexican and ***ish promoter does it its awesome! For me personally anything free is good!

so u love Pac vs horn and crawford vs indongo cuz it's free! Good to see your a fan bro!!!

[killakali]

No different than what Arum did in teasing Pacquiao to Showtime, he's likely using whatever ESPN dates that he purchased (I doubt that ESPN is paying up) to build up assets that he can take back to HBO, who still give the most TV dates to Top Rank.

Crawford will have his ESPN, only in the name of setting the stage for Pacquiao-Crawford on PPV (Pacquiao showed major age faster than Arum expected, so the cash out timeline had likely been sped up; Pacquiao's drew 2.5m homes, Crawford should likely draw 1m homes, and Top Rank will hope that ESPN will be able to convince enough of the maybe 3m unique homes to pay the $65/$70 on PPV to cover Pacquiao's final ask. 500k homes, plus the site fee from MGM Resorts should be about to cover everything).

Lomachenko is fighting a stay-busy fight on ESPN, but HBO isn't going to let Loma-Berchelt/Miura happen anywhere else (Loma-Corralles may end up possibly on ESPN, but I don't see HBO giving that one up either)

u must be so happy that Manny Pacquiao drew 3.1 homes. We know u love free boxing. I heard it's a 4 year contract with espn/abc. Isn't that great?!?!