Comments Thread For: Bursting the Bubble: ESPN's Boxing Return So Far Falling Flat

[tokon]

"Regardless of reason, alarm bells are ringing as multiple reports indicate ratings for UFC shows are far outpacing those for Top Rank."

That's what happens when you don't have 25 promoters, and 3 different platforms (SHO/FOX, ESPN, and DAZN) fighting for survival!

And where most of the fighters won't fight anyone else with a pulse unless retirement money is offered.

[Beercules]

And where most of the fighters won't fight anyone else with a pulse unless retirement money is offered.

Pretty much.


Boxing is all messed up.

[Raggamuffin]

Boxing is ok. UFC has had a couple of ppvs and boxing hasn’t. If you’re a fan of boxing then you know that our best fighters haven’t been in huge fights yet. UFC has had very good cards and ESPN is just keeping us entertained. Boxing will be back soon.

[tokon]

Boxing is ok. UFC has had a couple of ppvs and boxing hasn’t. If you’re a fan of boxing then you know that our best fighters haven’t been in huge fights yet. UFC has had very good cards and ESPN is just keeping us entertained. Boxing will be back soon.

Boxing does not invest in production like UFC does. Obviously a factor is that more of the top boxers are paid more than UFC but, going forward, it's not a good strategy.

[paulf]

Major networks have the money and the muscle to NOT offer exclusive deals.

They should just pay for the best fights regardless of promoters.

Well the past few years there has been so much money and such a demand for content in general that promoters have been able to negotiate deals that are really sweet for them and really ****ty for viewers.

I've heard Lou Dibella say that he would really like to work for one of these networks, allocating a small percentage of the slots for his fighters but no in-house matchups, and simply make for the best fights he can make across all promoters.

Considering he was at HBO for one of it's golden eras, I would kill to see Lou in charge of boxing programming at Fox, ESPN or DAZN.

[just the facts]

You have no idea how great boxing was when it was real. Fraudweather even said on video on fight hype: "I don't love boxing like I used to because boxing isn't real anymore."

Even that quote won't wake up the brain dead morons who lurk this forum. Floyd ruined boxing with all his fake soft controlled BS sparring sessions where the opponent was paid off to play soft or the judges were rigged (vs Pac). America no longer produces true great wonders like Tyson Holy Hopkins Jones Ali Oscar, so the establishment has to create frauds like floyd wilder canelo broner davis. Crawford is great but the market doesn't give a sh.

I’ve been a serious boxing fan since before you were born. If you think the 90s were great times you should have been around in the 60s & 70s when boxing was main stream.

Bad new, boxing was on a downward spiral long before anyone ever heard of FMJ.

Brain dead morons who lurk on this site? Sounds like a perfect description of YOU!

[just the facts]

I dont know but isn't it "douche"

I stand corrected

[ShoulderRoll]

Well the past few years there has been so much money and such a demand for content in general that promoters have been able to negotiate deals that are really sweet for them and really ****ty for viewers.

I've heard Lou Dibella say that he would really like to work for one of these networks, allocating a small percentage of the slots for his fighters but no in-house matchups, and simply make for the best fights he can make across all promoters.

Considering he was at HBO for one of it's golden eras, I would kill to see Lou in charge of boxing programming at Fox, ESPN or DAZN.

HBO is a perfect example. At their peak they would have fights from Golden Boy and Top Rank and smaller promoters like Kathy Duva and DiBella. No exclusive agreements with any of them.

That's the best boxing model in my opinion.

But even then guys like Arum were unhappy about the network "trying to play matchmaker." Always trying to sell mismatches and avoid risky, competitive fights.

[Bronx2245]

And where most of the fighters won't fight anyone else with a pulse unless retirement money is offered.

I think fighters are smart to seek a fair share of the pie! We don't know how much money FOX/SHO are giving PBC. We don't know how much ESPN is giving Top Rank. We don't know how much DAZN is giving GBP and MatchRoom. So I don't hate on the fighters! It just sucks because it takes too much money to cross platforms! UFC doesn't have that problem! However McGregor would never had made that money without Floyd! The problem I see is some fighters think they're on the level with Floyd, Manny, and Canelo, when they're nowhere near them! Winning doesn't mean fans will pay to see you! Just ask Andre Ward!

[tokon]

I think fighters are smart to seek a fair share of the pie! We don't know how much money FOX/SHO are giving PBC. We don't know how much ESPN is giving Top Rank. We don't know how much DAZN is giving GBP and MatchRoom. So I don't hate on the fighters! It just sucks because it takes too much money to cross platforms! UFC doesn't have that problem! However McGregor would never had made that money without Floyd! The problem I see is some fighters think they're on the level with Floyd, Manny, and Canelo, when they're nowhere near them! Winning doesn't mean fans will pay to see you! Just ask Andre Ward!

I agree with you and I'm not hating on the fighters for trying to make as much as possible - but it often seems quite a few overestimate their real value and price themselves out of challenging fights.