Will Golovkin stick with HBO?
This marks the final fight in Golovkin’s deal with HBO. And with powerful new options emerging to broadcast and stream high-profile bouts, it will be compelling to see if he turns away from a network that is increasingly turning its back on boxing.
Six years after HBO helped launch his rise by televising Golovkin’s U.S. debut at Turning Stone Casino in New York, he felt HBO didn’t support his plan to fight a replacement opponent in May after Alvarez was suspended six months for submitting two positive drug tests.
Golovkin ultimately landed an HBO date on Cinco de Mayo at StubHub Center against Vanes Martirosyan, but his $1-million guarantee was 20 times less than what he’s expected to earn Saturday.
“We would’ve liked a bigger license fee,” Golovkin promoter Tom Loeffler said.
HBO said it doesn’t comment on contracts, but noted that no other fighter has been on the network more since his September 2012 debut than Golovkin has with 14 appearances.
Golovkin has expressed interest in several opponents, including unbeaten Jermall Charlo, who’s tied to Premier Boxing Champions, which announced a deal with Fox last week to stage bouts on pay-per-view and network television, and also recently extended its union with Showtime.
Golovkin also is interested in meeting Japan’s World Boxing Assn. secondary middleweight champion Ryoto Murata, who is tied to Top Rank and ESPN.
“If Gennady wins [Saturday], he has a lot of options,” Loeffler said.
This marks the final fight in Golovkin’s deal with HBO. And with powerful new options emerging to broadcast and stream high-profile bouts, it will be compelling to see if he turns away from a network that is increasingly turning its back on boxing.
Six years after HBO helped launch his rise by televising Golovkin’s U.S. debut at Turning Stone Casino in New York, he felt HBO didn’t support his plan to fight a replacement opponent in May after Alvarez was suspended six months for submitting two positive drug tests.
Golovkin ultimately landed an HBO date on Cinco de Mayo at StubHub Center against Vanes Martirosyan, but his $1-million guarantee was 20 times less than what he’s expected to earn Saturday.
“We would’ve liked a bigger license fee,” Golovkin promoter Tom Loeffler said.
HBO said it doesn’t comment on contracts, but noted that no other fighter has been on the network more since his September 2012 debut than Golovkin has with 14 appearances.
Golovkin has expressed interest in several opponents, including unbeaten Jermall Charlo, who’s tied to Premier Boxing Champions, which announced a deal with Fox last week to stage bouts on pay-per-view and network television, and also recently extended its union with Showtime.
Golovkin also is interested in meeting Japan’s World Boxing Assn. secondary middleweight champion Ryoto Murata, who is tied to Top Rank and ESPN.
“If Gennady wins [Saturday], he has a lot of options,” Loeffler said.
Comment