Matchroom learns from DAZN trip to Kansas

[Rip Chudd]

Every boxing fan knows that Mexicans are the fans that drive the US boxing market. If you want good attendances put Mexicans on your card. Want good PPV sales, fight a Mexican on a Mexican holiday. Mexicans and other nationalities (to a much lesser extent) turn up to events, Americans don't.

You are aware that these "mexicans" you speak of are actually American right? Mexican decent yes, but the majority are born in America.

[filup79]

The funny thing is that a lot of my friends were asking to watch the Rios fight since we know him and he's from our town. None of them knew where to find the fight until I told them it was on DAZN. They had no clue what that was and weren't willing to take the time to download and subscribe to the app. They really didn't want to pay $10 for a weak card and said they would just wait for a good fight to subscribe and get the free month. I'm sure there are plenty of people who are thinking that way when it comes to DAZN and some of their cards.

[Ray*]

Putting a no namer in Big Baby in Kansas as the main event was always stupid. What was he expecting to happen there?

You can put on good shows with African Americans that isn't the problem. But you have to put them on at their hometown or close to it. PBC has built a brand in the Barclay's and they always do good numbers there, but you put Spence in Dallas and he is putting 14k+. You put Crawford in Ohama and he is doing 14k+. You put Wilder in NY or Alabama and he is doing good numbers. You put Robert Easter in Toledo and he will do solid numbers. But you can't just put random guys in random cities and expect to do well.

But the fact he is trying these lesser used cities in boxing is great. It may not end up working, but at least he is trying.

I understand, it’s odd but am not prior to what they see up there at Matchroom. Not sure who and what sort of market they were looking at but hey they are trying and let’s see how it plays out.

[GhostofDempsey]

I think he over-estimated Miller's drawing power. No one knows who he is, and matching him against an even more obscure fighter was a bad idea. If he wanted to do big in Kansas he needed Ortiz or Rios. He will need an American consultant with their finger on the pulse of where to hold venues and how to match them. Much different than U.K.

[KTFOKING]

I understand, it’s odd but am not prior to what they see up there at Matchroom. Not sure who and what sort of market they were looking at but hey they are trying and let’s see how it plays out.

End of the day, that card was full of mismatches with no big name on it. Hearn put two Kansas boys on the card to sell tickets and did a solid job all things considering. He can learn to adjust the fight order that isn't a big deal. But a guy like Big Baby has no base at all, even in NY. Really, he shouldn't be headlining any card, let alone one in the middle of nowhere.

In reality, Hearn's major problem is the lack of names he has in his stable, at least stateside. Like who is a big name? Vargas? Nope. Andrade? Nope. Big Baby? Nope. So he is trying to make the best out of the situation as he can, but he's behind the 8 ball. None of these shows are going to do good numbers or make any sort of dent in the American market. I think this will lead him to have to put Joshua in America once a year for the time being. So one fight at Wembleys, and one in America.

[paulf]

I think he over-estimated Miller's drawing power. No one knows who he is, and matching him against an even more obscure fighter was a bad idea. If he wanted to do big in Kansas he needed Ortiz or Rios. He will need an American consultant with their finger on the pulse of where to hold venues and how to match them. Much different than U.K.

Rios was on the card. Ortiz and Rios never lived or fought in Wichita and are not a drawn in Kansas just because they up grew there. They're 100% California fighters.

Promoters tell themselves a lie along the lines of "boxing is only in Vegas, LA, and NYC.... it needs to be everywhere like the UFC" in order to rationalize accepting easy money from a casino and putting a fight on the middle of nowhere. This was an example of Hearn falling victim to that. Kansas Star Casino is half an hour outside Wichita, but may as well be an hour+.... there's nothing out there and no one goes out there except those who want to gamble.

If Hearn was serious about his wanting to make boxing more like it is in England, he would have put it dead in the middle of a city and made the tickets affordable.... instead he took short money to put it in a casino just like Lou Dibella does, which is ironic because he loves to criticize Lou's shortcomings as a promoter.

[mrlopez]

Shields vs whoever, NEVER needs to be a main, comain, etc.

[GhostofDempsey]

Rios was on the card. Ortiz and Rios never lived or fought in Wichita and are not a drawn in Kansas just because they up grew there. They're 100% California fighters.

Promoters tell themselves a lie along the lines of "boxing is only in Vegas, LA, and NYC.... it needs to be everywhere like the UFC" in order to rationalize accepting easy money from a casino and putting a fight on the middle of nowhere. This was an example of Hearn falling victim to that. Kansas Star Casino is half an hour outside Wichita, but may as well be an hour+.... there's nothing out there and no one goes out there except those who want to gamble.

If Hearn was serious about his wanting to make boxing more like it is in England, he would have put it dead in the middle of a city and made the tickets affordable.... instead he took short money to put it in a casino just like Lou Dibella does, which is ironic because he loves to criticize Lou's shortcomings as a promoter.

That's right, I forgot Rios was on that card and yes, he should have held it in a venue within the city limits.

[Laligalaliga]

Why do you keep saying for the good of American fans? What happens if he fails? Does that mean some how boxing in America will fail? No, if he fails then DAZN will replace him with someone else or give adjust his budget and go on from there.

Hearn came out and talked a big game and clearly has been humbled. That's fine though, it's still early in the game and he is indeed a fighter. But what I never understood from him is why he tried to cheat his way to the top by stealing PBC fighters, when he should have instead tried to grab all the young fighters without a big promoter. So much talent out there and he ends up signing some average as hell amateurs from NY. To his credit, he has since then signed some solid prospects.

Now that GBP is at DAZN, there is no question his value at least stateside has gone down. If you are a FA or looking to come to DAZN, why pick Matchroom over the proven American promotional company in GBP? So like Hearn keeps telling Charlo if he wants Canelo, then he has to sign with DAZN....Okay, so even if that is true, why would Charlo sign with Matchroom over GBP here? It should be said that DLH has said a fighter doesn't have to sign with GBP or DAZN to get Canelo and he is interested in one fight deals. Basically the complete opposite of what Hearn has been saying.

I'll give Hearn credit though, he is trying hard. He sends out IFL TV to pretty much all their shows, even the lower level ones like the one we saw in Kansas. That right there is impressive.

You make plenty of sense in your comment. What I meant by its for the benefit of American fans is that when this project succeed, it will save the fans a whole lots of money and give room for other interested fans that high ppv price restrict them from watching their favorite fighters will key in into the monthly subscription stuff.

Over time, boxing will be great again in America.

[Laligalaliga]

The funny thing is that a lot of my friends were asking to watch the Rios fight since we know him and he's from our town. None of them knew where to find the fight until I told them it was on DAZN. They had no clue what that was and weren't willing to take the time to download and subscribe to the app. They really didn't want to pay $10 for a weak card and said they would just wait for a good fight to subscribe and get the free month. I'm sure there are plenty of people who are thinking that way when it comes to DAZN and some of their cards.

These things takes time to reach out to others. It's not magic, it will work by sharing information just the way you did. It will keep expounding and others will get to know about it.

New projects take time. It's too early to criticize.