aquariusone
10-12-2011, 03:22 AM
What is Wrong with Boxing These Days
Even with the best brains in the business, no one could predict the fickleness of the Boxing public - both the serious followers of the sport and the occasional fan. Take the HBO gamble with Richard Schaefer and Mayweather in what they thought would be a blockbuster sell out on Pay Per View for the "return of the undefeated" in the ring. Although the sports venture brought Time Warner and CNN, TBS in the fray, with Dela Hoya and Ortiz appearing on Piers Morgan Tonight and promos on Major League Baseball broadcasts, the final tally of PPV revenue is a fraction of the more than 1 million buys expected. Just how extensive was the promo? Start with HBO's 24/7 and then consider Time.com, CNNMoney.com, Forbes.com, and Mayweather's appearance with Conan on TBS and you can see "how big" the hype was on the fight. Accountants looking at the budget for this fight are now scouring for by-product revenues to balance their budget. Moreover, Mayweather's "self-promoting" venture does not look very profitable. Keep in mind, he does not have a "guaranteed" purse. His income from the highly controversial match comes after all expenses are paid. What was initially anticipated to earn him "at least $20 million" is in peril.11656
Dan Rafael's finding and report of the anticipated financial tally of the fight leaves Bob Arum chuckling. (Bob must be saying, "So you think being your own 'self promoter' protects you from eating crow!") Some boxing pundits are now saying that this casts a wall of doubt on the "marketability of the self-proclaimed 'savior' of boxing" and leaves him with a less than positive stance on the negotiating table for future fights, in particular against his dreaded adversary. I guess that with this, you will not be hearing much about "how smart it is" to be self-promoting a fight.
Apart from this, what else is wrong with boxing? Since we are looking at Arum, let us look at what is going on in his stable. He is "Building Tim Bradley as a PPV 'super-star'". Who is Bob kidding? He thinks that putting Bradley in the Pacquiao/Marquez undercard - against.... Joel Casamayor will do the trick. As astute as the Harvard graduate is, this won't cut the cake. For Bradley to fight a 40-year old ex-champ is worst than auditioning for The X-Factor by pulling your underpants in front of Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. (We already know why Bradley signed with Arum - faint hope of squaring off with Manny for a big payoff. Dream on, Tim!
How about Nonito Donaire against Omar Narvaez on October 22 at Madison Square Garden? What is wrong with that? Sadly, this is another made-to-order "build-up" for the P4P candidate to succeed Pacquiao. Although unbeaten in 35 fights with 19 KO's, Narvaez is not in the same league as Donaire. Narvaez is a Super Flyweight at 5'3". Donaire is a Bantamweight at 5'7". You saw what he did to Fernando Montiel (also 5'3"). This would be a no contest and it would be great disappointment if it has to go to the score cards. Whatever Arum has in his sleeve after this is everybody's guess: Mares? Agbeko? Nishioka?
What is right about boxing?
Well, by November 18, a score would be settled - finally. 11657
But first, let us not jump so far ahead. Let us look at the Chad Dawson/ Bernard Hopkins' Light Heavyweight showdown this Saturday. Someone would be watching this closely - Jean Pascal. Here is the irony. Pascal takes Dawson's crown; Bernard grabs it from Pascal. Now Dawson wants for all the world to see that the crown belongs to him. But will he succeed? This would be a "do-or-die" match for the former champ. His split with Emmanuel Steward does not bode well when you look back. He split with Mayweather Sr., Eddie Mustafa Muhammed, James Prince, and others - just before big fights. Now rumors are his wife wants to run the show. (Hmmm....remember Nonito Donaire's problem with his wife meddling?) Chad has natural talent but without a good cornerman, Chad might only succeed to cement Hopkin's legacy. It would be bitter-sweet because after this fight, would Hopkins finally hang up the gloves? (There is no one else out there to fight.)
So, what is right about the November 17 showdown? Once and for all, a score would be settled. I admire both boxers - Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. They are future Hall of Famers. In spite of the "hype" they remain gentlemen. While Max Kellerman tried to stir the pot and the tempest by introducing "controversy" in their two previous fights, he did not succeed to get either boxers hot under the collar. In fact, Manny Pacquiao was laughing at some point when Kellerman was prompting for a heated response to a question. A true gentleman on and off the ring, he paid Marquez great compliment instead saying only that they are "action fighters" and "fans would be thoroughly entertained".
This will prove the adage that "Sugar catches more flies than vinegar".
Pacquiao will make his $20+ millions "guaranteed"; Marquez will earn "more money than he has ever made inside 12 rounds - maybe less."
Your own "right" and "wrong" about boxing? No holds barred!
Even with the best brains in the business, no one could predict the fickleness of the Boxing public - both the serious followers of the sport and the occasional fan. Take the HBO gamble with Richard Schaefer and Mayweather in what they thought would be a blockbuster sell out on Pay Per View for the "return of the undefeated" in the ring. Although the sports venture brought Time Warner and CNN, TBS in the fray, with Dela Hoya and Ortiz appearing on Piers Morgan Tonight and promos on Major League Baseball broadcasts, the final tally of PPV revenue is a fraction of the more than 1 million buys expected. Just how extensive was the promo? Start with HBO's 24/7 and then consider Time.com, CNNMoney.com, Forbes.com, and Mayweather's appearance with Conan on TBS and you can see "how big" the hype was on the fight. Accountants looking at the budget for this fight are now scouring for by-product revenues to balance their budget. Moreover, Mayweather's "self-promoting" venture does not look very profitable. Keep in mind, he does not have a "guaranteed" purse. His income from the highly controversial match comes after all expenses are paid. What was initially anticipated to earn him "at least $20 million" is in peril.11656
Dan Rafael's finding and report of the anticipated financial tally of the fight leaves Bob Arum chuckling. (Bob must be saying, "So you think being your own 'self promoter' protects you from eating crow!") Some boxing pundits are now saying that this casts a wall of doubt on the "marketability of the self-proclaimed 'savior' of boxing" and leaves him with a less than positive stance on the negotiating table for future fights, in particular against his dreaded adversary. I guess that with this, you will not be hearing much about "how smart it is" to be self-promoting a fight.
Apart from this, what else is wrong with boxing? Since we are looking at Arum, let us look at what is going on in his stable. He is "Building Tim Bradley as a PPV 'super-star'". Who is Bob kidding? He thinks that putting Bradley in the Pacquiao/Marquez undercard - against.... Joel Casamayor will do the trick. As astute as the Harvard graduate is, this won't cut the cake. For Bradley to fight a 40-year old ex-champ is worst than auditioning for The X-Factor by pulling your underpants in front of Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. (We already know why Bradley signed with Arum - faint hope of squaring off with Manny for a big payoff. Dream on, Tim!
How about Nonito Donaire against Omar Narvaez on October 22 at Madison Square Garden? What is wrong with that? Sadly, this is another made-to-order "build-up" for the P4P candidate to succeed Pacquiao. Although unbeaten in 35 fights with 19 KO's, Narvaez is not in the same league as Donaire. Narvaez is a Super Flyweight at 5'3". Donaire is a Bantamweight at 5'7". You saw what he did to Fernando Montiel (also 5'3"). This would be a no contest and it would be great disappointment if it has to go to the score cards. Whatever Arum has in his sleeve after this is everybody's guess: Mares? Agbeko? Nishioka?
What is right about boxing?
Well, by November 18, a score would be settled - finally. 11657
But first, let us not jump so far ahead. Let us look at the Chad Dawson/ Bernard Hopkins' Light Heavyweight showdown this Saturday. Someone would be watching this closely - Jean Pascal. Here is the irony. Pascal takes Dawson's crown; Bernard grabs it from Pascal. Now Dawson wants for all the world to see that the crown belongs to him. But will he succeed? This would be a "do-or-die" match for the former champ. His split with Emmanuel Steward does not bode well when you look back. He split with Mayweather Sr., Eddie Mustafa Muhammed, James Prince, and others - just before big fights. Now rumors are his wife wants to run the show. (Hmmm....remember Nonito Donaire's problem with his wife meddling?) Chad has natural talent but without a good cornerman, Chad might only succeed to cement Hopkin's legacy. It would be bitter-sweet because after this fight, would Hopkins finally hang up the gloves? (There is no one else out there to fight.)
So, what is right about the November 17 showdown? Once and for all, a score would be settled. I admire both boxers - Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. They are future Hall of Famers. In spite of the "hype" they remain gentlemen. While Max Kellerman tried to stir the pot and the tempest by introducing "controversy" in their two previous fights, he did not succeed to get either boxers hot under the collar. In fact, Manny Pacquiao was laughing at some point when Kellerman was prompting for a heated response to a question. A true gentleman on and off the ring, he paid Marquez great compliment instead saying only that they are "action fighters" and "fans would be thoroughly entertained".
This will prove the adage that "Sugar catches more flies than vinegar".
Pacquiao will make his $20+ millions "guaranteed"; Marquez will earn "more money than he has ever made inside 12 rounds - maybe less."
Your own "right" and "wrong" about boxing? No holds barred!