Hauser lays into HBO, again!

[Autobarn]

Seems like HBO want Dawson, maybe cos Calzaghe doesn't have (m)any fights left in him, and with Dawson comes the immediate rematch clause. Dawson beat Tarver up enough to make you think Tarver'd had enough. Obviously when Dawson dumped his WBC title, and got the fight with Tarver for the IBF, it came at a price.

I suppose they can hype it up that Tarver is more dangerous in rematches.


Good work obviously from Hauser. Detailed, well reserarched and so on. But has he gone a bit far? There definitely is a lot wrong with how boxing's being run. I'm glad he doesn't write about British boxing - "Everything that's wrong with boxing in the UK, in under 6000 words"

[Glyn Leach]

He'd get sued to fornicate if he did, the libel laws are totally different over here - but I would love to read it too. And why do you say he's gone too far?

[Glyn Leach]

Fact is Ross has the knowledge (surely 5 years under Abraham is enough?!), but has royally screwed it with his balatant bias towards GBP.

If working under Seth Abraham were the prerequisite, Lou DiBella would be the world's greatest boxing promoter - and he isn't, nor does he deal with TV companies particularly well. But as an overseer of boxing at HBO, DiBella could make a fight - history and viewing figures says that - he propped Seth up for years. But Greenberg cannot make a fight to save his life, according to Hauser the guy doesn't even like boxing, and he has handed the responsibility over to one promotional company (with scraps from the table for Al Haymon), which has resulted in record low figures for HBO boxing as GBP looks after its own. The figures speak for themselves, Greenberg is a failure compared to DiBella and Abraham - and whatever happened to Kerry Davis? Maybe they'll promote him now Obama's in charge.

Fact is, anyone can get a job, for all manner of reasons other than being sufficiently qualified- from nepotism, to race, to just being a plain nice guy ("low maintainance", as Hauser states about Richard Shafter). In fact I'll bet we all work with someone who has a load of "experience" but can't do their job. So Greenberg working under Abraham for five years means absolutely jack in terms of his capability or suitability to do the job, particularly in the face of the record low figures he has brought in for boxing. He's like one of the credit crunch bankers who gets a bonus despite doing his job unbelievably badly, an untouchable.

Hauser is completely correct in holding him accountable for this mess.

[Autobarn]

He'd get sued to eff if he did, the libel laws are totally different over here - but I would love to read it too. And why do you say he's gone too far?

I don't know, like burning a lot of bridges perhaps. Brave work though.

I can see changes happening with HBO anyway with ratings slumping and with DLH battered.

[Maelstrom]

Deary me, I would have thought Hauser was about as commercially successful as one can get in a boxing journalism capacity, having written Christ knows how many books and being one of the highest paid contributors out there - I wouldn't mind having a feel down the back of his sofa for loose change!

David and Glyn - I feel that is completely different.

He is commercially good at writing about boxing.

If he had to run a boxing promotional company or sports channel it would be an entirely different proposition. He would come face to face with the commercial realities of the world.

I believe that like some journalists, because he can't do it, he writes about it.

Being commercially sucessful at that doesn't score.

Don't you get the impression he would rather be 'doing' than 'reporting'?

It is interesting that you two are both journalists.... I would be interested in your honest response to this.

Would you rather be in the game than writing about it? What made you choose to write about it and not seek a career inside the sport?

If you look at it in a greater scheme..... is it better to make history or report it. Is it better to be Alexander or Callisthenes?

[jamesmcdonnell]

Ridiculous comments.

I hate it when people say 'Yeah, but you can't do (Insert activity here), and therefore you aren't qualified to comment on it.

I may not be a master baker, but if someone made a cake iced with dogshit, I'd still notice something was a bit off.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Deary me, I would have thought Hauser was about as commercially successful as one can get in a boxing journalism capacity, having written Christ knows how many books and being one of the highest paid contributors out there - I wouldn't mind having a feel down the back of his sofa for loose change!

David and Glyn - I feel that is completely different.

He is commercially good at writing about boxing.

If he had to run a boxing promotional company or sports channel it would be an entirely different proposition. He would come face to face with the commercial realities of the world.

I believe that like some journalists, because he can't do it, he writes about it.

Being commercially sucessful at that doesn't score.

Don't you get the impression he would rather be 'doing' than 'reporting'?

It is interesting that you two are both journalists.... I would be interested in your honest response to this.

Would you rather be in the game than writing about it? What made you choose to write about it and not seek a career inside the sport?

If you look at it in a greater scheme..... is it better to make history or report it. Is it better to be Alexander or Callisthenes?

Oh, and Alexander the great was poisoned by his own men by the way. He died aged 32 thousands of miles from home, after killing his own best friend during a squabble over tactics. He also once slaughtered an entire city full of greek speaking people he encountered in persia, for no discernable reason.

The guy was psychotic.

[Maelstrom]

Ridiculous comments.

I hate it when people say 'Yeah, but you can't do (Insert activity here), and therefore you aren't qualified to comment on it.

I may not be a master baker, but if someone made a cake iced with dogshit, I'd still notice something was a bit off.

I didn't say he wasn't qualified. But is he qualified to run a sports channel?

No way. He needs to tone the big man attitude down. Telling people what to do, offering his services, when he hasn't been there and done it.

As for your baker comparison.... if you got served that cake... would you then start telling Gordon Ramsay how to bake one if you had never picked up a spatula before?

The guy loves himself.

As for Alexander/Callisthenes, I will go you another comparison.... Would you rather be Ali or Hauser?

I think you are so peed off because you are a journalist.....

[jamesmcdonnell]

Ridiculous comments.

I hate it when people say 'Yeah, but you can't do (Insert activity here), and therefore you aren't qualified to comment on it.

I may not be a master baker, but if someone made a cake iced with dogshit, I'd still notice something was a bit off.

I didn't say he wasn't qualified. But is he qualified to run a sports channel?

No way. He needs to tone the big man attitude down. Telling people what to do, offering his services, when he hasn't been there and done it.

As for your baker comparison.... if you got served that cake... would you then start telling Gordon Ramsay how to bake one if you had never picked up a spatula before?

The guy loves himself.

As for Alexander/Callisthenes, I will go you another comparison.... Would you rather be Ali or Hauser?

I think you are so peed off because you are a journalist.....

Hauser - he doesn't have Parkinsonism.

I'd rather be neither frankly, I'm happy being myself.

He doesn't have to be qualified to run a sports channel, he is not claiming he is capable of doing the job, he is pointing out the flaws in the way HBO is being run. That's his JOB he's a frigging boxing journalist, what's he meant to do, just ignore it?

I'm not currently a journalist, and that's not a reason for my argument, what you are saying clearly doesn't make sense.

I guess by your argument, the newspaper writers covering the war in Gaza, shouldn't criticise the Israili government's stance - after all, when was the last time THEY ran a country?

Oh and if anyone served me a cake with shit as the major constituent, I'd advise them that next time they might want to leave it out, as it's not an appropriate ingredient for cake making, whether I'd ever baked a cake or not.

[Maelstrom]

Ridiculous comments.

I hate it when people say 'Yeah, but you can't do (Insert activity here), and therefore you aren't qualified to comment on it.

I may not be a master baker, but if someone made a cake iced with dogshit, I'd still notice something was a bit off.

I didn't say he wasn't qualified. But is he qualified to run a sports channel?

No way. He needs to tone the big man attitude down. Telling people what to do, offering his services, when he hasn't been there and done it.

As for your baker comparison.... if you got served that cake... would you then start telling Gordon Ramsay how to bake one if you had never picked up a spatula before?

The guy loves himself.

As for Alexander/Callisthenes, I will go you another comparison.... Would you rather be Ali or Hauser?

I think you are so peed off because you are a journalist.....

Hauser - he doesn't have Parkinsonism.

I'd rather be neither frankly, I'm happy being myself.

He doesn't have to be qualified to run a sports channel, he is not claiming he is capable of doing the job, he is pointing out the flaws in the way HBO is being run. That's his JOB he's a frigging boxing journalist, what's he meant to do, just ignore it?

I'm not currently a journalist, and that's not a reason for my argument, what you are saying clearly doesn't make sense.

I guess by your argument, the newspaper writers covering the war in Gaza, shouldn't criticise the Israili government's stance - after all, when was the last time THEY ran a country?

Oh and if anyone served me a cake with shit as the major constituent, I'd advise them that next time they might want to leave it out, as it's not an appropriate ingredient for cake making, whether I'd ever baked a cake or not.

Pleased you are as busy at work as I am!

But James... you are overlooking the facts. He DOES claim he is capable of doing the job. He offers his services and then basically jokes at the fact they won't accept him.

And personally I think yes, journalists should mainly report facts - not give opinions. I think you will find many of those who do give opinions and are respected do have experience in a field. Would you rather ask Ken Clarke about the economy, or the lead business journalist from the Times?

But even then, I am not against journos giving an opinion. I just cannot stand someone bigging themselves up like Hauser.

And as for the cake argument, if Ramsey did put shit in it, do you not think he would have known it would taste like shit!? Or at least then discovered it without you telling him?

He would have done it for a reason - perhaps one you cannot see! Perhaps as an experiment, perhaps because he wanted you to eat shit.

[Maelstrom]

PS.... it also depends on the subject.

Obviously if something is clearly wrong it can be chastised. i.e. Murder.

If, however, it is a subjective matter and you have not proved yourself in that field other than writing about it, dont big yourself up.

[DavidPayne]

Maelstrom I dont have time mate.

Hauser is on the button.

HBO have been shocking for a long time.

I'm confident Hauser could do better if given the mandate and time.

However, he isn't applying for the job.

Greenberg is making a mess of it. Numbers do not lie.

[Maelstrom]

Maelstrom I dont have time mate.

Hauser is on the button.

HBO have been shocking for a long time.

I'm confident Hauser could do better if given the mandate and time.

However, he isn't applying for the job.

Greenberg is making a mess of it. Numbers do not lie.

But he is offering himself for the job.

Let me ask you all a question... if he started telling Ricky Hatton how to throw a body shot, what would you all think?

There is a different between journalism - rreporting/comment/prediction - and bigging yourself up.

[Blue]

U r just being obstinate;
Hatton hasn’t been messing up his gig; Greenburg has.

Hauser comments on the sport of boxing from a purist point of view and digs in areas
where most writers fear to tread. Most (Not all) boxing reporters today sit on their ass
waiting for promos and don’t dare criticize for fear of not getting perks at shows.

Hauser impact is obvious by the improved HBO scheduling in the past week.

[Maelstrom]

U r just being obstinate;
Hatton hasn’t been messing up his gig; Greenburg has.

Hauser comments on the sport of boxing from a purist point of view and digs in areas
where most writers fear to tread. Most (Not all) boxing reporters today sit on their ass
waiting for promos and don’t dare criticize for fear of not getting perks at shows.

Hauser impact is obvious by the improved HBO scheduling in the past week.

No I am being logical. The reason I picked Hatton was becasue he has messed up in the past.

Anyway, this going backwards and forwards is pointless.

The bottom line to this argument is:
-- Do you think Hauser knows more about boxing broadcasting than HBO --?

I don't.

Yes, they have made mistakes, and yes I actually do think a journalist can point this out, but to big yourself up is out of order. To offer your own services - please.

I am not surprised the majority of you do think he knows better though.

In fact he has found a bit of an ideal audience here - kindred Spirits.

The majority of you all think you know what is the best for the game - despite having no real experience of it.

[DavidPayne]

Your last two lines are very insightful.

However, what experience did Greenberg have before applying himself to boxing.

Because he's made strategic mistakes from the outset?

[Autobarn]

Well I think Hauser has made it clear that HBO have been wasting a lot of money, illustrated by poor ratings and mismatches. Few good fights and few genuine stars. So it's obvious something is badly wrong. If ppl are hard up, many will drop boxing, so they need better product.

[Maelstrom]

I am not sure about insightful. After I read them back I actually thought I had been a bit rude/short.

To be honest, I know Greenberg has made mistakes. I know he has very little experience. But there are people above him.

I just cannot abide Hausers attitude. He tells people how to do things. He offers his own services.

I just feel that oversteps the remit. And I feel he does it, because he would like to be doing it.

[Autobarn]

It is a bit aggressive, I agree, and 6000 words seems to border on obsessive. It's half a dissertation. He also seems derisory towards the fighters - on the occasion that they get a mention.

On the other hand, HBO have been shite, and it is via HBO that fighters go to get their easy TV payday which has caused problems. Changes at HBO were probably on the cards anyway given the Golden thrashing, the economy, the ratings etc.

[Gray-Fox]

Like him or not, HBO has produced and sanctioned shite matches for years now.

They are the only one with the money and power to stop it.

[Glyn Leach]

Believe me, Hauser does not need the job. He is writing from the perspective of one who actually knows - not thinks they know - about what is going on at HBO. He is connected as fornicate and what he does not know, he make it a point to find out about knowing. This guy is a little more knowledgeable than the average bear. His style may not be to everyone's liking but he does his research in a way that makes most boxing writers, myself included, feel a little bit ashamed.

To see some of you chaps write him off a just someone in search of a job or simply a know-all is a little insulting to the level of journalist Hauser is. He is one of the very few out there who THINKS about the sport and has a vision of where it is going, what certain developments mean long term.

There are a lot of "in round one this happened, in round two this happened" etc types out there who like to think of themselves as boxing writers. No disrespect, we all have to start somewhere, but make no mistake - Hauser IS a boxing writer, on another level to that which all but a few will ever reach.

[Chambers2]

I've finally got round to reading Hausers piece on HBO on the original post in this thread, excellent article IMO.

Kin'ell Hauser doesn't mess about does he, it's refreshing to hear a boxing journalist write his unabashed opinions on the sport, without caring what the 'powers that be' and boxing promoters will comeback with or what press credentials he'll lose.

I agree with 99% of what Hauser says (obv not the David Haye Vs Klit part), a fair proportion of what he wrote adopts the same principles of what has been said over this side of the pond in the past decade, especially regarding mismatches and poor undercards harming the sport (SN in particular) and that the TV companies seem to deflate their own position and let themselves be dictated to by promoters, when in reality it is the TV companies who hold pocket Aces.

Boxings not in a bad state IMO, but there is still plenty of room for improvement on both sides of the Atlantic

[Autobarn]

Berto-Collazo last weekend was meant to be a good scrap, on HBO. Apparently Kellerman came up with another preposterous comment - Paul Williams is being ducked by the best of 3 weight classes!

Hopefully things are moving in the right direction. It bothers me the fights that HBO have green lit, like Hopkins-Pavlik and Calzaghe-Jones. Some poss good stuff upcoming, Margarito-Mosley, Campbell-Funeka/Martinez-Cintron, Marquez-Diaz/John-Juarez, Ortiz-Harris/Kirkland-Julio, Williams-Wright, Hatton v Pac or Secret Big Name Opponent - obviously this includes some tough fights for young talent (Kirkland, Ortiz). Hopefully - and potentially - more hard fought and competitive.

One question - do boxing fans want competitive fights, or do they want stars? (and are these 2 sides able to come together more often?)

[Chambers2]

One question - do boxing fans want competitive fights, or do they want stars? (and are these 2 sides able to come together more often?)

Good question, with the amount of clout and £$£$£$$' that HBO has in the sport I don't think it's too much to ask for stars in competitive fights....... and far less mismatches. I think that their pennies/cents should be spent far wiser and not wasted on predictable boring mismatches (ala RJJ-Calzaghe) and not wasted so much on redigging up the old guard of fighters (Trinidad, Mayorga, Mosley, DLH, Tarver, Toney etcetra) and they should spend more on bringing the new breed of fighters through


Mick Hennessey is (one of) boxings shining lights and is demonstrating how the sport should be taken forward IMO, OK he doesn't always have the best of luck when trying to land the BIG names, but I believe that he's promoting principles and intentions are always bang on. He's always looking to put his fighters in competitive fights throughout their career and from what we've seen so far he wants his stars to be in BIG fights and doesn't mind them travelling if it's what's right for the boxers career (i.e. he's not a cash-cower)

[Counter-puncher]

Mick Hennessey is (one of) boxings shining lights and is demonstrating how the sport should be taken forward IMO, OK he doesn't always have the best of luck when trying to land the BIG names, but I believe that he's promoting principles and intentions are always bang on. He's always looking to put his fighters in competitive fights throughout their career and from what we've seen so far he wants his stars to be in BIG fights and doesn't mind them travelling if it's what's right for the boxers career (i.e. he's not a cash-cower)

not sure if this rings quite true though chambers

froch has had- what?- 3 truly competitive fights in 24?

Murray, 3 or 4 in 26

Siddique managed something like 24 without a single competitive fight

witter, Hennessy managed to get him a vacant vs Corley (!) then defences vs Morua (!!!) and a half-dead Harris.

if thats the kind of competitive matchmaking that gets kudos from fans I worry for the future of the game.

I mean, i know we are desperate for any promoter whose name isn't allegedly frank whosibob but sometimes i wonder if people don't make hennesy out to be some latterday robin hood. i mean just because allegedly fwank whosibob is perfect for the role of sherriff of nottingham ('cancel christmas' i can just see it now :P ) doesn't mean hennessy is robin hood.

lets face it its not like Froch or any other hennessy fighter has been fighting 50/50's for their past 8 or anything like that.

in fact you doubtless won't need me to remind you that before pascal froch's last 4 fights went a total of what was it? about 14 rounds between them? competitve matchmaking at its finest :)

seems to me its the same as most promoters, 50/50s are all well and good but 60/40 is infinitely preferable from any promoter's perspective, and infinitely more common, even with our 'man of the people, boxing's future, greedy cynical fornicate charging £45 for a fight in a birmingham sports centre' hennessy with his supposedly impeccable promoting principles and intentions.