Sky and the eddie Hearn show

[1 nut]

First of all I'm a neutral and Hearn us doing a great job of promoting .
But come on this is all too much , I used to love watching ringside and whenever a boxer got on sky sports news whoever it was I'd watch and enjoy.
But this last month im sick of brook , froch , barker, bellew,frampton . And this is nothing against these fighters as they are all great fighters .
But the days you would get cleverly , Martin Murray , Ricky burns , what about the Tyson furys , de gales and groves and many other great fighters
Just many great fighters from all promotors because sky sports should cover all boxers regardless of promotors cos as a boxing fan I want to see them all.
Only reason I subscribe to sky is boxing and let's be honest we ain't getting value

[Wales]

Company in self marketing shocker.

Do you not remember the lack of F1 coverage sky sports news had before sky had the rights. It borught up the discussion is Sky Sports news a sports news channel, or is it a SkySports news channel

[dve3333]

Best of the lot was "Future of British Boxing" on Ringside a few weeks back where the top 3 stars was Froch = 35 Bellew = 29 Brook = 26. Is hard to blame Sky for hitching their cart to the Matchroom train after all of the success with their Darts organisation but this monoploy will hurt the sport in the long term ala their partnership with FW.

[JamesH]

While they have their faults, Sky aren't to blame for boxing's problems.

[mcato]

http://www.matchroomboxing.com/news/mat ... _video.htm

Have a look at this video.

The Domination is here.

[brian13]

Best of the lot was "Future of British Boxing" on Ringside a few weeks back where the top 3 stars was Froch = 35 Bellew = 29 Brook = 26. Is hard to blame Sky for hitching their cart to the Matchroom train after all of the success with their Darts organisation but this monoploy will hurt the sport in the long term ala their partnership with FW.

The relationship had to be of hurt when FW set up allegedly to try to compete with Sky in terms of boxing coverage.

In terms of monopoly etc in relation to the deal. I don't really care, what deals promoters have with tv companies. I just want to see decent competitive fights and I don't care what station.

[twenty six]

I hate monopolies in any walk of life.
No problems with Hearn at all - he's a businessman and he's got himself a cracking deal.
However, and this is a genuine question.
The Contract lasts 2 years and covers 40 shows.
Whilst I hope it doesn't happen, what if Froch loses to Bute next March and retires ? Brook loses his World title eliminator, and Frampton slips up against Molitor ? Oh and Barker announces his retirement on medical grounds.
What does that leave us with ? - and no disrespect to the remaining team is intended, Bellew etc.
40 shows at the quality he's guaranteeing is 400 bouts.
How can that be achieved ?

[Glyn Leach]

Can't really base the future solely on the fighters Matchroom has at the moment, there will be mass defections from other promoters now, it has become the place to be. As things stand, there are some very good fighters out there who are not getting to fight, let alone be on TV, because their promoters haven't got deals anymore. Or maybe the fighters would look at the Sky/Matchroom thing and decide they want to be part of it. Whatever, by the end of this year I don't think Matchroom will consist of just Froch, Barker, Bomber and Brook.

One question though: Why wasn't Kenny Anderson at that media day? Eddie spoke about him, everyone else and his dog were there, but no Kenny and Kevin Maree. Bit strange.

[twenty six]

Glyn,
I appreciate what you are saying, but that all depends upon the Contractual situation between fighter and Promotor.
My hope is that other Promotors - those without a current TV deal - will be prepared to work on a Sub Contract basis with Hearn.
I think this is wishful thinking however.
40 bills in 2 seasons is a lot to fill (one every two weeks on average), and remember Hearn has set the bar high re quality, as Sky have demanded it.
What I don't want to happen is for us to see the safety first approach with the headline acts to protect their record.
However I can see it happening.
I reiterate I hate monopolies. I thought Sky had learnt their lesson on this from the past.
Maybe I'm too cynical, I don't know.

[The Insider]

While they have their faults, Sky aren't to blame for boxing's problems.

I blame George Groves.

[Wales]

If Lee Beard was in charge it'd be sorted

[JamesH]

Watch the Olympians sign up to fill up the dates! Then more unhappy campers will jump ship and join the revolution.

I don't think Matchroom will find it hard to sign fighters, not if they want to be on Sky (which a lot will).

[The Insider]

If Lee Beard was in charge it'd be sorted

Just look what he did for the Hattons. They wouldn't be where they are today without him ;;-)

[twenty six]

James,
How many of the Olympians do you think will cross over ?
How many of those do you think will do well in the pro ranks ?

[Glyn Leach]

Glyn,
I appreciate what you are saying, but that all depends upon the Contractual situation between fighter and Promotor.
My hope is that other Promotors - those without a current TV deal - will be prepared to work on a Sub Contract basis with Hearn.
I think this is wishful thinking however.
40 bills in 2 seasons is a lot to fill (one every two weeks on average), and remember Hearn has set the bar high re quality, as Sky have demanded it.
What I don't want to happen is for us to see the safety first approach with the headline acts to protect their record.
However I can see it happening.
I reiterate I hate monopolies. I thought Sky had learnt their lesson on this from the past.
Maybe I'm too cynical, I don't know.

Can't imagine why anyone should feel cynical 26 lol!

Fighters won't be able to just walk out on their contracts, obviously, but we've seen in the cases of Bellew and DeGale that they appear willing to challenge their existing deals more than ever these days. If a fighter's contract guarantees them so many fights a year, what happens if their promoter has lost his TV dates and can't afford to fulfill that guarantee? The contract is broken and open to challenge.

I really hope this forces promoters to work together more, whether under the Sky or allegedly banners (it's too much to expect total unity). Hearn says he's happy to co-promote shows, but without question he will be the senior partner in any such relationships and that might be hard for other promoters to swallow.

Frank Maloney, for example, wasn't up for it at all and took the big fella to allegedly. To a point I
can understand why, FM has been around for years whereas Eddie's a relative newboy. That must
stick in his throat. It's like having worked for a company for years and then having a new fella, with the same role as you, promoted above you. No way that doesn't grate against your personal and professional pride.

But a Dave Coldwell, a promoter who didn't have a Sky deal anyway, might be more willing to work with Hearn on a co-promotion, as that Bellew-McIntosh card in Liverpool showed. And that night seems to have gone down well with all concerned. Hearn mentioned several other promoters who had already shown a willingness to work with him, including Dennis Hobson and Steve Wood (I think I'm right in saying). But all the promoters he mentioned didn't have Sky deals anyway, they already needed to co-promote in order to get on Sky, so maybe things haven't changed that much for them.

The interesting one is Ricky Hatton, who has a long history with Sky even if for not that much longer than Hearn as a promoter. It's no secret that Hatton feels kicked in the teeth by the way Sky treated him, but he's stuck between a rock and a hard place now - unless he finds another TV outlet, his choice is between Sky and allegedly, and obviously Hatton and allegedly have had their problems so not a great position to be in at all.

Things will get messy and stay that way for a while, with fighters and promoters breaking and forming alliances, but Sky has gone 100 per cent behind Hearn, that's how things will be for two years and boxing will have to adjust to that, one way or another.

[THEBUTCH]

I've finally got round to doing something I've been meaning to do for a while now.....cancelling SkySports. All I watch is boxing and with the crap Sky and Hearns are dishing up...no thanks, even at the reduced rate Sky offered.

Adam Smith and company have absolutely ruined what was once a decent boxing channel.

[dbf]

To be fair though, we all know boxing is under the cosh a bit and it appears more than likely that Sky have cut boxing's budget. They accuired F1 and spent a lot of money in doing so, therefore something had to give and it looks like boxing was one of the victims.

Therefore with a limited budget sky had to make sure that they were offering value for money with stacked cards and and big headliners. Couple that with a good working relationship with matchroom across other sports it seemed to be the sensible option. The hearns operate differently to other promoters because they are larger than just boxing.

Eddie stressed at yesterdays presser that he was willing to work with other promoters and how they are growing a stable that covers different tiers of fighters, from your frochs right through to your wards and weavers.

A monoply isn't ideal but I think Sky had few other options.

[JamesH]

James,
How many of the Olympians do you think will cross over ?
How many of those do you think will do well in the pro ranks ?

Hi TwentySix, hope you are keeping well.

I would guess at least 4 of the men. London 2012 was a massive pull for these guys, Rio would be great but I'm not sure it would have the same appeal as a home Olympics. Luke Campbell is imo a cert to turn over, although I'm not sure he can repeat his success as an amateur. Think Selby will be the pick from the group, and think he will also turnover. I believe Joshua won't but who knows, money talks!!

Can see Nevin doing among the best of the British or Irish Olympians, and for some reason I can see him on Matchroom shows.

Beyond that, we know there are a number of fighters with varying degrees of disputes with their promoter/s and some will be moving to pastures new, with Eddie at the front of the queue picking off what he believes to be the best of the bunch.

However, I also heard Kalle Sauerland saying he has his eye on a couple of the domestic Olympians, so I guess you just never know!

[ashedward]

To be fair though, we all know boxing is under the cosh a bit and it appears more than likely that Sky have cut boxing's budget. They accuired F1 and spent a lot of money in doing so, therefore something had to give and it looks like boxing was one of the victims.

Therefore with a limited budget sky had to make sure that they were offering value for money with stacked cards and and big headliners. Couple that with a good working relationship with matchroom across other sports it seemed to be the sensible option. The hearns operate differently to other promoters because they are larger than just boxing.

Eddie stressed at yesterdays presser that he was willing to work with other promoters and how they are growing a stable that covers different tiers of fighters, from your frochs right through to your wards and weavers.

A monoply isn't ideal but I think Sky had few other options.

Good post,the budget was definatly cut,so they go with option which is less hassle.The viewing figures for Froch and Brook have been very good.The hardcore boxing fan might not always be happy with the way they going but it should bring more casuals to the sport.My brother is a casual fan and he loved the last Brook card but the standerd should stay high.I also think Mathroom will be expanding the stable to help fill the dates and by having 3 live fights per show we should have atleast one barnburner with a bit of luck.

[whiskey]

It's hard to get into this thread, on account of all the soap boxes.

Anyway, it's the Latvians and Africans I'm concerned about. How will they put petrol in their taxi's now, after the clear out ?

[orbtastic]

Taxi's what?

[jameswilson]

The Domination is here.

Sounds like something Rhino's wife says to him whilst she is wearing a strapon and sporting a huge whip.

[Bronxbull666]

I subscribe to sky purely for boxing, so I was pleased with the 20 shows per year, was thinking it'd be more like 12 including Prizefighter. There will be other promoters working with Hearn, there'll have to be if he wants title fights and opponents. Barker, Froch, Brook, Frampton, Bellew are all headliners.

I must say, though; I am impressed by Steve Goodwin's free to air Primetime deal. He's left the door wide open to promoters, managers and boxers to join in as well.

Sky will pick up other boxing cards as well.

[P4P#1]

I think it's gonna be interesting to see what happens should hatton fight later this year, tv company's will be lining up to show his fight plus I can imagine a stacked undercard with a lot of the hatton fighters on, i can see him telling sky to fuk right off, and sticking it on prime time although I'd prefer it to be on channel 5 personally,

[fizzjambo]

I've finally got round to doing something I've been meaning to do for a while now.....cancelling SkySports. All I watch is boxing and with the crap Sky and Hearns are dishing up...no thanks, even at the reduced rate Sky offered.

Adam Smith and company have absolutely ruined what was once a decent boxing channel.

I've taken the plunge today as well. The money I know that will be getting pumped into the F1 channel does my head in. Plus my interest in fitba has waned year on year, I work to often to every watch any of the cricket for any length of time and when the Rugby is on I'm generally playing sport myself.

The real reason I have Sky though is the boxing and I was gutted at the cut in output and the almost totla lack of resources aimed at US, etc fights. The cards on offer don't make up for the cut in output. Mack, Miranda and Saldivia are very ordinary opponents, I think they are all good opponents for Froch, Bellew and Brook, for varying reasons, but they are s***e opponents for me, the paying punter.

From now on it's 437 online, Channel 5 and Eurosport for me. I'll miss Sky but I'm saving over £50 a month. Plus I won't even be lured into watching another Prizefighter - the best result of the lot!!!