What has happened to Premier Boxing Champions?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Nothing could be worse than top guys fighting once a year in garbage fights. With minimal exceptions, that's the pbc.

[crusader]

Rafael now posting a long list of PBC fighters who have fought just once, or not at all, this year. He's also claiming that some PBC fighters are contacting different promoters trying to get fights.

[Enlightened-One]

Whilst it’s hard to ignore the PBC’s troubles, I can’t help thinking that certain media sources have always carried a negative bias against the company, which is strange considering it’s a start-up business that is not funded by the fans (via PPV revenue or cable subscription fees) or by the free-to-air TV networks.

I closely follow Dan Rafael’s articles, his weekly chat and his Tweets… and despite appreciating his work in general, I have often thought that he looked for opportunities to criticise the PBC, suggesting a distinct lack of impartiality in regards to this subject matter.

If you’re a genuine fan of the sport, you shouldn’t really be celebrating PBC’s current situation.

[zorndeslammes]

Most of the big name boxing writers hated PBC because it didn't feed them anything of value. No tips, no rumors, no nothing. On the other hand, they could always get a sound byte or some sort of nonsense from the likes of Minor Events and Top Rank. PBC sinking, if so, is obviously bad for the sport as a whole. Unfortunately, it might be so bad these chumps find it tough to get paid work writing about depreciated sport.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Nothing could be worse than top guys fighting once a year in garbage fights. With minimal exceptions, that's the pbc.

Isn't that boxing in general?

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Whilst it’s hard to ignore the PBC’s troubles, I can’t help thinking that certain media sources have always carried a negative bias against the company, which is strange considering it’s a start-up business that is not funded by the fans (via PPV revenue or cable subscription fees) or by the free-to-air TV networks.

I closely follow Dan Rafael’s articles, his weekly chat and his Tweets… and despite appreciating his work in general, I have often thought that he looked for opportunities to criticise the PBC, suggesting a distinct lack of impartiality in regards to this subject matter.

If you’re a genuine fan of the sport, you shouldn’t really be celebrating PBC’s current situation.

Also, the PBC decided to de-emphasize the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF.
When they went in that direction, it's amazing how many writers who criticized the ABCs for years wouldn't follow.

I have made the same point you're making since the inception of the PBC.
There is clearly a media bias among the accepted boxing media against the PBC.

I wouldn't say it influenced the fans, because many racists ... sorry ... fans here, were against the PBC for no reason.
Many of these same racists, sorry boxing fans, pleading WITH ME for years for ANY championship fight to be on TV.

Now we can go back to you having to have a HBO or Showtime subscription to watch fights.
Even though both networks will probably continue to cut their boxing budget.
So that means more Crawford/Postol type fights on PPV.

No more PBC.
Viva Top Rank. Viva Golden Boy. Viva HBO.

Idiots.

[boxing_rocks]

"Packed house" at tonight's PBC card:

[zorndeslammes]

"Packed house" at tonight's PBC card:

Nobody gave a shit about how well tickets moved when it was Gary Shaw running empty houses in the same joint. That's because Shaw would make sure guys were "taken care of" for bigger shows. That's how this works. These guys think they're owed something for the difficult task of watching boxing up close. Getting paid and free tix isn't enough.

[Andrew]

It sucks a little because because there is now uncertainty surrounding a lot of fighters.

An no good fights stateside in October I can think of.

[caldo2025]

The PBC's goal and mission was groundbreaking and it would have been spectacular for the sport and fans in the end but whoever put the strategy together to get them there should have been fired a LONG time ago. I find that the biggest reason for it's failure was continuity. Continuity in multiple areas. There was no continuity with the network choice for airing. There were too many networks involved and it was difficult for fans to keep up with. For instance, did you know there was a PBC boxing event last night?

Continuity was also lacking with their announcers. How many different teams of announcers can they have? Their #1 team contained Sugar Ray Leonard who whispered so low you couldn't even hear what he was saying. Way too many combinations of announcers and personalities. They should have had no more than 2 combinations so that fans could get familiar with them. For instance, the HBO Team of Lampley, Max and RJJR is my favorite and no matter how bad of a fight they televise, i'm watching because of those three.

There was also no continuity within the matchmaking and what the PBC goal was? At first they refused to recognize world titles on their telecasts but they that changed and it just seemed like the baby was thrown out with the bathwater midway and this whole thing just went to shiit. What's even more pathetic is that Haymon is not even going out with a bang. You'd think he'd try to save this thing by putting some megafights together but he's just a whipped dog right now. Pretty sad. The PBC will go down in history with the USFL as fellow sports disasters.

[Tomasino]

Wasn't this just a huge investment scam? I read recently that the funds have been misused and investors are devastated. The whole thing sounds like a giant con.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

It sucks a little because because there is now uncertainty surrounding a lot of fighters.

An no good fights stateside in October I can think of.

Not really, al will still be their manager. This failing will likely make for more big fights.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Nothing could be worse than top guys fighting once a year in garbage fights. With minimal exceptions, that's the pbc.

Isn't that boxing in general?

I've never seen anything as bad as the pbc, but it's a microcosm of the sport in the us. Fighters have been overpaid for decades and promoters haven't worked for decades. With neither happening in the UFC American boxing just plunges further and further into the abyss.

[jockpunk]

I've said it before but haymon is either a genius or a complete idiot.

If his goal was to make PBC into something like the UFC and this was his way to go about it, he is beyond retarded. It was a pathetic attempt.

If his goal was to rip off his backers by taking their money and giving it to his fighters (and hence himself through advisor fees) then he is a genius.

There is no middle ground on this one imo.

[boxing_rocks]

I've said it before but haymon is either a genius or a complete idiot.

If his goal was to make PBC into something like the UFC and this was his way to go about it, he is beyond retarded. It was a pathetic attempt.

If his goal was to rip off his backers by taking their money and giving it to his fighters (and hence himself through advisor fees) then he is a genius.

There is no middle ground on this one imo.

Haymon does have some psychological issue, as he completely avoids publicity. So, it may not be retarded but some kind of mania. And of course advisor fees was his main reason to do that.

[Enlightened-One]

I’ve read a fairly weak rumour today, from multiple anonymous sources, suggesting that the reason for the PBC’s bleak autumn schedule is due to the company’s reluctance to continue paying for air time from the TV networks and also fighters purses from their own budget, because Haymon is currently in the midst of negotiating a ten year deal with Fox, who’ll be paying for the privilege to televise their shows.

Considering I’m obsessed with “facts” and proving my theories via reliable sources, I’m reluctant to wholeheartedly buy into this rumour, but it does kind of make sense.

The PBC’s lack of activity could simply be the quiet before the storm and I don’t believe that dementia was the reason for Bob Arum’s claim yesterday (who has recently established a working business relationship with Al Haymon), when he said the following:

“Boxing not only isn’t dead, but it’s on the cusp of a great resurgence... And boxing... will flourish. It will be bigger than it’s ever been.

“Wait you see. This next ten years we are on the cusp of time in boxing when the people all around the world will join together to watch our great athletes perform... and wait you see what’s gonna happen starting now in these next ten years.”

Either way, in the short-term, it seems inevitable that we’ll either be reading about the liquidation of the PBC… or we’ll be hearing about how it has found a permanent high-profile home, making a mockery of all the naysayers.

I sincerely hope it’s the latter, for the sake of the sports’ prosperity in the US.

[scallum2015]

With or Without The Pbc Haymon still is the most Powerful figure in boxing

[Andrew]

With or Without The Pbc Haymon still is the most Powerful figure in boxing

If he can't get his fighters fights then he isn't.

Let's wait and see what happens with this.

[JamesK]

I’ve read a fairly weak rumour today, from multiple anonymous sources, suggesting that the reason for the PBC’s bleak autumn schedule is due to the company’s reluctance to continue paying for air time from the TV networks and also fighters purses from their own budget, because Haymon is currently in the midst of negotiating a ten year deal with Fox, who’ll be paying for the privilege to televise their shows.

Considering I’m obsessed with “facts” and proving my theories via reliable sources, I’m reluctant to wholeheartedly buy into this rumour, but it does kind of make sense.

The PBC’s lack of activity could simply be the quiet before the storm and I don’t believe that dementia was the reason for Bob Arum’s claim yesterday (who has recently established a working business relationship with Al Haymon), when he said the following:

“Boxing not only isn’t dead, but it’s on the cusp of a great resurgence... And boxing... will flourish. It will be bigger than it’s ever been.

“Wait you see. This next ten years we are on the cusp of time in boxing when the people all around the world will join together to watch our great athletes perform... and wait you see what’s gonna happen starting now in these next ten years.”

Either way, in the short-term, it seems inevitable that we’ll either be reading about the liquidation of the PBC… or we’ll be hearing about how it has found a permanent high-profile home, making a mockery of all the naysayers.

I sincerely hope it’s the latter, for the sake of the sports’ prosperity in the US.

I have heard this aswell from a few people although I doubt it's true sadly. They belive PBC will sign a 10 year deal with FOX with 2 fight cards a week. There talking the money invoved is similar to the NHL contract with CBS. Also potential to have cards follow NFL or college footballs games, similar to how Spence followed the olympics. With the UFC possibly moving to ESPN, FOX can still maintain combat sports on there roster through PBC. It will most likely turn out to be rubbish but I sincerley hope this is the reason there so quiet.

[Ricky_]

"Premier Boxing Champions"....

Put this monstrosity out of its misery and put the fighters in touch with Arum then we can get some matchups.

[crusader]

There are still some people who are and always have been convinced he's going to land a massive TV deal along the lines to what the UFC got after their timebuys. It might happen, and I think the ratings on some of the smaller channels were at least decent, but to me the expectation that PBC will land a huge deal is more hopeful thinking rather than a prediction that follows from the evidence we have about PBC's success.

Incidentally, the people I've seen who remain confident about PBC landing bigtime $$$ TV deals are pretty much all Haymon nuthuggers and they seem to be trying to convince themselves that everything is going just to plan.

[gilgamesh]

There are still some people who are and always have been convinced he's going to land a massive TV deal along the lines to what the UFC got after their timebuys. It might happen, and I think the ratings on some of the smaller channels were at least decent, but to me the expectation that PBC will land a huge deal is more hopeful thinking rather than a prediction that follows from the evidence we have about PBC's success.

Incidentally, the people I've seen making these claims are pretty much all Haymon nuthuggers and they seem to be trying to convince themselves that everything is going just to plan.

Massive TV deal or not if he doesn't put his fighters in competitive matchups more often it's not going anywhere.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

The first card on fox got smoked in the ratings by figure skating. Hardly the kind of thing that's going to land a blockbuster contract.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Haymon does have some psychological issue, as he completely avoids publicity. So, it may not be retarded but some kind of mania. And of course advisor fees was his main reason to do that.

Really think about this. I'm sure you'll realize this reasoning is ridiculous.

You probably should be more weary of the CEO who wants to be in the media.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

"Premier Boxing Champions"....

Put this monstrosity out of its misery and put the fighters in touch with Arum then we can get some matchups.

Messiah Bob