HBO’s “Featured” Fighters

[Enlightened-One]

It’s abundantly clear that Time Warner’s decision to implement budget cuts to their HBO Sports division has affected the frequency and quality of their non-PPV fights that they televise each year.

What I’ve also noticed, which I’m wondering if you guys agree with me on, relates to their lack on young marquee names amongst the biggest stars that they televise.

Whilst it’s clear that Canelo still has a long career ahead of him, physically smaller fighters tend to retire earlier than their heavier counterparts, so we might only be able to enjoy a couple of years of Vasyl Lomachenko and Terence Crawford before they eventually walk away from the sport.

Therefore, this leaves HBO will a lengthy list of veteran fighters that are likely to either retire within the next year or continue competing when they’re clearly far removed from their respective primes.

Here’s a list of the fighters I’m referring to:
• Juan Manuel Marquez (43)
• Wladimir Klitschko (41)
• Manny Pacquiao (38)
• Miguel Cotto (36)
• Gennady Golovkin (35)
• Nonito Donaire (34)
• Sergey Kovalev (34)
• Jean Pascal (34)
• Timothy Bradley (33)
• James Kirkland (33)
• Andre Ward (33)
• Brandon Rios (31)
• Nicholas Walters (31)
• Román González (29)

Do you think that HBO Boxing’s potential impending demise will result in the audience figures of Showtime and the PBC increasing or do you feel that this is simply another symptom of the decline of the sport of boxing in America?

[jujigatame]

IMO, HBO has the vast majority of the world's truly elite (P4P) fighters:

Pacquiao, Crawford, Canelo, Lomachenko, Golovkin, Kovalev, Ward

The problem is that they mostly fight on PPV because HBO's budget has been cut to shit. It's a bad situation.

[greg]

..the situation when the best boxers are basically owned by two TV networks is so perverse that their potential demise would cause no regrets on my part..

[jujigatame]

..the situation when the best boxers are basically owned by two TV networks is so perverse that their potential demise would cause no regrets on my part..

Except that it would effectively mean the end of boxing on US TV.

[greg]

..the situation when the best boxers are basically owned by two TV networks is so perverse that their potential demise would cause no regrets on my part..

Except that it would effectively mean the end of boxing on US TV.

..that might unfortunately be true..

[gilgamesh]

..the situation when the best boxers are basically owned by two TV networks is so perverse that their potential demise would cause no regrets on my part..

Except that it would effectively mean the end of boxing on US TV.

I don't see why other networks couldn't just pick up the fighters that HBO would no longer be televising.

[jujigatame]

Which networks seem willing to put the money up to televise high-level boxing? HBO and Showtime are it.

[Mexi-Box]

Which networks seem willing to put the money up to televise high-level boxing? HBO and Showtime are it.

I know ESPN doesn't pay for boxing, and they really don't care about the sport unless it's about the stars. HBO is the network that controls the highest, p4p boxers, as someone mentioned.

[Mexi-Box]

IMO, HBO has the vast majority of the world's truly elite (P4P) fighters:

Pacquiao, Crawford, Canelo, Lomachenko, Golovkin, Kovalev, Ward

The problem is that they mostly fight on PPV because HBO's budget has been cut to poo. It's a bad situation.

You forgot Gonzalez. Also, I heard Inoue is about to debut on an HBO card too. That'd make HBO have pretty much all the p4p fighters except Mikey who is about to join the list.

[Enlightened-One]

IMO, HBO has the vast majority of the world's truly elite (P4P) fighters:

Pacquiao, Crawford, Canelo, Lomachenko, Golovkin, Kovalev, Ward

The problem is that they mostly fight on PPV because HBO's budget has been cut to poo. It's a bad situation.

You forgot Gonzalez. Also, I heard Inoue is about to debut on an HBO card too. That'd make HBO have pretty much all the p4p fighters except Mikey who is about to join the list.

What do you mean about Mikey Garcia?

[Mexi-Box]

IMO, HBO has the vast majority of the world's truly elite (P4P) fighters:

Pacquiao, Crawford, Canelo, Lomachenko, Golovkin, Kovalev, Ward

The problem is that they mostly fight on PPV because HBO's budget has been cut to poo. It's a bad situation.

You forgot Gonzalez. Also, I heard Inoue is about to debut on an HBO card too. That'd make HBO have pretty much all the p4p fighters except Mikey who is about to join the list.

What do you mean about Mikey Garcia?

I'd have Mikey top 10 p4p after he beats Broner is what I mean. I currently have him at #11 p4p. Mikey fights on Showtime.

[Enlightened-One]

You forgot Gonzalez. Also, I heard Inoue is about to debut on an HBO card too. That'd make HBO have pretty much all the p4p fighters except Mikey who is about to join the list.

What do you mean about Mikey Garcia?

I'd have Mikey top 10 p4p after he beats Broner is what I mean. I currently have him at #11 p4p. Mikey fights on Showtime.

OK understood, I misinterpreted the"list" part.

[caldo2025]

..the situation when the best boxers are basically owned by two TV networks is so perverse that their potential demise would cause no regrets on my part..

Except that it would effectively mean the end of boxing on US TV.

I think that this is why the GGG/Canelo is such an important fight in Boxing from a monetary standpoint. I think that all of the networks involved are holding out to see how well this one does before determining how much more money they will throw at the sport going forward. If this fight generates more PPV buys than forecasted and the fight is more entertaining than also forecasted then you will see these networks loosening the purse strings big time and begin competing for rights again and bidding against each other.

I think that this fight will do better than Manny/Floyd. I know that sounds silly but i really do feel that it's going to open some eyes and bring many old fans back to the sport as well as acquire some new ones. But a lot is hinging on this fight's success, that's for sure.

[jujigatame]

The fight will do well, but it is NOT doing over 4 million buys. They will be lucky to do 2 million. Golovkin has not developed into a PPV draw at all.

[KiwiRider]

Wow that is a long list of 30+ year old fighters
If HBO has a pension plan, it sure is going to be put to the test very soon.

[Enlightened-One]

HBO rarely cover the sport without requiring the need for their viewers having to pay a PPV fee, resulting in very small audiences being given the opportunity to view any emerging young talent being showcased on the undercards.

Therefore, when the vast majority of HBO's "featured" fighters retire in a couple of years time, HBO won't be able to continue covering PPV boxing events, because they'll have no one in their roster (apart from Canelo) to make it commercially worth televising.

I love boxing, but I'm really concerned about the state of HBO and the PBC, because if they stop being involved in the sport in the US, in a couple of years time, fight fans won't have anything to watch and youngsters in America are unlikely to take-up boxing.

[Mexi-Box]

The fight will do well, but it is NOT doing over 4 million buys. They will be lucky to do 2 million. Golovkin has not developed into a PPV draw at all.

2 million? They better hope for 1 million. Golovkin isn't a draw, and I don't think he ever will be even if he beats Canelo.

[Mexi-Box]

HBO rarely cover the sport without requiring the need for their viewers having to pay a PPV fee, resulting in very small audiences being given the opportunity to view any emerging young talent being showcased on the undercards.

Therefore, when the vast majority of HBO's "featured" fighters retire in a couple of years time, HBO won't be able to continue covering PPV boxing events, because they'll have no one in their roster (apart from Canelo) to make it commercially worth televising.

I love boxing, but I'm really concerned about the state of HBO and the PBC, because if they stop being involved in the sport in the US, in a couple of years time, fight fans won't have anything to watch and youngsters in America are unlikely to take-up boxing.

Unenlightened-One with another idiotic comment. They've been saying boxing will fall after every PPV sensation retires.

They just need to buildup a fighter with a good fanbase. If Mikey beats the hell out of Broner, he's going to be the one that gets the backing. I think Mikey will be a PPV sensation. He has the Mexican support, eye-pleasing style, and he has tremendous KO power in both hands. Only thing he's missing is HBO's hype machine. Mikey should beat Broner and then try to get that Pacquiao fight.

[Enlightened-One]

HBO rarely cover the sport without requiring the need for their viewers having to pay a PPV fee, resulting in very small audiences being given the opportunity to view any emerging young talent being showcased on the undercards.

Therefore, when the vast majority of HBO's "featured" fighters retire in a couple of years time, HBO won't be able to continue covering PPV boxing events, because they'll have no one in their roster (apart from Canelo) to make it commercially worth televising.

I love boxing, but I'm really concerned about the state of HBO and the PBC, because if they stop being involved in the sport in the US, in a couple of years time, fight fans won't have anything to watch and youngsters in America are unlikely to take-up boxing.

Unenlightened-One with another idiotic comment. They've been saying boxing will fall after every PPV sensation retires.

They just need to buildup a fighter with a good fanbase. If Mikey beats the hell out of Broner, he's going to be the one that gets the backing. I think Mikey will be a PPV sensation. He has the Mexican support, eye-pleasing style, and he has tremendous KO power in both hands. Only thing he's missing is HBO's hype machine. Mikey should beat Broner and then try to get that Pacquiao fight.

If I’ve said such an “idiotic” comment, then why are you so convinced about Mikey Garcia becoming the so-called “saviour” of boxing in America, when he hasn’t headlined a fight card for 3½ years?

So the entire future of the sport of boxing rests on the shoulders of a fighter that is almost 30 years of age that’ll only have a couple of years left of his career at most?

By the time Mikey Garcia has competed in his fight against Adrien Broner, he would have engaged in only four fights over a time period of three years and nine months, whilst having never previously attracted large viewing figures… and you’re saying that the entire future of the sport of boxing in the US is 100% reliant on him?

My sentiments are not about individual fighters, I’m primarily focussed on the fact that HBO aren’t using their hype machine to generate interest in emerging young prospects by showcasing their talents to a larger non-PPV audience.

Therefore, when the vast majority of HBO’s veteran roster retires in a couple of years time, with most of them being classed amongst the top twenty pound-for-pounders, they won’t have any big names to headline their fight cards, apart from Canelo.

Learn to read man!

[Mexi-Box]

HBO rarely cover the sport without requiring the need for their viewers having to pay a PPV fee, resulting in very small audiences being given the opportunity to view any emerging young talent being showcased on the undercards.

Therefore, when the vast majority of HBO's "featured" fighters retire in a couple of years time, HBO won't be able to continue covering PPV boxing events, because they'll have no one in their roster (apart from Canelo) to make it commercially worth televising.

I love boxing, but I'm really concerned about the state of HBO and the PBC, because if they stop being involved in the sport in the US, in a couple of years time, fight fans won't have anything to watch and youngsters in America are unlikely to take-up boxing.

Unenlightened-One with another idiotic comment. They've been saying boxing will fall after every PPV sensation retires.

They just need to buildup a fighter with a good fanbase. If Mikey beats the hell out of Broner, he's going to be the one that gets the backing. I think Mikey will be a PPV sensation. He has the Mexican support, eye-pleasing style, and he has tremendous KO power in both hands. Only thing he's missing is HBO's hype machine. Mikey should beat Broner and then try to get that Pacquiao fight.

If I’ve said such an “idiotic” comment, then why are you so convinced about Mikey Garcia becoming the so-called “saviour” of boxing in America, when he hasn’t headlined a fight card for 3½ years?

So the entire future of the sport of boxing rests on the shoulders of a fighter that is almost 30 years of age that’ll only have a couple of years left of his career at most?

By the time Mikey Garcia has competed in his fight against Adrien Broner, he would have engaged in only four fights over a time period of three years and nine months, whilst having never previously attracted large viewing figures… and you’re saying that the entire future of the sport of boxing in the US is 100% reliant on him?

My sentiments are not about individual fighters, I’m primarily focussed on the fact that HBO aren’t using their hype machine to generate interest in emerging young prospects by showcasing their talents to a larger non-PPV audience.

Therefore, when the vast majority of HBO’s veteran roster retires in a couple of years time, with most of them being classed amongst the top twenty pound-for-pounders, they won’t have any big names to headline their fight cards, apart from Canelo.

Learn to read man!

You need to learn to read, dammit. I didn't say anything about the sport resting on Mikey's shoulders. All I said is that he can be a PPV sensation if he's handled properly from now on. The same can be said about any Mexican with a fan-friendly style that is managed well. Gaymon dropped the ball completely on managing Santa Cruz, for example.

HBO is going through a change. I'm not sure what the end-game is, but they've cut the boxing budget. Even if they drop boxing completely, Top Rank and GBP will just find new outlets to showcase fights. Showtime seems to be going strong still, and I remember a while back that Arum was talking about moving to that network. Either way, there is nothing to worry about.

Even if boxing dies in America, it can just go to the new mecca of boxing, Russia. Then we'll get free fights since they've been streaming some good ones like Kudryashov/Durodola: II through YouTube.

[Enlightened-One]

Unenlightened-One with another idiotic comment. They've been saying boxing will fall after every PPV sensation retires.

They just need to buildup a fighter with a good fanbase. If Mikey beats the hell out of Broner, he's going to be the one that gets the backing. I think Mikey will be a PPV sensation. He has the Mexican support, eye-pleasing style, and he has tremendous KO power in both hands. Only thing he's missing is HBO's hype machine. Mikey should beat Broner and then try to get that Pacquiao fight.

If I’ve said such an “idiotic” comment, then why are you so convinced about Mikey Garcia becoming the so-called “saviour” of boxing in America, when he hasn’t headlined a fight card for 3½ years?

So the entire future of the sport of boxing rests on the shoulders of a fighter that is almost 30 years of age that’ll only have a couple of years left of his career at most?

By the time Mikey Garcia has competed in his fight against Adrien Broner, he would have engaged in only four fights over a time period of three years and nine months, whilst having never previously attracted large viewing figures… and you’re saying that the entire future of the sport of boxing in the US is 100% reliant on him?

My sentiments are not about individual fighters, I’m primarily focussed on the fact that HBO aren’t using their hype machine to generate interest in emerging young prospects by showcasing their talents to a larger non-PPV audience.

Therefore, when the vast majority of HBO’s veteran roster retires in a couple of years time, with most of them being classed amongst the top twenty pound-for-pounders, they won’t have any big names to headline their fight cards, apart from Canelo.

Learn to read man!

You need to learn to read, dammit. I didn't say anything about the sport resting on Mikey's shoulders. All I said is that he can be a PPV sensation if he's handled properly from now on. The same can be said about any Mexican with a fan-friendly style that is managed well. Gaymon dropped the ball completely on managing Santa Cruz, for example.

HBO is going through a change. I'm not sure what the end-game is, but they've cut the boxing budget. Even if they drop boxing completely, Top Rank and GBP will just find new outlets to showcase fights. Showtime seems to be going strong still, and I remember a while back that Arum was talking about moving to that network. Either way, there is nothing to worry about.

Even if boxing dies in America, it can just go to the new mecca of boxing, Russia. Then we'll get free fights since they've been streaming some good ones like Kudryashov/Durodola: II through YouTube.

The inevitable demise of both the PBC and also HBO will subsequently lead to a sharp decline in the popularity of the sport of boxing in the US, which can only be a bad thing.

For sure, boxing will live on elsewhere, but it's undeniable that the American market has always had a very significant role to play in the overall health of the sport in general, commercially and also in terms of talented fighters.

If you genuinely love the sport, it's decline in the US, or indeed elsewhere around the globe, should concern you.