HBO (Kovalev) vs. Showtime (Wilder) 3rd Match?

[Enlightened-One]

"Duva Discusses Competing Cards March 3 at MSG Theater, Barclays"

To summarise the content of the article, on the 22nd December, 2017, Showtime announced the following fight card, scheduled to take place on the 3rd March, 2018:

• Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz (WBC World Heavyweight Title)
• Andre Dirrell vs. Jose Uzcategui (interim IBF World Super Middleweight Title)

The above announcement was performed after Kathy Duva had already revealed the following Main Events fight card being televised by HBO on the very same night:

• Sergey Kovalev vs. Igor Mikhalkin (WBO World Light Heavyweight Title)
• Dmitry Bivol vs. Sullivan Barrera (WBA World Light Heavyweight Title)

Here are Kathy Duva’s remarks about the situation:

“I can’t get upset about things I have no control over,” Duva, Main Events’ CEO, told BS.com. “I announced on the night of our fight [November 25] that we were going on that date. They had plenty of warning. They chose to go on the same date and I can’t control that. Of course it’s not optimal and it’s definitely something you don’t want to have happen. It’s happening, so what am I gonna do?”

“Look, I like our show. I like our fights. They’re very competitive. Sergey made a big hit with the Russian community in New York [in his last fight]. He finally got the chance to do it. I think they’re gonna be back and I think they’re gonna bring their friends. The other fights on the card are tremendous. And you know [Main Events matchmaker] Jolene [Mizzone], she will always make a terrific undercard. So it’ll be a great show all around and hopefully there will be enough people that’ll recognize that and wanna come.”

Do you think that genuine boxing fans in America are more likely to watch Showtime on the 3rd March rather than HBO, due to the fact that Sergey Kovalev’s fight against Igor Mikhalkin is merely a mismatch that is part of a career rebuilding exercise and also enhance Krusher’s KO highlight reel?

Thoughts?

[Ruthless-RKO]

More people will tune into Showtime. Wilder vs. Ortiz is the fight to see.

[greg]

..there should be "I don't care" option..

[Lackeos]

Is this with or without Wilder - Ortiz being cancelled?

[klitoris]

I will probably watch the Bivol-Barrera fight and then switch over to Showtime for Wilder-Ortiz.

[SenorPipino]

I will probably watch the Bivol-Barrera fight and then switch over to Showtime for Wilder-Ortiz.

That sounds about right.


But overall, SHOWTIME will drub HBO in the ratings.

[Tony1244]

Kovalev fighting a Russian guy with very limited power doesn't sound very interesting.

I'll believe Wilder fights Ortiz when I see it though.

I voted SHOWTIME.

[Tony1244]

..there should be "I don't care" option..

So you don't care what others think about race and you also don't care what fans want to watch. I kind of like your cynicism.

[boxing_rocks]

HBO cards usually have 20-30% better viewership numbers than Showtime ones. I expect about the same happen this time.

[greg]

..there should be "I don't care" option..

So you don't care what others think about race and you also don't care what fans want to watch. I kind of like your cynicism.

regarding race: I do care what others think, I just don't care much if they attribute my opinion to political incorrectness..re HBO and Showtime I honestly don't give a damn..so do a lot of others judging from a total number of klicks and those who chose to vote.. anyway, thanks for following me

[Tony1244]

..there should be "I don't care" option..

So you don't care what others think about race and you also don't care what fans want to watch. I kind of like your cynicism.

regarding race: I do care what others think, I just don't care much if they attribute my opinion to political incorrectness..re HBO and Showtime I honestly don't give a damn..so do a lot of others judging from a total number of klicks and those who chose to vote.. anyway, thanks for following me

You're welcome. I don't really care either which card is more popular. I am very used to liking what's not popular. I did happen to read your 2 posts in succession and thought it was funny but not in a bad way.

[SenorPipino]

..there should be "I don't care" option..

The "I don't care" option is in effect only on March 3.

It's activated by not watching either network that night.

[greg]

So you don't care what others think about race and you also don't care what fans want to watch. I kind of like your cynicism.

regarding race: I do care what others think, I just don't care much if they attribute my opinion to political incorrectness..re HBO and Showtime I honestly don't give a damn..so do a lot of others judging from a total number of klicks and those who chose to vote.. anyway, thanks for following me

You're welcome. I don't really care either which card is more popular. I am very used to liking what's not popular. I did happen to read your 2 posts in succession and thought it was funny but not in a bad way.

I got it, Tony...for all I care two networks are just vying for a place under the sun...another reason being that the European viewers will have to watch it probably early in the morning..

[gilgamesh]

Right now I don't have HBO, so I'll probably be watching the Showtime card.

[Ilya Muromets]

Kovalev fighting a Russian guy with very limited power doesn't sound very interesting.

I'll believe Wilder fights Ortiz when I see it though.

I voted SHOWTIME.

That sounds about right, especially the believe it when I see it part. Hopefully they'll both be on at different times of the day so I can see them both. Neither fight is in Las Vegas so they should both be on the level, I hope, tho the Kovalev fight sounds like a shoo in, and Doctor Goodman and her crew will be working overtime to try to plant something on Ortiz.

[SenorPipino]

And exactly why would the lady doctor attempt to sabatoge a fight card?

[Freedom2013]

I like the HBO card.

Bivol-Barrera is a true 50-50 fight, the best match-up of the night. Kovalev's fights are always entertaining, although he's not in an intriguing match-up..

Wilder will beat old age 38 Ortiz, who has looked slower and not as strong in his past few fights (against Scott and Allen). Ortiz was inactive for a year, then fought a low-level clubfighter. Dirrell is certain to win, Haymon's officials will help him out if necessary.

[Ilya Muromets]

And exactly why would the lady doctor attempt to sabatoge a fight card?

Same reason her Las Vegas drug test crew suddenly found something on Povetkin the day before Wilder was supposed to fight him.

[Romashkin]

Wilder vs. Ortiz - a more interesting fight than Sergei Kovalev against Igor Mikhalkin. Ortiz will be Wilder's first worthy opponent.

[Mexi-Box]

HBO will get more views unless Showtime does a free preview or puts up the fight for free like they did with, I think it was, Wilder/Szpilka. Since Showtime streams live fights on Hulu, I'll be watching Showtime. HBONow doesn't live-stream fights.

[jamamb]

showtime

[marvelous marv]

HBO has something like three time larger subscriber base than showtime. Even some of their weaker shows draw a good number comparitavly.

[Enlightened-One]

HBO has something like three time larger subscriber base than showtime. Even some of their weaker shows draw a good number comparitavly.

Showtime's broadcast of the Santa Cruz-Frampton rematch drew a bigger live viewing audience than HBO's airing of the Vargas-Berchelt fight, which were both televised at the same time.

I know that Showtime beat HBO for other live head-to-head boxing broadcasts also, despite having a smaller subscriber base than than their biggest rival network.

[Mexi-Box]

HBO has something like three time larger subscriber base than showtime. Even some of their weaker shows draw a good number comparitavly.

Showtime's broadcast of the Santa Cruz-Frampton rematch drew a bigger live viewing audience than HBO's airing of the Vargas-Berchelt fight, which were both televised at the same time.

I know that Showtime beat HBO for other live head-to-head boxing broadcasts also, despite having a smaller subscriber base than than their biggest rival network.

The numbers were horrible, though, considering it was a high-profile FW showdown. Chocolatito did 800K in comparison.

[Evander]

If Wilder fights Ortiz that out does the Kovalev warm up.