Bob Arum IFL interview

[maverick23]

Good interview. Fairplay to Bob, he feels the pain of British boxing fans

And then makes Lomachenko vs Lopez PPV.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Good interview. Fairplay to Bob, he feels the pain of British boxing fans

And then makes Lomachenko vs Lopez PPV.

Fair enough - it’s a ppv quality fight as opposed to 95% of the fights that Eddie puts on ppv

[maverick23]

Good interview. Fairplay to Bob, he feels the pain of British boxing fans

And then makes Lomachenko vs Lopez PPV.

Fair enough - it’s a ppv quality fight as opposed to 95% of the fights that Eddie puts on ppv

It’s a really good fight between a great fighter and an excellent looking prospect but someone who’s only had one good win (Commey).

Should it be PPV in the U.K. though? I can guarantee it won’t do 10% of the buys of any of the upcoming Sky PPVs (that doesn’t mean that I think all of the Sky PPVs should be).

I just found it a bit rich Bob saying he sympathises with the U.K. fans and then slams this fight on U.K. PPV when he didn’t have to.

[Ruthless-RKO]

And then makes Lomachenko vs Lopez PPV.

Fair enough - it’s a ppv quality fight as opposed to 95% of the fights that Eddie puts on ppv

It’s a really good fight between a great fighter and an excellent looking prospect but someone who’s only had one good win (Commey).

Should it be PPV in the U.K. though? I can guarantee it won’t do 10% of the buys of any of the upcoming Sky PPVs (that doesn’t mean that I think all of the Sky PPVs should be).

I just found it a bit rich Bob saying he sympathises with the U.K. fans and then slams this fight on U.K. PPV when he didn’t have to.

No one wanted to pay for the fight. FITE tv is a pay-per-view platform. If no one else is gna have the fight, it’s gonna have to go somewhere. At least it’s a decent price for us hardcore boxing fans.

The Charlo twin PPV was on FITE tv too wasnt it? Wasn’t that more expensive?

[maverick23]

Fair enough - it’s a ppv quality fight as opposed to 95% of the fights that Eddie puts on ppv

It’s a really good fight between a great fighter and an excellent looking prospect but someone who’s only had one good win (Commey).

Should it be PPV in the U.K. though? I can guarantee it won’t do 10% of the buys of any of the upcoming Sky PPVs (that doesn’t mean that I think all of the Sky PPVs should be).

I just found it a bit rich Bob saying he sympathises with the U.K. fans and then slams this fight on U.K. PPV when he didn’t have to.

No one wanted to pay for the fight. FITE tv is a pay-per-view platform. If no one else is gna have the fight, it’s gonna have to go somewhere. At least it’s a decent price for us hardcore boxing fans.

The Charlo twin PPV was on FITE tv too wasnt it? Wasn’t that more expensive?

Sky/Eddie made an offer for the fight on normal Sky Sports. Bob rejected it and put the fight on Fite tv.

[Twinkle Toes]

Arum is full of shite, like the rest of them.

[CaptainSpacerod]

And then makes Lomachenko vs Lopez PPV.

Fair enough - it’s a ppv quality fight as opposed to 95% of the fights that Eddie puts on ppv

It’s a really good fight between a great fighter and an excellent looking prospect but someone who’s only had one good win (Commey).

Should it be PPV in the U.K. though? I can guarantee it won’t do 10% of the buys of any of the upcoming Sky PPVs (that doesn’t mean that I think all of the Sky PPVs should be).

I just found it a bit rich Bob saying he sympathises with the U.K. fans and then slams this fight on U.K. PPV when he didn’t have to.

I take your point about the PPV buys it will do and yes Bob’s a slippery old fox but in fairness he did say that he just wanted a fair market price for the fight as a matter of principle and he would be happy to donate any such fee to charity. Now maybe I’m hopelessly naive to believe that but if it’s true then surely the blame lies with Eddie for making what was presumably a derisory offer for such a big fight.

I think the wider issue is the fact that Sky Boxing is essentially run by Matchroom. Pre the Joshua casual revolution Sky would’ve shown this in spite of the fact that viewing figures will be low if only to curry favour with boxing fans to help boost sky sports subscriptions - now they couldn’t care less because eddie’s ppv farces presumably generate more revenue for Sky than any number of additional subscribers would.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I don’t think think anyone has a Sky Sports subscription solely for Boxing.. it’s no exactly consistent is it? Anyone that likes watching boxing will also like others sports first.. boxing isn’t a top 3 sport in the UK, but then there’s a big fight, EVERYONE knows about it.

Most people will gets Sky subs for Football, F1, Rugby and Cricket before Boxing. Boxing is just an add on really.

Same thing with BT. Most people will have subs to watch Football and even the UFC now as well. No one has solely got a BT sub for boxing have they? Or am I wrong?

Plus everyone knows the bigger fights are now just likely on PPV. And you don’t need a sub to buy a PPV.

[jameswilson]

Good interview. Fairplay to Bob, he feels the pain of British boxing fans

And then makes Lomachenko vs Lopez PPV.

Fair enough - it’s a ppv quality fight as opposed to 95% of the fights that Eddie puts on ppv

Sky aren’t the only ppv platform. Bob has an in with BT and they didn’t buy it, neither have ITV who have a PPV platform. Frig me ITV have out on by miles and away the worst PPVs of the last 25 years in my opinion with Eubank Jr vs that Aussie for the IBO.

[Ruthless-RKO]

And then makes Lomachenko vs Lopez PPV.

Fair enough - it’s a ppv quality fight as opposed to 95% of the fights that Eddie puts on ppv

Sky aren’t the only ppv platform. Bob has an in with BT and they didn’t buy it, neither have ITV who have a PPV platform. Frig me ITV have out on by miles and away the worst PPVs of the last 25 years in my opinion with Eubank Jr vs that Aussie for the IBO.

ITV Box Office ceased like a year ago.

[maverick23]

Fair enough - it’s a ppv quality fight as opposed to 95% of the fights that Eddie puts on ppv

It’s a really good fight between a great fighter and an excellent looking prospect but someone who’s only had one good win (Commey).

Should it be PPV in the U.K. though? I can guarantee it won’t do 10% of the buys of any of the upcoming Sky PPVs (that doesn’t mean that I think all of the Sky PPVs should be).

I just found it a bit rich Bob saying he sympathises with the U.K. fans and then slams this fight on U.K. PPV when he didn’t have to.

I take your point about the PPV buys it will do and yes Bob’s a slippery old fox but in fairness he did say that he just wanted a fair market price for the fight as a matter of principle and he would be happy to donate any such fee to charity. Now maybe I’m hopelessly naive to believe that but if it’s true then surely the blame lies with Eddie for making what was presumably a derisory offer for such a big fight.

I think the wider issue is the fact that Sky Boxing is essentially run by Matchroom. Pre the Joshua casual revolution Sky would’ve shown this in spite of the fact that viewing figures will be low if only to curry favour with boxing fans to help boost sky sports subscriptions - now they couldn’t care less because eddie’s ppv farces presumably generate more revenue for Sky than any number of additional subscribers would.

I agree a lot with what you’re saying but just on a couple of your points....

I’m not sure Bob knows what things are worth in the U.K. Again knowing the amount of U.K. PPVs that are planned in the next few months he’s been pushing Brook vs Crawford to Sky and BT as a PPV - no surprise that neither have taken it and it will be probably end up on Fite TV PPV again.

I’ve no idea of the monetary amount Hearn offered for the Lomachenko fight but if Bob wanted to be charitable and help the U.K. fans then surely he would have just gifted the fight to ITV, ch5 or even his buddy FW at BT.

Whilst Bob is probably the best promoter in boxing I find him a bit of snake. His most famous quote ‘yesterday I was lying...today I’m telling the truth’ works well for him.

I agree it’s weird that Matchroom seem to fully control Sky boxing. I was under the impression that Adam Smith would still look at overseas under the proviso that Matchroom were ok with it but clearly that’s not the case. Not really sure what that means Adam Smith does on a day to day basis.

[margaret thatcher]

Excellent fight for sure, super pumped for it

And go Eddeh!

[Counter-puncher]

I agree it’s weird that Matchroom seem to fully control Sky boxing. I was under the impression that Adam Smith would still look at overseas under the proviso that Matchroom were ok with it but clearly that’s not the case. Not really sure what that means Adam Smith does on a day to day basis.

that was exactly my original point

[Cholo_cws]

Hard to ever take Arum's criticisms of rankings, undeserving mandatories etc seriously given he bribed the IBF to get the undeserving Axel Schulz ranked for a fight against George Foreman.

[CaptainSpacerod]

It’s a really good fight between a great fighter and an excellent looking prospect but someone who’s only had one good win (Commey).

Should it be PPV in the U.K. though? I can guarantee it won’t do 10% of the buys of any of the upcoming Sky PPVs (that doesn’t mean that I think all of the Sky PPVs should be).

I just found it a bit rich Bob saying he sympathises with the U.K. fans and then slams this fight on U.K. PPV when he didn’t have to.

I take your point about the PPV buys it will do and yes Bob’s a slippery old fox but in fairness he did say that he just wanted a fair market price for the fight as a matter of principle and he would be happy to donate any such fee to charity. Now maybe I’m hopelessly naive to believe that but if it’s true then surely the blame lies with Eddie for making what was presumably a derisory offer for such a big fight.

I think the wider issue is the fact that Sky Boxing is essentially run by Matchroom. Pre the Joshua casual revolution Sky would’ve shown this in spite of the fact that viewing figures will be low if only to curry favour with boxing fans to help boost sky sports subscriptions - now they couldn’t care less because eddie’s ppv farces presumably generate more revenue for Sky than any number of additional subscribers would.

I agree a lot with what you’re saying but just on a couple of your points....

I’m not sure Bob knows what things are worth in the U.K. Again knowing the amount of U.K. PPVs that are planned in the next few months he’s been pushing Brook vs Crawford to Sky and BT as a PPV - no surprise that neither have taken it and it will be probably end up on Fite TV PPV again.

I’ve no idea of the monetary amount Hearn offered for the Lomachenko fight but if Bob wanted to be charitable and help the U.K. fans then surely he would have just gifted the fight to ITV, ch5 or even his buddy FW at BT.

Whilst Bob is probably the best promoter in boxing I find him a bit of snake. His most famous quote ‘yesterday I was lying...today I’m telling the truth’ works well for him.

I agree it’s weird that Matchroom seem to fully control Sky boxing. I was under the impression that Adam Smith would still look at overseas under the proviso that Matchroom were ok with it but clearly that’s not the case. Not really sure what that means Adam Smith does on a day to day basis.

I don’t wanna come across as an apologist for Bob, like every other promoter he’s only about the bottom line. You’re right about him not offering the fight elsewhere, he could’ve done so but he hasn’t survived in the business for 50 yrs by giving stuff away cheap and he’s not about to start now. Again I agree with you about him maybe overestimating the value of this fight to UK broadcasters - keen boxing fans are well up for this but I’d be surprised if viewing figures reached 50k for a 4am fight over here so any channel will lose money on it I would presume.

I’ve got used to being disappointed by many aspects of Sky’s coverage but it’s a body blow for real boxing fans that BT haven’t picked this up. Maybe with them and allegedly having to forgo the Dubois Joyce goldmine to put it on behind closed doors and not on PPV they felt that they couldn’t afford to lay out for the Loma fight

And I think it’s widely acknowledged that Adam Smith’s daily schedule solely involves staring in the mirror reading out lists of epic fights while growling