Kessler in Notts wednesday

[whiskey]

Some of you guys really live in a boxing bubble.

Nobody outside of the boxing world knows this fight is happening.

If this does more than 2000 buys I would be surprised. Especially as this is a new channel with no clout.

On the ticket sale front, it would not be the first time a promoter had 'hyped' up the number of sales would it?

If they had 6-7000 on fight night, I think that would be a good attendance.

Your post is quite correct. I know people round Notts who say "When's Froch fighting again?" and i reply "in about 3 weeks" and they say "really? i didnt know... who against?"

It's just the state of affairs all round at present i think with boxing in general.

[Maelstrom]

Just to cast a different light on Hennessy's TV situation...

He has worked with all the major broadcasters: BBC, Sky and ITV, all for long periods.

For some reason, though, he hasn't managed to hold on to any of them - with ITV pulling out now.

I cannot work out why this has happened. Some of his shows of late have had really bad undercards, but traditionally he has put on good, well matched events. And he always used genuine titles.

[TheDrowningMan]

Taylor vs Abraham + Froch - Dirrell + undercard? I can't argue with that - It represents better value than the vast majority of Sky PPVs. It's just a bit of a shock because Froch, having almost always been on terrestrial, doesn't 'feel' like a PPV fighter. Still, he's most certainly more of one than Amir Khan (nothing against him!) is at this stage.

[Maelstrom]

Taylor vs Abraham + Froch - Dirrell + undercard? I can't argue with that - It represents better value than the vast majority of Sky PPVs. It's just a bit of a shock because Froch, having almost always been on terrestrial, doesn't 'feel' like a PPV fighter. Still, he's most certainly more of one than Amir Khan (nothing against him!) is at this stage.

Are you sure????

On what basis?

If Froch sells more for this than any Khan PPV I will send you £100.

[TheDrowningMan]

Taylor vs Abraham + Froch - Dirrell + undercard? I can't argue with that - It represents better value than the vast majority of Sky PPVs. It's just a bit of a shock because Froch, having almost always been on terrestrial, doesn't 'feel' like a PPV fighter. Still, he's most certainly more of one than Amir Khan (nothing against him!) is at this stage.

Are you sure????

On what basis?

If Froch sells more for this than any Khan PPV I will send you £100.

Oh, I understand that Khan is a superior commercial commodity and will sell more. I was speaking more about achievement and who I think is the more deserving of PPV status. Obviously Froch is the runaway victor in that respect.

[stujones]

Coco - Froch and Haye would be fighting tomato cans on Sky box office if they were signed with alledgely. So no difference here. You can hardly call Froch a have gloves will travel fighter yet.... only fought once on away soil. He's getting US TV which is fantastic for him.

[leforge]

I think the tournment is great but the promotion of it not been good. It should be on a bigger platform than some brand new channel! Is there time to promote it to appeal to casual fans. Haye is everywhere promoting his fight a few months in advance, they left it too late. What will happen to the other Hennessy shows once his ITV deal runs out?

[leforge]

Has Hennessy done a good job with this?

[banjo]

Hennessy is crap, his star fighter beats the current WBC light heavyweight champion in a thriller, beats the former undisputed middleweight champion in another cracking fight yet still nobody outside of Nottingham or the so-called "hardcore" fans know who Carl Froch is. Mick Hennessy's job as a promoter is to promote his fighter and the contests that his fighter participates in to the masses, to generate interest to the general public.

Say what you want about SN's matchmaking but they know how to promote a fighter.

[nobby_nobbins]

Hennessy is crap, his star fighter beats the current WBC light heavyweight champion in a thriller, beats the former undisputed middleweight champion in another cracking fight yet still nobody outside of Nottingham or the so-called "hardcore" fans know who Carl Froch is. Mick Hennessy's job as a promoter is to promote his fighter and the contests that his fighter participates in to the masses, to generate interest to the general public.

Say what you want about SN's matchmaking but they know how to promote a fighter.

No-one outside of hardcore fans knows much about any boxer in this country. That's because the sport has been hidden away from the masses for years on subscription satellite channels. In Germany, where decent matches are shown on free-to-air television, the sport is booming and the average sports fan in the street knows exactly who the champs and main contenders are. Hennessy did not destroy boxing in this country by poaching it from terrestrial television - he is a victim of that short-sighted nonsense.

[black panther]

Just to cast a different light on Hennessy's TV situation...

He has worked with all the major broadcasters: BBC, Sky and ITV, all for long periods.

For some reason, though, he hasn't managed to hold on to any of them - with ITV pulling out now.

I cannot work out why this has happened. Some of his shows of late have had really bad undercards, but traditionally he has put on good, well matched events. And he always used genuine titles.

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't most broadcasters rate the success of a programme on viewing figures? If so Hennesy shows probably just weren't doing enough views. And thats down to poor advertising/promotion. I mean, I have a mate(he's in my team at work) who is a boxing fan of sorts, sort of inbetween a casual fan and a hardcore fan. He's a big sports fan in general.

He knew all about Prizefighter for whatever reason but I've just had to tell him about Thaxton-Murray on ITV4. And he'd never heard of Murray but he's seen a few Thaxton fights......obviously he's an individual case but my point is Hennessy shows need better/more advertising and promoting. Remember that terrible comicbook style advert for Carl Froch on the BBC?(cringe)

Most of my mates would watch boxing if they knew it was on. I'm gonna make sure any that are remotely interested in boxing will watch prizefighter in that hope that it produces some exciting fights to spark a greater interest in boxing. Not gonna hold my breath though - I mean it is Audley after all!

[leforge]

Ant I am surprised more people are not questioning this decision to go to new channel for pay per view. Surely if your going to do pay per view Sky Box office would have been the way. I will watch it but how many casual fans will even know what channel its on!

[Poncey]

But the Eastman PPV tanked Ant.

I hope they do well, and I will be ordering it because it's good value, but I'm sceptical.

It depends who the high-high-level backers really are.

[Autobarn]

Hennessy is crap, his star fighter beats the current WBC light heavyweight champion in a thriller, beats the former undisputed middleweight champion in another cracking fight yet still nobody outside of Nottingham or the so-called "hardcore" fans know who Carl Froch is. Mick Hennessy's job as a promoter is to promote his fighter and the contests that his fighter participates in to the masses, to generate interest to the general public.

Say what you want about SN's matchmaking but they know how to promote a fighter.

No-one outside of hardcore fans knows much about any boxer in this country. That's because the sport has been hidden away from the masses for years on subscription satellite channels. In Germany, where decent matches are shown on free-to-air television, the sport is booming and the average sports fan in the street knows exactly who the champs and main contenders are. Hennessy did not destroy boxing in this country by poaching it from terrestrial television - he is a victim of that short-sighted nonsense.

Sorry buddy, that's not the case. There are ways to build fighters profiles which Meaty Mick simply hasn't used or thought of. First thing I did when UFC signed Nottingham's Dan Hardy was to place a weekly column with the excellent local paper the Evening Post. Clearly someone at Meaty HQ say it, because Froch does won now too. I'm happy to have inspired them, although Dan Hardy is more interesting than Froch and his column is way better.

Promoters like Meaty Mick has zero clue about how media work; how else can you explain him calling editors up crying that one of his fighters was interviewed by boxing writers at a boxing show, one which Meaty did not attend, without his "prior consent"?

How else can you explain several journalists going to Meaty to get his honest view of the Fury v McDonut fight and only for him to say "Fury won every round" and walk off?

And in Germany, TV is pulling out of boxing - unless it is Klitschko boxing. That's a decision based on them paying too much money for the ratings they are getting. Ratings are decent, but they money they are paying is silly money based on what boxing did on German TV 5 years ago when guys like Dariusz M were about.

I go to Germany all the time with work; and unless you are talking K2 brothers or retired fighters like Maske or Dariusz M, they have no clue. But, think about it, how many "man on the street" types can tell you any F1 drivers outside of Lewis Hamilton and maybe Jenson Button without resorting to retired drivers like Damon Hill? Not many. I can't name you one English cricketer. I can't name you any England football players, other than Ashley Cole, and I only know him because I fancy his wife.

In wider culture, does "the man on the street" know any of the Sugababes for example? Prob not, despite them getting on TV all the time. The days of true "crossover" stars went the way of the dodo once we had more than 20 TV channels.

definitely, not happy times for klaus peter kohl and how appropriate given the shit he has served up of recent. seems like his top fighters are either disgusted with him, defecting or already knocked out (or some combination of the 3).

I can see what you're saying re Hennessy. it's a shame because he can put on such solid cards and has been one of the more reliable promoters for good value fights. now he has a hugely exciting world champion whom he doesn't seem able to sell to a wider audience. is there anyone who can help him?

[Autobarn]

be more specific would you - detox? colonic irrigation?

seriously, how can he raise his promoting to do justice to carl froch

[stujones]

Why are you arguing against having better cards? Times have clearly changed and crossover fans want a full night of good fights, not main event and load of crap.

I aint arguing against having better cards at all. I am stating that there are still ALOT of PPV's doing well in boxing without cracking undercards. DLH's PPV's, Vargas vs Mosley etc.

Mayweather vs Marquez did well primarily for the intrigue factor with Mayweather. Seeing him back after 21 months, fighting a guy who gave Pacquiao fits.

Ask the "crossover" fan (both sides of the atlantic) who Rocky Juarez and Chris John are... and they wouldn't have a clue, so how did that help the PPV sales.

Hatton PPV's have done well for UK PPV's without good cards. The intrigue of Floyd coming back had alot to do with the Marquez show doing better in the states, than the Hatton show.

I aint complaining, not at all - anyway, this is a cracking night of boxing for the TV fan and I hope it does well.

[Poncey]

be more specific would you - detox? colonic irrigation?

seriously, how can he raise his promoting to do justice to carl froch

Dancing On Ice?

[whiskey]

Stu Jones... GBP's promotions are cack and have been for a long time.

Ortiz, Kirkland etc are his future stars and they are either knocked or locked up. So they pilfer other promoter's fighters with promises of a HBO-back tv deal.

Go read this article by Thomas Hauser :-

http://www.maxboxing.com/news/sub-lead/ ... crossroads

[stujones]

I aint disputing what you are saying, not sure of the relevance when talking about PPV figures though.

Our great promoters are not saintly though, when it comes to shafting fighters, TV companies etc!

[leforge]

How many were at the Hatton show last week? I think Macklin will do well in Birmingham.

[Deserter]

The days of true "crossover" stars went the way of the dodo once we had more than 20 TV channels.

This is an absolutely critical point and TV is only one part of the mix - digital media (of which this forum is a perfect example) is also playing a massive role in changing people's consumption habits and how would-be advertisers or promoters can reach them.
By and large, boxing is woefully behind the times in terms of learning how to exploit these new avenues to the maximum.

[iwz678]

It's a real shame that Boxing finds itself in this state and in Carl Froch we have a world champion and a very exciting champion, he's not a boring fighter and has plenty of personality which should be able to make him a cross over star.

I'm just intrigued how come his fight with Pascal was on ITV1 and since then things have gone dead, were the viewing figures really that bad?

It's a real bum deal that we have to pay for this fight considering the Germans will get it free, but I will probably go halfs with my mate and get some cans and watch two really good fights.

[leforge]

Figures were reasonable for Pascal, his promtional team need to take some blame for this!

[whiskey]

Figures were reasonable for Pascal, his promtional team need to take some blame for this!

It's not so much the viewing figures.. but the impact the fight had on many 'casual' fight fans coming home from the pub to see two evenly matched fighter's tearing lumps out of each other.

Unfortunately many causal fans think that Khan vs Mechanic and Enzo Macc vs Bobby Gunn were as good as it gets.

[whiskey]

Im looking forward to Showtime's version of 24/7.

The cameras were following Froch all last week.

The week before they were up big bear watching Dirrell.