Ricky Hatton vs. Marco Antonio Barrera | Exhibition - 12 November 2022

[jimmystone]

Who are the target audience for an exhibition like this? I get the appeal of Mike Tyson to a new generation of casuals but not Hatton and MAB. They are not iconic figures. Two old flabby men shuffling around a ring in a staged contest expecting to be paid a fortune. They've had their chance, put the slippers on and leave the casual spend for the next generation to pocket.

The target audience is the same people who watched Hatton and MAB fight in their prime. The boxing industry had worked hard to not increase it's fan base over the last 20-30 years by using PPV to lock out new viewers.
Once we die out it will be over or more likely whatever Jake Paul wants it to be.

Sad but true

[Counter-puncher]

The boxing industry had worked hard to not increase it's fan base over the last 20-30 years by using PPV to lock out new viewers.

nicely put

[stujones]

Who are the target audience for an exhibition like this? I get the appeal of Mike Tyson to a new generation of casuals but not Hatton and MAB. They are not iconic figures. Two old flabby men shuffling around a ring in a staged contest expecting to be paid a fortune. They've had their chance, put the slippers on and leave the casual spend for the next generation to pocket.

The target audience is the same people who watched Hatton and MAB fight in their prime. The boxing industry had worked hard to not increase it's fan base over the last 20-30 years by using PPV to lock out new viewers.
Once we die out it will be over or more likely whatever Jake Paul wants it to be.

Not just PPV but also putting it on "remote" channels like BN and now Dazn - costing the punter even more and marginalising the sport.

Far more Buzz amongst the casuals for WIlliams vs Eubank than there was for Ryder vs Jacobs - for several reasons yes (Eubank being a bigger name than any of the 4 and personally my "casual" friends are Welsh - so obviously more interested in a big fight involving a Welshman in Cardiff) - but you cannot dispute the Sky Sports angle and too think we once said that Sky Sports was marginalising the game.

[bripez]

I can't imagine many casuals have heard of either Ryder or Jacobs, never mind having a buzz about their fight.

I would also imagine that any interest in Eubank and Williams was largely driven by their knowledge of Senior from 20 years ago when he was boxing on ITV and not necessarily the 2 boxers themselves.

[stujones]

I can't imagine many casuals have heard of either Ryder or Jacobs, never mind having a buzz about their fight.

I would also imagine that any interest in Eubank and Williams was largely driven by their knowledge of Senior from 20 years ago when he was boxing on ITV and not necessarily the 2 boxers themselves.

Which is the point I was making - John Ryder ran the Universally recognised #1 World champion in the division to a razor tight close decision - why haven't people heard of him. Michael Watson never won a world title either but plenty had heard of him, plenty had heard of Eubank BEFORE he faced Benn.

Promoters going for greed over the sustainability of the sport.

Oh no its all about the creative control of the production - that no one sees!

[Shirow]

Not just PPV but also putting it on "remote" channels like BN and now Dazn - costing the punter even more and marginalising the sport.

True.
If you formulated a plan to turn a mainstream TV sport into a niche sport what would be a better plan than...

1 Put all the events on specialist subscription channels.
2 Refuse to provide the most wanted match ups and put the ones that are made behind another bigger pay wall.
3 When viewer numbers drop due to lack of interest, death from old age and lack of newer fans arriving because potential fans don't see the product; put even the mildly interesting events on PPV.

That's how you get from Eubank Sr on ITV in front of millions to Eubank Jr on PPV for hundreds in literally one generation.

Ps
Sorry, for hijacking this thread for my rant. I didn't know it was in there and it just spilled out.

[Riddick Bowie]

Not just PPV but also putting it on "remote" channels like BN and now Dazn - costing the punter even more and marginalising the sport.

True.
If you formulated a plan to turn a mainstream TV sport into a niche sport what would be a better plan than...

1 Put all the events on specialist subscription channels.
2 Refuse to provide the most wanted match ups and put the ones that are made behind another bigger pay wall.
3 When viewer numbers drop due to lack of interest, death from old age and lack of newer fans arriving because potential fans don't see the product; put even the mildly interesting events on PPV.

That's how you get from Eubank Sr on ITV in front of millions to Eubank Jr on PPV for hundreds in literally one generation.

Ps
Sorry, for hijacking this thread for my rant. I didn't know it was in there and it just spilled out.

Yep, everything you write is accurate. It's amazing what household names Benn, Eubank, Bruno and Naz were, boxing on BBC and ITV, and how obscure similarly or more successful British boxers are nowadays.

[stujones]

I do worry about Ricky health wise. Perhaps I'm mis reading it or perhaps its coincidental timing but he constantly seems to have a pint in his hand (or perhaps worse) when doing ifl interviews and he always needs to take a swig (,out of camera, why I'm saying potentially worse) mid interview. His latest ifl interview he looks pissed.

[Oiky]

Wont be many interested in this surely

Hatton was quality in his day,but...

[orbtastic]

My mate sees him regularly at the city games as they both have season tickets. He said he’s lost some weight of late and looks less bloated and pudgy which could mean he’s training and/or drinking less. I’m off later, maybe I’ll see for myself

[Ruthless-RKO]

Sky Sports have confirmed this now.

July against Barrera.

[Dioufy]

My fave fighter of all time.
Ffs.
Leave it be, man!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ricky Hatton to fight Marco Antonio Barrera in exhibition

Ricky Hatton will return to the ring at the age of 43 for an exhibition bout with Marco Antonio Barrera.

Britain's former two-weight world champion will take on Mexico's Barrera, 48, over eight rounds on 2 July in Manchester.

Hatton retired in 2012, while Barrera, who was beaten by Amir Khan in 2009, last fought in 2011.

"I can confirm my return to the ring," said Hatton. "It's not how you fall, it's how you rise..."

Hatton was knocked out by Ukraine's Vyacheslav Senchenko in his final fight before retirement.

He first said he had retired in 2009 after a knockout defeat by Manny Pacquiao.

Hatton ended his career with 45 wins and three losses.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Frostieballs]

Cue loads of casuals watching this and afterwards everyone saying…..

‘They’ve still got it those two. They could come back if they wanted to.’

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[blanca]

Also on the card, Clinton Baptiste connects to the other world and commentates on Ali v Frazier 4. Soon TBA?

[Glass Joe]

I can see this flopping with the ticket sales (unless the touts all buy them up like Fury -whye)

Also read John Murray wants to fight on the undercard, Jesus christ the man nearly lost his eye sight. some things are better left in the past.

[JamesPhilips]

Barrera looked decent enough in his exhibitions. He will humiliate fat Rickeh

[Steveh583]

this is utterly tragic. Hattons a fat alky. it will be an embarrassment.

[margaret thatcher]

if you dont take these seriously they are bad, it's obviously a bit of fun for these guys

[SticknMove]

if you dont take these seriously they are bad, it's obviously a bit of fun for these guys

Is it all for cherrity?

[KiwiRider]

I'd still fancy Ricky against Campbell

Hatton Vs Fatton