Big fights we didn't get to see.
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jamesmcdonnell
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 45229
- Joined: 12 Nov 2003, 06:11
I get the impression from recent interviews I read, that Hearn is exasperated with boxing. He hasn't even been able to keep his TV deal, and he has plenty of other sports in his stable which are far less hassle to organise, the participants, some of whom are stars in their sport don't want paying as much, and they all have a tournament structure, rather than the shambolic organisation of boxing with it's smoke and mirrors, who can blame him if he chooses to turn his back on the sport.dve3333 wrote:Yeah joking apart you would think that Barry Hearn could come up with something as he has a hand in plenty of sports Darts, Snooker, etc.stujones wrote:We shouldn't, but promoters with no TV deal should.dve3333 wrote:I say we all just pool our vast resources and create a new Boxing Channel and show all the TV channels who is the Daddy
I think if the Eastman/Witter bill done reasonable numbers Setanta could arrange something long-term with Hennessy Sports
Trouble is that companies like Setanta and Bravo, surely aren't going to throw that much wedge at the sport.
I think maybe that fighters are going to see a downturn in their purses in the following years, until such time as the sport rebuilds itself. Generally we have a few high earners in this country who are getting the lion share of a dwindling pot.
What happens if and when Ricky gets beat, without Harrison and Calzaghe, who have we to be a major star, other than Khan, whose fortunes could turn out any number of ways.
Boxing simply hasn't built the number of stars in this country to keep the sport healthy, sure there's a few fighters with drawing power in their own areas, but there isn't a single national star on a par with Naz, and I don't think, that Khan excepted there is anyone I've seen of late who has.
Even Khan, without terrestrial coverage, isn't going to remain in the national consciousness to the same degree. The olympics gave him a platforkm which he is never going to have again.
I agree with James on Hearn, he does go through stages of interest - I think the problem now lies that his stable is pretty low. We have Brodie, Lynes, Bami - any others?
I thought his deal with Bravo (with the last Lynes fight) was more than just a one off, but the problem is that he doesn't seem to have any fights lined up.
A couple of years ago he would have bills on TV (terrestial or satellite) once or month or so, now he just doesn't have the stable. Obviously very good in the negotiating side of things (any other promoter with no TV get a deal with Bravo?) just doesn't have the fighters. I think he is a damn fine promoter who does well for both himself and and the fighter (Michael Brodie = 3 world title shots so far), he just needs more fighters. I am surprised that unattached boxers are not going to him.
I thought his deal with Bravo (with the last Lynes fight) was more than just a one off, but the problem is that he doesn't seem to have any fights lined up.
A couple of years ago he would have bills on TV (terrestial or satellite) once or month or so, now he just doesn't have the stable. Obviously very good in the negotiating side of things (any other promoter with no TV get a deal with Bravo?) just doesn't have the fighters. I think he is a damn fine promoter who does well for both himself and and the fighter (Michael Brodie = 3 world title shots so far), he just needs more fighters. I am surprised that unattached boxers are not going to him.
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jamesmcdonnell
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 45229
- Joined: 12 Nov 2003, 06:11
I agree he is very good at negotiating, however, in today's climate in this country, getting a title shot is no guarantee of a big payday. Hatton, Calzaghe and Harrison have undoubtedly made more money than Brodie or Woods. Whilst to the hardcore boxing fans real titles, or more to the point fights against genuine elite fighters are the holy grail, they do not make you more money than fighting against lesser opposition in front of packed crowds at the MEN.
Sports Network have their detractors for sure, but you have to say that allegedly has made a shed load of money for his top fighters. Calzaghe could have made a whole lot more if he'd taken on some better opposition, and Hatton must easily be the highest earning active fighter in the UK by now.
Money talks, bullshit walks, and whether anyone here likes it or not, fighters go to allegedly's stable, because they perceive that as the route to the biggest payday. This is unlikely to change in the near future, unless some other promoters get solid TV deals.
I have a lot of respect for Hobson for getting Woods the shots and eventually a title belt, through lots of legwork, but will clinton be able to cash in on his belt? It remains to be seen.
Boxing is more a business than any other sport I can think of, and the best businessmen come out on top.
You only have to look at Thompson v Haye, on paper a cracking fight, but the arena was only a 3rd full, partly because the fight was staged at Wembley I know, but allegedly does get packed houses for Hatton, and has very carefully stage managed his career, and packaged him brilliantly.
Hearn has a lot of other irons in the fire, whereas for Sports Network, boxing remains their mainstay, and all the energies are put there.
I hope that in time some of the other promoters get TV deals, but none of them at present have a stable to rival Sports Network, who have benefitted from a very long period of dominance. For a long time Hearn was the main competition, but I feel that he may be turning his back on boxing.
There's a good article by Frank Maloney on boxing-central, and I have to concur with most of what he says.
What we need now is a new generation of fighters coming through, who are in good competitive fights, without the focus on the WBU/IBO/WBF titles, which are just misleading the public.
Can you imagine if a broascaster had the nous to pick up on all the smaller hall fights around the country, and all the fantastic little domestic fights and rivalries?
Imagine a fight like Symonds v Brett James live on TV, the public would have gone fornicating mental for that! Trouble is, once there is big money on the table, everyone goes into their shell, and suddenly the fighters are only interested in big title shots or bullshit belts.
We need these fights to be covered, we need the public to have faces to get behind, it's already too late with our top fighters. Hatton is really the only one approaching a household name, but as said earlier, unless he beats Tszyu and then defends the title, he won't ever become a huge star. Whilst I rate Tszyu, I do hope Hatton wins for the sake of boxing in this country, even aside from my faint patriotism.
Clinton Woods is the only other real chance I can see right now, if he can defend that belt and get a major fight, and a big fight abroad possibly, then he can really do something to perk up the sport.
There needs to be a real change of culture, the TV networks have to start showing more nous in the fights they show, but sadly, I think it will get worse before it gets better.
I don't think boxing is dead, not yet, but it needs a serious shot in the arse if it's going to avoid becoming a totally fringe sport, which it is rapidly becoming.
Sports Network have their detractors for sure, but you have to say that allegedly has made a shed load of money for his top fighters. Calzaghe could have made a whole lot more if he'd taken on some better opposition, and Hatton must easily be the highest earning active fighter in the UK by now.
Money talks, bullshit walks, and whether anyone here likes it or not, fighters go to allegedly's stable, because they perceive that as the route to the biggest payday. This is unlikely to change in the near future, unless some other promoters get solid TV deals.
I have a lot of respect for Hobson for getting Woods the shots and eventually a title belt, through lots of legwork, but will clinton be able to cash in on his belt? It remains to be seen.
Boxing is more a business than any other sport I can think of, and the best businessmen come out on top.
You only have to look at Thompson v Haye, on paper a cracking fight, but the arena was only a 3rd full, partly because the fight was staged at Wembley I know, but allegedly does get packed houses for Hatton, and has very carefully stage managed his career, and packaged him brilliantly.
Hearn has a lot of other irons in the fire, whereas for Sports Network, boxing remains their mainstay, and all the energies are put there.
I hope that in time some of the other promoters get TV deals, but none of them at present have a stable to rival Sports Network, who have benefitted from a very long period of dominance. For a long time Hearn was the main competition, but I feel that he may be turning his back on boxing.
There's a good article by Frank Maloney on boxing-central, and I have to concur with most of what he says.
What we need now is a new generation of fighters coming through, who are in good competitive fights, without the focus on the WBU/IBO/WBF titles, which are just misleading the public.
Can you imagine if a broascaster had the nous to pick up on all the smaller hall fights around the country, and all the fantastic little domestic fights and rivalries?
Imagine a fight like Symonds v Brett James live on TV, the public would have gone fornicating mental for that! Trouble is, once there is big money on the table, everyone goes into their shell, and suddenly the fighters are only interested in big title shots or bullshit belts.
We need these fights to be covered, we need the public to have faces to get behind, it's already too late with our top fighters. Hatton is really the only one approaching a household name, but as said earlier, unless he beats Tszyu and then defends the title, he won't ever become a huge star. Whilst I rate Tszyu, I do hope Hatton wins for the sake of boxing in this country, even aside from my faint patriotism.
Clinton Woods is the only other real chance I can see right now, if he can defend that belt and get a major fight, and a big fight abroad possibly, then he can really do something to perk up the sport.
There needs to be a real change of culture, the TV networks have to start showing more nous in the fights they show, but sadly, I think it will get worse before it gets better.
I don't think boxing is dead, not yet, but it needs a serious shot in the arse if it's going to avoid becoming a totally fringe sport, which it is rapidly becoming.
I meant Hearn is good a negotiating on the TV side of things. IMO when he had Eubank he was the top promoter in the country. He had the two of the three main British world champions at the time (Eubank and Robinson) and I do believe had some involvement with Nigel Benn at one stage aswell.
He was with ITV, then they wanted out, not long after he got a long term deal with sky, that deal ran its course (and not renewed) he then got a deal with Bravo - not sure the type of deal he has now. I wonder how many non-tv shows has he put on, not that many I would say.
Look at the stable he has now and compare it with Hennessey who doesn't look like he can land a deal despite having 2 world ranked fighters and one on the fringes.
If promoters could have Hearn' touch with getting a TV contract then Boxing wouldn't be so bad.
He was with ITV, then they wanted out, not long after he got a long term deal with sky, that deal ran its course (and not renewed) he then got a deal with Bravo - not sure the type of deal he has now. I wonder how many non-tv shows has he put on, not that many I would say.
Look at the stable he has now and compare it with Hennessey who doesn't look like he can land a deal despite having 2 world ranked fighters and one on the fringes.
If promoters could have Hearn' touch with getting a TV contract then Boxing wouldn't be so bad.