where do sports network go from here?

[Chambers2]

I just had a little search and he said for £1m he'd go pro. Waren will snap him up, you can see it. Then four years of the Khan hype. Would you say that Degale has the same potential as Khan did/does?

The Am and pro games are getting further and further apart, as we're slowly finding out an Olympic medal means pretty much fornicate all when it comes to the pros. The 2 codes require totally different attributes, a good chin as an Amateur is not essential to make it to the top where it is in the pro ranks, a lack of power is not a major problem in the Ams where it is more so in the pros....

Sutherland who lost to Degale in the semis, but has beat him on 4 other occasions looks to be alot more suited to the pros than all of our medallists IMO

[Bard of Boxrec]

'Under'?

[rpms]

Nothing is confirmed with regards to Degale and Gavin going pro with Sports Network but to me it has a sense on inevitability about it.
At the moment SN need Degale + the other Olympians more than ever.

[stujones]

What about this setanta suing Warren for potential 10's of millions! Surely that would mean the end.

[rpms]

I just had a little search and he said for £1m he'd go pro. Waren will snap him up, you can see it. Then four years of the Khan hype. Would you say that Degale has the same potential as Khan did/does?

The Am and pro games are getting further and further apart, as we're slowly finding out an Olympic medal means pretty much eff all when it comes to the pros. The 2 codes require totally different attributes, a good chin as an Amateur is not essential to make it to the top where it is in the pro ranks, a lack of power is not a major problem in the Ams where it is more so in the pros....

Sutherland who lost to Degale in the semis, but has beat him on 4 other occasions looks to be alot more suited to the pros than all of our medallists IMO

Completely understand and agree with what you are saying,but sometimes its a case of publicity over ability.Look at Degale in relation to Sutherland/Groves as a case in point.I would back them both against Degale in the pro"s,but no doubt Degale makes more money from his career.

[WildWaylon]

I agree. But I mistakingly presumed FW-SKY was now PPV by default.

If Khan v Prescott is PPV, anything is possible.

It was only PPV because Khan wanted more than a normal FFN could pay him. He was too expensive for ITV, Setanta and Sky, so it had to be PPV. Its no good us blaming Warren or Sky its all down to Khan wanting the wages of a World champion. He wont get that big money now, lose again and he could be on the undercard. In those early days on ITV he was on the undercard but we all knew he was the star of the show and got the top money. Reality time for Khan now though.

[WildWaylon]

I'd say they go further downill this year, in 2008:

Enzo Mac lost his world title and was comprehensively beaten
Joe Calzaghe has split with Warren
He's also lost Derry Mathews and Ryan Rhodes
Now Khan has been embarrassed on PPV

Nicky Cook is his only 'world' title holder and lets face it, Nicky Cook is a WBO title holder, not a world champion.

Its not looking good for old allegedly!

Joe Calzaghe brought respect to the WBO title and its the one hes hanging onto.

[stujones]

Lets not Blame Warren... he could have said "no, find another promoter who will sign you up at those fees you chinny old so and so".

Only ones that might have were Golden Boy.

[mark thompson]

I'd say they go further downill this year, in 2008:

Enzo Mac lost his world title and was comprehensively beaten
Joe Calzaghe has split with Warren
He's also lost Derry Mathews and Ryan Rhodes
Now Khan has been embarrassed on PPV

Nicky Cook is his only 'world' title holder and lets face it, Nicky Cook is a WBO title holder, not a world champion.

Its not looking good for old allegedly!

Joe Calzaghe brought respect to the WBO title and its the one hes hanging onto.

Come on guys belts mean next to nothing nowadays, nearly every bloody boxer holds some kind of silly belt

[Tykemania]

Has Degale signed with Warren?

No, not yet anyway. Degales talking about stopping Am til London 2012, he's probably just saying this to get the promoters to dig abit deeper, he'll go pro for BIG bucks IMO

Dunno about this - he does okay out of amateur grants and may well think that double Olympic gold at 26 sells far more tickets and has better prospects of success than does single gold at 22. Degale doesn't look much of a puncher, and the fill out of his body is likely to take him up to super middle at least, so the extra four years might do him good.

[Tykemania]

Come on guys belts mean next to nothing nowadays, nearly every bloody boxer holds some kind of silly belt

Nah, you don't even have to be a boxer - I bought a genuine WBU belt in Tesco's last week!

[chesh]

What about this setanta suing Warren for potential 10's of millions! Surely that would mean the end.

My understanding of the situation is that Setanta had a contract with SN. The legal ramifications and culpability regarding its alleged breach will, undoubtedly, enter the public domain in the fullness of time. In the meantime, did anyone else notice the absence of any SN logo in the MEN Arena for the PPV show? The only names I noticed were allegedly allegedly and allegedly.tv. Whatever happens with SN may not impact on allegedly FW and his promotional activities. It would appear that SN and the company promoting on Sky might be completely separate entities. Allegedly, of course.

[Deserter]

I know everyone here practically lives to see Warren fail, but i wouldn't go writing him off just yet.

He is our top promoter and the best builder of young stars in the business (UK)

He can forget PPV for a while, however

I agree with this, PPV is a no no. Don't go kicking SN while they are down just yet, all promotors go through bad patches where they have lost on their investment. But boxers come and go, FW is better at this game than anyone else in the country and he will still be able ply his trade and just potter along until the next potential superstar comes his way.

Yep, I'm another who subscribes to this view. People who think Warren is somehow finished after this are being somewhat naive in my opinion - he's too good a businessman and too well connected.

[stujones]

Yep, I'm another who subscribes to this view. People who think Warren is somehow finished after this are being somewhat naive in my opinion - he's too good a businessman and too well connected.

Yes, but he has been making some monumental errors of late... the verbal agreement with Joe, the Hatton issue post Tszyu.

The Calzaghe issue is on going, so I am not going to comment - but the Hatton issue - despite threats of suing never really happened. Hatton still was evidently out of contract. Really seems odd that the two biggest fighters he has had in recent times (excluding Hamed) are out of written contract after their career defining fight when they can negotated big deals elsewhere.

Haye vs Enzo Mac.

Lets not forget, maybe this whole PPV mess wouldn't be necessary had the deal with Setanta not follow through - and if Setanta are successful in their suing - then I would be amazed and very impressed if the "comeback kid" can come from that.

Remember Warren hailing Setanta saying words to the effect of... they are putting the money in that is making Kessler vs Calzaghe, Haye vs Mac certainties - I couldn't get this with Sky on a Friday Night and ITV. Had the deal continued then this defeat would not be such a set back.... cause Khan wouldn't have been a PPV fighter.

[stujones]

What about this setanta suing Warren for potential 10's of millions! Surely that would mean the end.

My understanding of the situation is that Setanta had a contract with SN. The legal ramifications and culpability regarding its alleged breach will, undoubtedly, enter the public domain in the fullness of time. In the meantime, did anyone else notice the absence of any SN logo in the MEN Arena for the PPV show? The only names I noticed were allegedly allegedly allegedly and allegedly.tv. Whatever happens with SN may not impact on allegedly FW and his promotional activities. It would appear that SN and the company promoting on Sky might be completely separate entities. Allegedly, of course.

Without a doubt, I noticed and picked it up (made a seperate thread) at the Press conference... plus no reference to SN on the website (apart from the info line at the top!).

Its naughty dealings and without knowing the deal Setanta signed... hard to know if they have a case... its very childish and sly though all the same.

[Deserter]

Yep, I'm another who subscribes to this view. People who think Warren is somehow finished after this are being somewhat naive in my opinion - he's too good a businessman and too well connected.

Yes, but he has been making some monumental errors of late... the verbal agreement with Joe, the Hatton issue post Tszyu.

The Calzaghe issue is on going, so I am not going to comment - but the Hatton issue - despite threats of suing never really happened. Hatton still was evidently out of contract. Really seems odd that the two biggest fighters he has had in recent times (excluding Hamed) are out of written contract after their career defining fight when they can negotated big deals elsewhere.

Haye vs Enzo Mac.

Lets not forget, maybe this whole PPV mess wouldn't be necessary had the deal with Setanta not follow through - and if Setanta are successful in their suing - then I would be amazed and very impressed if the "comeback kid" can come from that.

Remember Warren hailing Setanta saying words to the effect of... they are putting the money in that is making Kessler vs Calzaghe, Haye vs Mac certainties - I couldn't get this with Sky on a Friday Night and ITV. Had the deal continued then this defeat would not be such a set back.... cause Khan wouldn't have been a PPV fighter.

Even taking all of that into account I don't believe he's even close to being finished - you can't look at Frank in isolation, you have to look at the market context, and any space created by his 'difficulties' is a vacuum that would have to be filled. Unlike in the US, where you've got a vibrant sense of competition (Arum, King and Golden Boy), there's no serious rival to Frank/Sports Network. Strictly in business terms, Maloney and Hennessey are League One outfits compared to SN's Premiership quality set-up, while Hayemaker as a business contains far too much risk in that it's defined by one individual who by the nature of his current activities is vulnerable.
Frank's here to stay for a good while yet.

[stujones]

Setanta are threatening with 10's of millions.... I KNOW how much the DK issue was affecting the pocket a few years ago. He did remarkable to comeback from that, but I'd make sure he has a damn good legal team with Setanta - rumours are Setanta are struggling big style with all their high profile football deals... I'm not convinced Setanta would lodge a case if they didn't feel they stood a chance.... court cost, counter sue and all that.

He's got a little complacent and its costing him dear at the moment.

[Punchy Joe]

I always thought Warren was living dangerously with the Setanta to Sky TV jump stunt. Warren must have took good legal advice before he did it, you would have thought???? I wondered if Setanta would sue cos its looks to me as if they would have a damn good case??? but I knock feck all about legal stuff, like I said Warren surely must have got good legal counsel.