BoxRec

Get in, finally on proper TV where he should have always been.

Lets just hope the fight is awesome now, like most of his recent bouts have been.

http://news.boxrec.com/news/2011/carl-f ... sky-sports

I'm really happy that he has got a decent platform; it is strange that 3 or 4 months ago there was no room (until Froch sacked his 'adviser').

The platform will be for one fight only, IMO. The Johnson fight will be on a regular Sky Sports channel, but then I bet he 'disappears' onto PPV - where he's been for the last few fights, anyway. All that will have changed is that Sky will be banging the drum for him (and their PPVs). Frochy will become a bit better known and probably earn more, but I think it's too late in the day for him to suddenly 'go mega'. Hope I'm wrong, but that's how I'm seeing it at the moment.

To be fair, if you read between the lines of what Adam Smith said since the end of 2010 onwards, he wanted Froch on SKY but it seemed there was a barrier to it. Seems now that's no longer an issue and since the split it's obvious that he's been in talks with SKY, or rather, his new promoter has.

What has Carls' new promoter got what his old one didn't?

Hennessy must have pissed someone off big time at Sky.

orbtastic wrote:To be fair, if you read between the lines of what Adam Smith said since the end of 2010 onwards, he wanted Froch on SKY but it seemed there was a barrier to it. Seems now that's no longer an issue and since the split it's obvious that he's been in talks with SKY, or rather, his new promoter has.

Smith did declare his interest very publically and often - which I am told did not please Barney Bossman. Obviously, when someone knows their services are wanted, they feel they can drive their price up. I have no idea if Mick tried to push it too far as a result though, resulting in the current situation. But it will be interesting to see what comes to light when Froch and Hennessy's legal dispute goes to court.

What Matchroom have that Mick didn't is a Sky deal Simon, that's all — with him out of the way Sky are able to hold their line to the effect that they have four promoters under contract and that's the way it will stay until summer 2012, when the contracts run out. It enables them to tell the promoters they work with (and don't) that they will not break their structure, the way it is is the way it is for 12 months or so. All works out quite nicely — unless you're Mick Hennessy.

Glyn Leach wrote:The platform will be for one fight only, IMO. The Johnson fight will be on a regular Sky Sports channel, but then I bet he 'disappears' onto PPV - where he's been for the last few fights, anyway. All that will have changed is that Sky will be banging the drum for him (and their PPVs). Frochy will become a bit better known and probably earn more, but I think it's too late in the day for him to suddenly 'go mega'. Hope I'm wrong, but that's how I'm seeing it at the moment.

tend to agree. I really feel a lot of it was down to perceived personailty as well.
Froch didnt come across as suitably charasmatic prior to now. He doesnt have a larger than life image of a hatton or naz, or the everyman appeal and goodness of a cooper or bruno (goodguy everymen dont have big tits and ass momma girlfriends.
He also came across as slightly surly earlier in his career

So its been down to froch to gain popularity and recognition through his imo

unparalelled in ring achievements that is this 5 or 6 fight run of absolute top notch compo. Now he is getting a platform in the mags and sky to show us he is a likeable and smart articulate guy out the ring.

In that fight with taylor if he had had good promotion he would have conquered america. He fought with a gerry cooney at his peak like intensity,in terms of the power.

If he beats johnson, and pavlik can come back with some quick wins and be revitalised. Id love to see him fight pavlik down the line in america but i guess if pavlik is hbo backed it wont happen
I agree sky have a lot to answer for. Hennessey tried and tried...it was a terrible shame itv pulled out

simon fox wrote:What has Carls' new promoter got what his old one didn't?

A future in the sport.

Carl really deserves it. He's in exciting fights almost every time, and takes on the best as much as is possible. He's also genuinely world class.

Good for him.

charlieb wrote:

simon fox wrote:What has Carls' new promoter got what his old one didn't?

A future in the sport.

The financial safety net to operate for a year or two whilst making a loss yet having huge coffers of cash to draw from to entice big players away from other promoters. A TV contract with SKY. A proven track record. A name/brand that is respected and trusted.

That's good news. I'll be watching this. Sends a message to Amir Khan. Another boxer who is on PrimeTime jumps at the chance to return to Sky, and everybody acts like it's good news.

I'll definitely be watching this.

mugabi wrote:

Glyn Leach wrote:The platform will be for one fight only, IMO. The Johnson fight will be on a regular Sky Sports channel, but then I bet he 'disappears' onto PPV - where he's been for the last few fights, anyway. All that will have changed is that Sky will be banging the drum for him (and their PPVs). Frochy will become a bit better known and probably earn more, but I think it's too late in the day for him to suddenly 'go mega'. Hope I'm wrong, but that's how I'm seeing it at the moment.

tend to agree. I really feel a lot of it was down to perceived personailty as well.
Froch didnt come across as suitably charasmatic prior to now. He doesnt have a larger than life image of a hatton or naz, or the everyman appeal and goodness of a cooper or bruno (goodguy everymen dont have big tits and ass momma girlfriends.
He also came across as slightly surly earlier in his career

So its been down to froch to gain popularity and recognition through his imo

unparalelled in ring achievements that is this 5 or 6 fight run of absolute top notch compo. Now he is getting a platform in the mags and sky to show us he is a likeable and smart articulate guy out the ring.

In that fight with taylor if he had had good promotion he would have conquered america. He fought with a gerry cooney at his peak like intensity,in terms of the power.

If he beats johnson, and pavlik can come back with some quick wins and be revitalised. Id love to see him fight pavlik down the line in america but i guess if pavlik is hbo backed it wont happen
I agree sky have a lot to answer for. Hennessey tried and tried...it was a terrible shame itv pulled out

Good posts both Mugabi and Glyn. I agree with every word. My only slight disagreement is that 3 of these 6 fights were shown on ITV (albiet 2 of them delayed, but at a good hour - 1 of them live primetime Saturday). The platform was available, Froch delivered in the ring but still not got the recognition - it wouldn't have been much different to Sky. Plus there was ITV's review magazine show that would often feature Froch.

Unfortunately, Sky's ringside magazine is the only real advertising/promoting campaign Sky use these days (except Prizefighter) - and really only people who watch ringside will be watching the boxing anyway. Look at Ricky Burns, what a performance to win the world title - even more less known than Froch. With the exception of Hatton who has Sky brought up to become Mega? Calzaghe became mainstream after Sky, Naz was described as the "golden egg" by Sky when Warren joined them.

I don't think the boxer OR promoter has much say in how the TV companies chose to promote the boxing. Taylor, while a name had lost some of his appeal, and it was generally thought stateside that he would win - it didn't get the hype as an acid test for Taylor - more a fight Taylor needs to get the belt and get some bargaining power at Super Middle. Kind of like Judah's recent win, which received very little attention stateside.

The Super 6's have been incredibly well hyped on showtime - although Froch then shares the platform equally(ish) with 6 other fighters and I don't think it has produced a mega star at any part of the world - perhaps because of this shared platform. Its very different to the DK 1980's boxing tournament which was always about one man. Plus the one Froch fight that was shown live and got the most attention stateside was a stinker, with a controvesial result. Junior Witter can vouch how one stikging performance can leave a long lasting bad taste with showtime executives - particularly if your not American.

mugabi wrote:

Glyn Leach wrote:The platform will be for one fight only, IMO. The Johnson fight will be on a regular Sky Sports channel, but then I bet he 'disappears' onto PPV - where he's been for the last few fights, anyway. All that will have changed is that Sky will be banging the drum for him (and their PPVs). Frochy will become a bit better known and probably earn more, but I think it's too late in the day for him to suddenly 'go mega'. Hope I'm wrong, but that's how I'm seeing it at the moment.

tend to agree. I really feel a lot of it was down to perceived personailty as well.
Froch didnt come across as suitably charasmatic prior to now. He doesnt have a larger than life image of a hatton or naz, or the everyman appeal and goodness of a cooper or bruno (goodguy everymen dont have big tits and ass momma girlfriends.
He also came across as slightly surly earlier in his career

So its been down to froch to gain popularity and recognition through his imo

unparalelled in ring achievements that is this 5 or 6 fight run of absolute top notch compo. Now he is getting a platform in the mags and sky to show us he is a likeable and smart articulate guy out the ring.

In that fight with taylor if he had had good promotion he would have conquered america. He fought with a gerry cooney at his peak like intensity,in terms of the power.

If he beats johnson, and pavlik can come back with some quick wins and be revitalised. Id love to see him fight pavlik down the line in america but i guess if pavlik is hbo backed it wont happen
I agree sky have a lot to answer for. Hennessey tried and tried...it was a terrible shame itv pulled out

2 good post above.

I agree with mugabi those are major reasons froch has not been a sky favourite, along with poor promotion.

As to the post about it being a 1 fight deal on standard sky sports i think that may be the plan too, but if sky are smart they will put this fight and the final, if froch is in it, on normal sky sports to grow his fan base considerably; they will then be able to cash in on the other big fights he is likely to have on ppv. Rather than constantly do mediocre sales from his existing fans.

Stu, good point re Calzaghe 'breaking' late vs Lacy. Hopefully it can still happen for Carl, God knows he deserves it. In an ideal world, it's a Froch-Ward final and a stellar performance there will do the job for Carl.

Glyn Leach wrote:Stu, good point re Calzaghe 'breaking' late vs Lacy. Hopefully it can still happen for Carl, God knows he deserves it. In an ideal world, it's a Froch-Ward final and a stellar performance there will do the job for Carl.

It can happen late, but my point was more relating to the apparent school of thought that Sky is 1) Proper TV and 2) Going to be the saviour. Calzaghe wouldn't have been a cross over star if it wasn't for Warren temporarily ditching Sky for ITV. The other mainstream stars had terrestial TV before joining Sky - Naz, Lewis, Eubank, Benn, Haye etc.

Sadly Froch has had that more than most boxers in the last 20 years. He had the Backing of BBC, ITV with Sky in between. It still hasn't worked, but he is respected and talked about in the states - not as a cross over star, but among the boxing media etc.

THe one complete exception is Hatton - I don't think we have seen a fighter like him before or since. Not even fighting domestic title level fighters and he was selling massive venue for a paper title.

For Froch to be a talked about fighter that he now seems to crave - I don't think Sky is a big enough platform. It hasn't been for many of our British World champions (Harrison, Witter, Ingle, Burns - so far etc etc). Terrestial TV might not even be enough, look at CLinton Woods. Solid opperator had some ding dong fights at world level.