Matchroom Monopoly on Sky

[Happy Slapper]

Hi Chaps,

Just a quick note to see what everyone's views are regarding the Matchroom monopoly on Sky.

Has this been to the viewers benefit? Is Sky likely to stay a one horse race going forward? Does the line up over the next couple of months look promising or poor?

My thoughts are that this isn't working. We are missing loads of top UK talent to allegedly whilst Kell Brook has his 13th 'final' eliminator for a world title, Darren Barker pulls out of yet another comeback, or Gavin Rees beats up another European/domestic level no-hoper. Is Carl Frampton ever going to get a Quigg or Munroe fight?

People like McCloskey and Purdy are half decent Euro level fighters, but where are the World Champs coming from? To my mind, the future World Champs from these shores are Groves, DeGale, Price, Haye, Martin Murray (possibly) and Quigg and the current World Champs are Burns, Cleverly and Froch - only one of all of these (Froch) has a definitive contract with Sky. The rest either have no affiliation or are with allegedly.

Thoughts?

[Horse]

How is Purdy a half decent European level fighter? Purdy was dominated by Lynes and then Lynes lost clearly to Witter.

Purdy is a good English level fighter, beating some unknown Argentinian doesn't make him European class.


I really hope Matchroom don't keep putting on international cards, with British fighters taking on foreign no-hopers with pretty records.

[Happy Slapper]

How is Purdy a half decent European level fighter? Purdy was dominated by Lynes and then Lynes lost clearly to Witter.

Purdy is a good English level fighter, beating some unknown Argentinian doesn't make him European class.


I really hope Matchroom don't keep putting on international cards, with British fighters taking on foreign no-hopers with pretty records.

Okay, fair enough, but you've kind of missed the point of my post. It wasn't about Purdy or any fighter in particular.

[Horse]

Okay, fair enough, but you've kind of missed the point of my post. It wasn't about Purdy or any fighter in particular.

Those were some of my thoughts regarding Matchroom's monopoly on sky.

They are likely to hype up the fighters they have and put them in international fights against nobodies. They are likely to avoid the best domestic opposition as fighters like Ochieng and Purdy are unlikely to be able to beat the best domestic fighters.

What domestic fighters does Hearn have?

Froch
Brook
Rees
Bellew
Barker
McCloskey
Frampton
Purdy
Ochieng

Who else does he have?

[Manchester Hitman]

The sh.it will hit the fan in my opinion at Sky if Hatton comes back on a rival station- If they could pursuade Ricky to screen it on Sky Sports 1 the viewing ratings will be unprecedented no matter what the quality of the opponent. Word on the street is that the boss man at Skysports has stept in over Smith to try to secure the fight, but Ricky has them by he balls and is Looking to go with Channel 5- I guess it really depends on whether he can get future dates on sky or not..

Smith and co must have been certain in their own minds that there was no chance of him returning for them to cast him and him stable aside so brutally - although I understand the business reasons for going with Hearn 100%.

Can't wait for Fridays press conference DD

[RichDam]

A lot of assumptions here. Why are these fighters 'likely' to avoid domestic rivals and are 'likely' to face soft international rivals. The latter has hardly happened under Hearn and it is up to rival promoters to help the best domestic clashes take place.

Sky is the best platform and all the top fighters will want to be on it.

Bellew is an example of this.

[Horse]

A lot of assumptions here. Why are these fighters 'likely' to avoid domestic rivals and are 'likely' to face soft international rivals. The latter has hardly happened under Hearn and it is up to rival promoters to help the best domestic clashes take place.

Sky is the best platform and all the top fighters will want to be on it.

Bellew is an example of this.

Their first show of the sesaon was a rubbish show, with both Bellew and Purdy taking on overmatched foreigners.

Their next show has Frampton vs Molitor (good, but still foreign), McCloskey vs Perez and a top quality domestic fight with Selby vs Lindsay. Why can't McCloskey fight a British opponent? Theophane, Daws, Cook or Arthur didn't want the fight?

Their next show after that has Brook vs Saldivia and McDonnell vs Malinga. Both are world title eliminators, but neither are likely to get many people's mouths watering.

Then it is Froch vs Mack and Bellew vs TBA. The domestic fighters Magee, Groves and DeGale would all have been better than Mack.


These future Matchroom show's fixtures give me enough evidence to predict that a lot of unimpressive foreign imports will be fighting on their shows.

[jameswilson]

Saying Brook is having a 13th final eliminator is a bit strong. His last fight was an eliminator and this one is a final eliminator, there's nothing long and drawn out about the process he has gone through. It's hardly the second coming of Howard Eastman or Junior Witter's situations where they were sat as the WBC mandatory seemingly for years.

[RichDam]

A lot of assumptions here. Why are these fighters 'likely' to avoid domestic rivals and are 'likely' to face soft international rivals. The latter has hardly happened under Hearn and it is up to rival promoters to help the best domestic clashes take place.

Sky is the best platform and all the top fighters will want to be on it.

Bellew is an example of this.

Their first show of the sesaon was a rubbish show, with both Bellew and Purdy taking on overmatched foreigners.

Their next show has Frampton vs Molitor (good, but still foreign), McCloskey vs Perez and a top quality domestic fight with Selby vs Lindsay. Why can't McCloskey fight a British opponent? Theophane, Daws, Cook or Arthur didn't want the fight?

Their next show after that has Brook vs Saldivia and McDonnell vs Malinga. Both are world title eliminators, but neither are likely to get many people's mouths watering.

Then it is Froch vs Mack and Bellew vs TBA. The domestic fighters Magee, Groves and DeGale would all have been better than Mack.


These future Matchroom show's fixtures give me enough evidence to predict that a lot of unimpressive foreign imports will be fighting on their shows.

Bellew was fighting a former world title challenger. Barker had to pull out through no fault of his own, while Purdy exceeded expectations against a fighter who was highly rated.

Brook is fighting a mandatory (what else can he do) and McDonnell is making a long awaited step up to world class. Not sure what else you can ask for. Both have cleaned up their domestic divisions.

Froch has been given a stay busy fight against a respectable opponent. He has bigger fish to fry in a few months, be patient. Bellew is beefing up the card.

[BoxingDaz]

Okay, fair enough, but you've kind of missed the point of my post. It wasn't about Purdy or any fighter in particular.

Those were some of my thoughts regarding Matchroom's monopoly on sky.

They are likely to hype up the fighters they have and put them in international fights against nobodies. They are likely to avoid the best domestic opposition as fighters like Ochieng and Purdy are unlikely to be able to beat the best domestic fighters.

What domestic fighters does Hearn have?

Froch
Brook
Rees
Bellew
Barker
McCloskey
Frampton
Purdy
Ochieng

Who else does he have?

James Degale I've heard he is signing with eddie in the next few days.

[Horse]

Bellew was fighting a former world title challenger. Barker had to pull out through no fault of his own, while Purdy exceeded expectations against a fighter who was highly rated.

Purdy didn't exceed my expectations, he beat a nobody.

Brook is fighting a mandatory (what else can he do) and McDonnell is making a long awaited step up to world class. Not sure what else you can ask for. Both have cleaned up their domestic divisions.

Froch has been given a stay busy fight against a respectable opponent. He has bigger fish to fry in a few months, be patient. Bellew is beefing up the card.

It might be sensible career progression, but these are unexciting fights.

[leforge]

Okay, fair enough, but you've kind of missed the point of my post. It wasn't about Purdy or any fighter in particular.

Those were some of my thoughts regarding Matchroom's monopoly on sky.

They are likely to hype up the fighters they have and put them in international fights against nobodies. They are likely to avoid the best domestic opposition as fighters like Ochieng and Purdy are unlikely to be able to beat the best domestic fighters.

What domestic fighters does Hearn have?

Froch
Brook
Rees
Bellew
Barker
McCloskey
Frampton
Purdy
Ochieng

Who else does he have?

James Degale I've heard he is signing with eddie in the next few days.

Really?

[BoxingDaz]

Thats what I've been told from someone who has close links with them both

[RichDam]

Bellew was fighting a former world title challenger. Barker had to pull out through no fault of his own, while Purdy exceeded expectations against a fighter who was highly rated.

Purdy didn't exceed my expectations, he beat a nobody.

Brook is fighting a mandatory (what else can he do) and McDonnell is making a long awaited step up to world class. Not sure what else you can ask for. Both have cleaned up their domestic divisions.

Froch has been given a stay busy fight against a respectable opponent. He has bigger fish to fry in a few months, be patient. Bellew is beefing up the card.

It might be sensible career progression, but these are unexciting fights.

According to you...who should they be fighting?

[Bennyblanco]

Okay, fair enough, but you've kind of missed the point of my post. It wasn't about Purdy or any fighter in particular.

Those were some of my thoughts regarding Matchroom's monopoly on sky.

They are likely to hype up the fighters they have and put them in international fights against nobodies. They are likely to avoid the best domestic opposition as fighters like Ochieng and Purdy are unlikely to be able to beat the best domestic fighters.

What domestic fighters does Hearn have?

Froch
Brook
Rees
Bellew
Barker
McCloskey
Frampton
Purdy
Ochieng

Who else does he have?

James Degale I've heard he is signing with eddie in the next few days.

That's got to be his best option out there

[palooka]

Bellew was fighting a former world title challenger. Barker had to pull out through no fault of his own, while Purdy exceeded expectations against a fighter who was highly rated.

Purdy didn't exceed my expectations, he beat a nobody.



Hope you put plenty on him then; Lee was 5 to 1 against winning that nobody.

[leforge]

Thats what I've been told from someone who has close links with them both

Thought he was going to Hennessy.

[Horse]

According to you...who should they be fighting?

Brook and McDonnell are in World title eliminators, so their fights are sensible. I would be looking to put some good quality domestic fights on the undercard though.

Purdy should be looking to fight any of the other top domestic welterweights: Hatton, Witter, Vassell, Lynes or Gavin. Surely a rematch with Lynes for the English title is makeable?

Bellew should be going after the European title. If he can't get a shot at that then he should be aiming to defend his WBC International Silver title against someone like Chilemba, Murat, White, either Green, Jones Jr or Campillo.

Froch could fight many more interesting opponents than Mack, but I can't be bothered to go on about that anymore.

[Horse]

Purdy didn't exceed my expectations, he beat a nobody.

Hope you put plenty on him then; Lee was 5 to 1 against winning that nobody.

You are joking aren't you? Surely no bookie is that stupid?

[ashedward]

My thoughts is that it`s way to early to tell,for what it`s worth i thought last saturdays card was good 4 live fights at differant levals, Lee Purdy was trending at one point and eveyone in arena seemed to enjoy themselves.The Belfast card looks very good,quality fights is the main thing,i dont have a problem with imports if they are good fighters who give are lads a competatve fights,Belfast should be buzzing.

[palooka]

Purdy didn't exceed my expectations, he beat a nobody.

Hope you put plenty on him then; Lee was 5 to 1 against winning that nobody.

You are joking aren't you? Surely no bookie is that stupid?

On Betting Thread page 39, (sorry don't know how to quote from others threads).

[Horse]

On Betting Thread page 39, (sorry don't know how to quote from others threads).

Sorry, I am not a gambler and I might have misunderstood what you were saying earlier.

5 to 1 against means that you put £1 on and get £1.20 back if you win does it? It doesn't mean you put £1 on and get £6 back?

Purdy was a considerable favourite wasn't he?

[palooka]

The other man was favored to win; if you'd put a pound on Purdy at 1 to 5 you'd have got £5 back + your £1 stake. The man Purdy beat was unbeaten in 16 bouts with 13 stoppages.

[dondada]

Hi Chaps,

Just a quick note to see what everyone's views are regarding the Matchroom monopoly on Sky.

Has this been to the viewers benefit? Is Sky likely to stay a one horse race going forward? Does the line up over the next couple of months look promising or poor?

My thoughts are that this isn't working. We are missing loads of top UK talent to Allegedly channel whilst Kell Brook has his 13th 'final' eliminator for a world title, Darren Barker pulls out of yet another comeback, or Gavin Rees beats up another European/domestic level no-hoper. Is Carl Frampton ever going to get a Quigg or Munroe fight?

People like McCloskey and Purdy are half decent Euro level fighters, but where are the World Champs coming from? To my mind, the future World Champs from these shores are Groves, DeGale, Price, Haye, Martin Murray (possibly) and Quigg and the current World Champs are Burns, Cleverly and Froch - only one of all of these (Froch) has a definitive contract with Sky. The rest either have no affiliation or are with Allegedly channel.

Thoughts?

I disagree with this, though I do understand why people think this.

I agree with Big Glyn's editorial in this month's Boxing Monthly, which isn't the popular line to take on this. I'm not going to go into it though - buy the mag

[dondada]

Their next show after that has Brook vs Saldivia and McDonnell vs Malinga. Both are world title eliminators, but neither are likely to get many people's mouths watering.

Brook v Saliva won't get people's mouths watering?