What are Sky doing??
Posted: 19 May 2004, 05:11
I am one of the many boxing fans who fork out £40 per month purely for the SKY boxing coverage and over the last few years have seen the decline in quality of boxing on offer.
They have the clout (as HBO have done in the States) to heaviliy influence the matches they broadcast but seem to stand aside and show whatever rubbish certain promoters (you can probably guess...) come up with.
How many times have we had to put up with "Good Bristish Boxer Who Holds A Crap World Title" Vs Who??? matches?
OK, we all know that boxers need not engage in real struggles in every fight, nor would we realistically repect them to, but I think this Big Fish, Small Pond mentality is wearing extremely thin. We know that boxing needs all the help it can get and this is not the way to attract new fans.
I can't help feeling Hatton is getting embarrassed when he steps into the ring against people that even hardcore boxing fans have never heard of when he is clearly ready and seemingly willing to go for the top 5 light-welterweights. He is at the stage now where Cotto has overtaken him after having half the number of fights because he has been taking on quality opposition now for some time.
Thank God for Ian Darke who frequently, rightly, criticises the matches he is commentating on that are served up by his employer.
Despite what I have said, I am happy to add that the coverage of the top US cards is priceless and I hope they long continue.
They have the clout (as HBO have done in the States) to heaviliy influence the matches they broadcast but seem to stand aside and show whatever rubbish certain promoters (you can probably guess...) come up with.
How many times have we had to put up with "Good Bristish Boxer Who Holds A Crap World Title" Vs Who??? matches?
OK, we all know that boxers need not engage in real struggles in every fight, nor would we realistically repect them to, but I think this Big Fish, Small Pond mentality is wearing extremely thin. We know that boxing needs all the help it can get and this is not the way to attract new fans.
I can't help feeling Hatton is getting embarrassed when he steps into the ring against people that even hardcore boxing fans have never heard of when he is clearly ready and seemingly willing to go for the top 5 light-welterweights. He is at the stage now where Cotto has overtaken him after having half the number of fights because he has been taking on quality opposition now for some time.
Thank God for Ian Darke who frequently, rightly, criticises the matches he is commentating on that are served up by his employer.
Despite what I have said, I am happy to add that the coverage of the top US cards is priceless and I hope they long continue.
