Haye vs Bellew – The Seven Stages of a Modern British Pay Per View Event

[Boxerbeetle]

Someone posted this link on Reddit boxing, thought it was too good not to share:

Haye vs Bellew – The Seven Stages of a Modern British Pay Per View Event

We’ve seen this story play out before..even if you think you haven’t.

Stage 1 — The Announcement

After weeks of speculation, banter and hype, the news suddenly hits the social media timelines, email inboxes and television channels. The shock and amazement amongst the circle of fans and fellow boxers is palpable. The betting lines are either too close for the liking of the hardcore fraternity or too wide for those in the camp of the underdog. Cries of shame and mismatch are drowned out by the hope of entertainment and the possibility of a monumental upset as both fighters vow to take the head off the other.

Stage 2 — The Head to Head

After the initial announcement hype appears to calm, the first press conferences are upon us. The tickets fly off the relevant websites in a matter of minutes, only to be seen on the secondary market for 15 times their original price. The fight poster is front and center, more than likely with a title more cliche than the wedding vows in a romantic novel. The press are out in full force with their laptops, pens and smartphones, secretly anticipating some sort of fracas. Eddie Hearn, dressed in a questionable three-piece, gets his mandated twenty minutes of microphone time. In the beginning, everything passes by without controversy, however the battle lines are drawn when the favorite makes a comment which triggers his opponent. Expletives are hurled like it’s a 90's hip-hop diss-track. The first face off gets a bit too heated but nothing really happens. Both camps disperse and more current affairs take precedence in the meantime.

Stage 3 — Camp Life

The underdog “locks themselves away” from close friends and family and zones into the monumental task at hand. It soon becomes the best camp of his life, giving their larger sparring partners all they can handle behind closed doors. Extra miles are ran and the heavy bag is pounded into dust for extra rounds, every day. Come rain, more rain or snow, that early run is a must, if there is no Instagram post with the headphones in and the woolly hat on, that run did not happen.
The favorite nonchalantly strolls into their camp. Its business as usual, just with more free time and more smiling for the camera. That extra pad session turns into a few more. When the Snapchat record button is on, the extra tennis-like grunt is in full effect to make every punch feel like a knockout blow. Don’t forget the heavy weight lifting session with the strength and conditioning coach, without your t-shirt, of course. It looks, feels and smells like an early night and that’s because it should be one.

Stage 4 — The Sway of Opinion

There is less than a month to go, the pre-fight package is being rolled out in full force. Accompanied with trendy music and visuals, the promo video has everyone hyped beyond belief. The small snippet of “The Gloves are Off” and “Behind the ropes” makes it’s way to your screens, you are hyped even more. The £16.95 price tag is revealed. Get your credit card out boys. This one is a can’t-miss.
Camps are drawing to a close. Every insider or paid columnist is giving their two cents on proceedings. The favorite's former short term amateur coach wonders if they are motivated or (shockingly enough) overlooking their inferior opponent. The stablemates of the underdog don’t have a doubt in their mind – their boy is going to shock the world. “Just you watch” they say. “Do you know that he’s been knocking out heavyweights in sparring?”
Fans are beginning to be swayed by the card and the main event. The under-card is set, featuring their favorite prospect in a huge step up against the Hungarian Light-Heavyweight champion. Maybe the main event isn’t a foregone conclusion? The favorite hasn’t faced anyone like the underdog ever. He hasn’t had a real fight in years. The size difference isn’t that big is it? He can do this you know!?

Stage 5 — Fight Week

It’s fight week and you can’t flick a TV channel without seeing the Box Office promo for the 1000th time. “To order please go online...”, casual and hardcore fans alike, chime in with opposing views. Depending on which side of the coin you are on , this is either yet another masterpiece by Eddie Hearn or just an complete and utter farce of a fight. To the dissenting members of the paying public, also known to him as “haters” Eddie Hearn spits his usual pre-PPV rhetoric: “If you don’t like it, don’t pay for it, pipe down!”
The two combatants come together for the final press events. Those backing the underdog have their arms out full stretch to clutch at any straws they can find. “He looks rattled, my guy has got him right where he wants him, he’s gonna shock everyone here just you watch!” “he’s drained mate, I heard he had a poor camp, he might be injured! Lump it all on the underdog boys!”
The presser is funny but unsavory. Something over the top is said, perhaps leading to a couple objects being thrown. The events go viral. The chief sportswriters, the daytime television and radio personalities all rush to their offices and studios to vent their outrage at the fight game. Comments about how both competitors set a bad example for those watching at home and how they should be ashamed at themselves and everyone who has paid for tickets or bought the Pay Per View. The Board summon the protagonists, the fight might be cancelled? Or not. Nothing to worry about here guys.
Both escape with a warning. Extra security is in force and they make it past the weigh in and public workouts without any incident of note. There may or may not be a fence to separate the two. Everyone needs to get paid. The fight is 24 hours away.

Stage 6 — Fight Night

The football is over, Arsenal have lost again and before we can mock them on the internet, it is time to switch on the fights.
The prelude goes according to the script. The well matched domestic dust-up works a treat – it’s funny what happens when you make an evenly matched fight. The 5th pint is downed quicker than your favorite prospects over-matched opponent. Before you become restless, “Sweet Caroline” is blasted out in the arena and the main event is just moments away. The atmosphere is fever pitch and fight looks and feels like the pick em battle for the ages that it is certainly not.
Once Buffer announces everyone, the time for talking is over and the first bell rings. It’s tentative, cagey and spine tingling. But before you know it the outcome which was predicted from the outset comes about in rather quick fashion.
Despite courageous but speculative flurries from the underdog, the favorite proves to be too much. However the underdog finds much victory in defeat. “A brave showing but he fell just a little short on the night” “If he had just started quicker then who knows what would have happened”, “Imagine if these two were actually in the same weight class? There wouldn’t be much to split them!”
Take your pick. The favorite moves on to the more significant tasks that lay ahead whilst the underdog is able to live off their moment in the sun for the next 12 months. Attention turns to the next event.

Stage 7 — What’s next?

Go back to Step 1.

https://sundaypuncher.com/haye-vs-belle ... .ql4ilqc5g

[punchoutsb]

Perfect

[handsofstone]

Superb

[DannyMCR]

You missed the step that comes before step one..

The announcement that there's an announcement imminent