Thoughts about Al Haymon and the PBC in 2018?
Posted: 23 Jan 2018, 08:21
Al Haymon isn’t a promoter; he’s a manager, an advisor and also the head honcho of the PBC, who works with a preferred set of promoters in the US who are responsible for the promotion of each event that is televised by Showtime or Fox.
From a historical perspective, he’s preferred that his fighters weren’t contracted to promoters, which may have led to multiple failed monopoly lawsuits being filed against him for alleged breaches of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act (i.e. Main Events, Top Rank and Golden Boy have all have filed lawsuits against Al Haymon, which were either dismissed in court or abandoned altogether).
I feel that the reason why he’s recently been allowing fighters, such as Amir Khan and Danny Jacobs sign with promoters like Matchroom, is to not only limit his own legal liability (reducing his involvement in lawsuits), but also reduce his own workload (since he’s clearly struggling to keep his absolutely massive roster of fighters active).
I do think that the sheer size of the PBC roster requires a huge team of personnel to promote and match-make his fighters (their website lists 160 of them, but may not include all boxers), which I feel is a burden that can be passed onto promoters who are ideally-suited to do this job.
It was inevitable that the PBC was going to evolve, since it’s a relatively new business venture that constantly has to look for ways to streamline and improve its day-to-day operation, such as implementing changes relating to:
• Allowing certain time-buy contracts with TV networks to expire
• Strategically televising events on a seasonal basis to avoid going head-to-head with bigger sporting events or during time periods where their target demographic are least likely to watch boxing (similar to the three month summer hiatus that Sky Sports viewers in the UK experience)
I think it’s inevitable that the PBC in 2018 will eventually find a TV network home (of sorts) and successfully negotiate a license fee for the right to continue televising their shows, which may directly or by proxy involve Dana White’s new UFC boxing venture.
Thoughts?
From a historical perspective, he’s preferred that his fighters weren’t contracted to promoters, which may have led to multiple failed monopoly lawsuits being filed against him for alleged breaches of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act (i.e. Main Events, Top Rank and Golden Boy have all have filed lawsuits against Al Haymon, which were either dismissed in court or abandoned altogether).
I feel that the reason why he’s recently been allowing fighters, such as Amir Khan and Danny Jacobs sign with promoters like Matchroom, is to not only limit his own legal liability (reducing his involvement in lawsuits), but also reduce his own workload (since he’s clearly struggling to keep his absolutely massive roster of fighters active).
I do think that the sheer size of the PBC roster requires a huge team of personnel to promote and match-make his fighters (their website lists 160 of them, but may not include all boxers), which I feel is a burden that can be passed onto promoters who are ideally-suited to do this job.
It was inevitable that the PBC was going to evolve, since it’s a relatively new business venture that constantly has to look for ways to streamline and improve its day-to-day operation, such as implementing changes relating to:
• Allowing certain time-buy contracts with TV networks to expire
• Strategically televising events on a seasonal basis to avoid going head-to-head with bigger sporting events or during time periods where their target demographic are least likely to watch boxing (similar to the three month summer hiatus that Sky Sports viewers in the UK experience)
I think it’s inevitable that the PBC in 2018 will eventually find a TV network home (of sorts) and successfully negotiate a license fee for the right to continue televising their shows, which may directly or by proxy involve Dana White’s new UFC boxing venture.
Thoughts?
