BoxRec

Ratings for HBO’s boxing doubleheader Saturday night seemingly were impacted by direct competition from premium-cable rival Showtime.

HBO’s main event, Sergey Kovalev-Igor Mikhalkin, attracted a peak audience of 674,000 and an average audience of 599,000, according to ratings revealed Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

The co-feature of HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” offering, Dmitry Bivol-Sullivan Barrera, drew a peak viewership of 570,000 and an average viewership of 512,000.

Poor figures in the context of typical premium cable viewership, especially considering HBO’s much larger customer base than Showtime’s.

However, the numbers themselves really aren’t that surprising in the context of Kovalev’s bout going head-to-head against the Wilder-Ortiz fight, especially considering the calibre of opponent Krusher was facing.

There is a counter argument though, boxing fans that subscribe to both Showtime and HBO, probably weren’t even tempted to watch Krusher’s bout in the first place. It’s highly-likely that they didn’t bother considering changing channels.

Almost no one that frequents this forum even commented on Kovalev’s bout either whilst it was being televised live or within an hour or so afterwards. Very few people seemed interested and this must surely compel Kathy Duva to ensure that Sergey’s next fights are against better opposition than the likes of the absolutely dire Mikhalkin & Shabranskyy.

If Kovalev engages in a third comeback bout against an opponent of similar ilk to those he faced in his previous two outings, he’ll start receiving criticism, because as Adonis Stevenson surely appreciates, fighters cannot permanently dine out on the fine victories they may have scored a couple of years earlier or more.

Kovalev vs. Shabbranskky averaged 869,000 viewers, peaking at 900,000 viewers.

Kovalev usually does around 1 million to be fair.. Prior to Ward, Kovalev was fighting good opponents. was averaging around 1.1 to 1.2 million..

It shows that Kovalev still has a good following, but his opponents would make a difference in his viewership's now.

vs. Ismayl Sillakh - averaged 1,250,000 on HBO
vs. Cedric Agnew - peaked 1,048,000 on HBO (average: 1,006,000)
vs. Blake Caparello - peaked 1,052,000 on HBO (average: 990,000)
vs. Bernard Hopkins - averaged 1,028,000 on HBO
vs. Jean Pascal I - averaged 1,152,000 on HBO
vs. Nadjib Mohammedi - averaged over 1 million on HBO
vs. Jean Pascas II - peaked 1,269,000 on HBO (average: 1,179,000)
vs. Isaac Chilemba - averaged 355,000 (Live afternoon showing)
vs. Ward I & II - HBO PPV
vs. Vyacheslav Shabranskyy - peaked 900,000 on HBO (average: 869,000)

Hopefully this means HBO is finished paying good money for the right to televise Kovalev battering no-hopers.

I know they're on a reduced budget, but I wish that meant more cards like superfly with excellent but relatively obscure fighters, as opposed to established stars fighting in mismatches.

jujigatame wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 10:47 Hopefully this means HBO is finished paying good money for the right to televise Kovalev battering no-hopers.

I know they're on a reduced budget, but I wish that meant more cards like superfly with excellent but relatively obscure fighters, as opposed to established stars fighting in mismatches.

To be fair, it likely would have done better had it not been the same day as Wilder-Ortiz..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 10:55

jujigatame wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 10:47 Hopefully this means HBO is finished paying good money for the right to televise Kovalev battering no-hopers.

I know they're on a reduced budget, but I wish that meant more cards like superfly with excellent but relatively obscure fighters, as opposed to established stars fighting in mismatches.

To be fair, it likely would have done better had it not been the same day as Wilder-Ortiz..

Only person that figured it out. It's actually pretty good numbers since he got a lot taken away from Wilder/Ortiz happening. Kovalev is still a draw, and I really don't think a better opponent would've made a difference. HW fights that are big trump everything else, always.

Kovalev is a draw, but I have zero interest in watching him krush cans, and I hope these poor ratings are an indication that a decent chunk of the boxing public agrees with me.

They have no intention of matching Kovalev vs Bivol next so why is HBO paying for this garbage?

Kovalev looked a little sluggish.

marvelous marv wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 23:38 They have no intention of matching Kovalev vs Bivol next so why is HBO paying for this garbage?

do they not? bastards

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 06:56The co-feature of HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” offering, Dmitry Bivol-Sullivan Barrera, drew a peak viewership of 570,000 and an average viewership of 512,000.

That's more impressive than Kovalev-Michalkin because Bivol-Barrera actually went head-to-head with Wilder-Ortiz and Kovalev & his punching bag happened AFTER Wilder-Ortiz.

jamamb wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 23:57

marvelous marv wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 23:38 They have no intention of matching Kovalev vs Bivol next so why is HBO paying for this garbage?

do they not? bastards

No. Duva said Bivol needs more exposure. They both appear on the same card again in July and then later this year. But Duva said we won't see Kov-Biv this year.

is bivol with duva?

kov certainly needs a better opponent then last 2, although tbh i think there maybe arent many likely options. jack, adonis, browne, alvarez, beterbiev with haymon i think. barrera , who turned down kov already, just got ko'd.

i smell something not very good. like kov vs karo murat, dominic boesel, or maybe joe smith, who lost 9 of 10 rounds to barrera

honestly its hard to fight anyone that good unless your willing to work with al and he with you, he has most of the top lhws

maybe someone like alvarez is expendable enough to risk. or maybe edwin rodriguez, though al needs food for his better lhw fighters.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 11:38

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 10:55

jujigatame wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 10:47 Hopefully this means HBO is finished paying good money for the right to televise Kovalev battering no-hopers.

I know they're on a reduced budget, but I wish that meant more cards like superfly with excellent but relatively obscure fighters, as opposed to established stars fighting in mismatches.

To be fair, it likely would have done better had it not been the same day as Wilder-Ortiz..

Only person that figured it out. It's actually pretty good numbers since he got a lot taken away from Wilder/Ortiz happening. Kovalev is still a draw, and I really don't think a better opponent would've made a difference. HW fights that are big trump everything else, always.

I watched both fights live, since they weren't on at the same time, and I even submitted posts to this forum between rounds.

Americans that subscribe to Showtime and HBO could have watched both fights.

There are also far more subscribers to HBO than for Showtime.

So how does your theory pan out? Seriously,

hey eo mate, your very knowledgeable of whose with who and the constraints on matchmaking, any chance you could give a word or two on what the realistic opponents are for kov and bivol if there fighting 2 more times this year but not vs each other?

jamamb wrote: ↑08 Mar 2018, 04:15 is bivol with duva?

It was news to me as well.

February rankings for WBO.. March hasn't been updated yet.. but her is the top 15.

1 Marcus Browne USA
2 Anthony Yarde (WBO Europe)(Int-Cont) UK
3 Mike Lee USA
4 Igor Mikhalkin RUS
5 Eleider Alvarez COL
6 Dominic Boesel GER
7 Sean Monaghan USA
8 Karo Murat ARM
9 Manuel Ceballos (Latino) MEX
10 Damien Hooper (International) AUST
11 Robert Parzeczewski (WBO Youth) POL
12 Blake Caperello AUST
13 Joe Smith Jr. USA
14 Fanlong Meng (Oriental) CHN
15 Gasan Gasanov (Asia-Pacific) RUS
------------------------------------------------
You reckon they should offer Yarde a fight?

based on that im guessng lee . boesel. murat. and smth are good candidates too see some sergey action this year.

the only guys who would be really good opponents are alvarez and browne..both haymon guys though

yarde impresses me but hes way untested for that level and from sergeys perspectve dont beleve has much of a name in the us.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑08 Mar 2018, 04:33

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 11:38

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 10:55

To be fair, it likely would have done better had it not been the same day as Wilder-Ortiz..

Only person that figured it out. It's actually pretty good numbers since he got a lot taken away from Wilder/Ortiz happening. Kovalev is still a draw, and I really don't think a better opponent would've made a difference. HW fights that are big trump everything else, always.

I watched both fights live, since they weren't on at the same time, and I even submitted posts to this forum between rounds.

Americans that subscribe to Showtime and HBO could have watched both fights.

There are also far more subscribers to HBO than for Showtime.

So how does your theory pan out? Seriously,

I subscribe to both too. I only watched Showtimes' fight. I'd rather have slept early than had to skip to a fight mid-card. This is relevant since you're using one person to try and describe the entire viewing audience.

Already that kills your stupid theory.

Boxing fights that overlap always take audience away. It's a pretty damn simple concept that you don't seem to grasp.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑08 Mar 2018, 09:20

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑08 Mar 2018, 04:33

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑07 Mar 2018, 11:38

Only person that figured it out. It's actually pretty good numbers since he got a lot taken away from Wilder/Ortiz happening. Kovalev is still a draw, and I really don't think a better opponent would've made a difference. HW fights that are big trump everything else, always.

I watched both fights live, since they weren't on at the same time, and I even submitted posts to this forum between rounds.

Americans that subscribe to Showtime and HBO could have watched both fights.

There are also far more subscribers to HBO than for Showtime.

So how does your theory pan out? Seriously,

I subscribe to both too. I only watched Showtimes' fight. I'd rather have slept early than had to skip to a fight mid-card. This is relevant since you're using one person to try and describe the entire viewing audience.

Already that kills your stupid theory.

Boxing fights that overlap always take audience away. It's a pretty damn simple concept that you don't seem to grasp.

So you’re seriously suggesting that boxing fans would have refrained from watching the Kovalev-Mikhalkin main event on HBO, because they were unable to watch the Bivol-Barrera bout, due to it clashing with the Wilder-Ortiz fight televised by Showtime?

I watched both the Wilder-Ortiz and Kovalev-Mikhalkin bouts live. American’s that subscribe to Showtime & HBO could have done so also. From what I’ve read, HBO has almost 40% more subscribers than Showtime does.

I believe I was the only person from this forum that bothered to watch the Kovalev-Mikhalkin fight live… or at least I was the only one that commented on it around the same time it was aired.

You welcome to use as many derogatory words as you can to attempt to insult me, but it won’t detract from the fact that people were easily capable of watching both the Wilder-Ortiz and Kovalev-Mikhalkin bouts live.

Many chose not to, because they were far more interested in the Wilder-Ortiz post-fight interviews and analysis, than to watch the Krusher engage in a borderline mismatch against an opponent that most people weren’t familiar with, since the title challenger wasn’t considered world class by the WBO, ESPN, The RING etc.

Decent number if you considering level of oposition and Wilder - Ortiz fight the same night.