Network tv boxing?

[kennytomson]

wouldn't Boxing make more money if they put it on network TV? Couldn't it sell advertising just below that of a super bowl, say millions per 30 seconds? do that as well as unify the belts, boxing would challenge football as the number 1 sport.

[EWRMETS]

Re: Network tv boxing?

I think it would be cool to see a big time fight on network TV. I guess one of the problems is that at most, they would get 1 minute commercials between rounds. Another problem is a fight that would draw millions of people to watch it. After De La Hoya/Mayweahter, what fight can generate general interest right now?

[Rainey]

Re: Network tv boxing?

The Contender was on NBC...

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Network tv boxing?

Another problem is a fight that would draw millions of people to watch it. After De La Hoya/Mayweahter, what fight can generate general interest right now?

I think that's the main problem... When you watch boxing on HBO, they show the upcoming fights as coming attractions, and the next good fight is like two months away... When I watched the Mayweather/Hatton fight, the next thing shown that I was like, "Man, I need to see that one" was the rematch between Taylor and Pavlik... That's not till the middle of February. ESPN has boxing on every week, don't they? I don't watch it, but I'm sure it's either two tomato can has-beens or two unknowns.

[Money99]

Re: Network tv boxing?

wouldn't Boxing make more money if they put it on network TV? Couldn't it sell advertising just below that of a super bowl, say millions per 30 seconds? do that as well as unify the belts, boxing would challenge football as the number 1 sport.

I think so too. But obviously the crooks that run the league think otherwise.

What I think boxing should do is have a sweet 16 (or March Madness type showdown) every year or 2 years to unify the belts. You could have each weight division have it's own championship month.

That way, if you're going to put it on PPV, then at the very least you're seeing a number of great fights on one card as opposed to 1 good fight and then a bunch of tomato cans getting dusted beforehand.

[Money99]

Re: Network tv boxing?

I think that's the main problem... When you watch boxing on HBO, they show the upcoming fights as coming attractions, and the next good fight is like two months away... When I watched the Mayweather/Hatton fight, the next thing shown that I was like, "Man, I need to see that one" was the rematch between Taylor and Pavlik... That's not till the middle of February. ESPN has boxing on every week, don't they? I don't watch it, but I'm sure it's either two tomato can has-beens or two unknowns.

That's the problem. In boxing, a fighter can crack the top 10 by fighting nothing but bums. I never understood that. 99% of the bouts out there are unevenly matched. Very rarely do you see 2 guys going at it who are in their prime and want to fight the best.

[freezeframe]

Re: Network tv boxing?

when I was a kid in the 80s we had this! not anymore though.wysiwyg { background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%; background-color: #000000; background-image: none; color: #ffffff; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal } p { margin: 0px; }

[albsur2003]

Re: Network tv boxing?

The reason that boxing is not on the networks is simply because of advertising dollars. There simply isn't enough advertising money to fund a decent/mid-tier fight on the national networks like ABC, NBC, FOX, etc...because of the lack of commercial space so the networks and promoters aren't really that interested. And in the case of a megafight, there would be huge interest from networks and advertisers but again because of the lack of commercial space, promoters can only make so much and would make a lot more by putting those fights on PPV.

[michiganfanatic720]

Re: Network tv boxing?

The reason that boxing is not on the networks is simply because of advertising dollars. There simply isn't enough advertising money to fund a decent/mid-tier fight on the national networks like ABC, NBC, FOX, etc...because of the lack of commercial space so the networks and promoters aren't really that interested. And in the case of a megafight, there would be huge interest from networks and advertisers but again because of the lack of commercial space, promoters can only make so much and would make a lot more by putting those fights on PPV.

Exactly, its all about the money. You think Mayweather could of made $20 million on NETWORK TV? Nope, thats why it goes on PPV, it sucks but thats the way it will always be.

[pk500]

Re: Network tv boxing?

ESPN has boxing on every week, don't they? I don't watch it, but I'm sure it's either two tomato can has-beens or two unknowns.

"Friday Night Fights" is on every Friday on ESPN2 from January through September, with "Wednesday Night Fights" joining the lineup in May or June through the summer for two nights of boxing per week on The Deuce.

And ESPN2's cards have DAMN good fighters. Just last week, Edison Miranda and Jean Pascal -- two super middleweights in the top 10 in the world -- fought in separate bouts. Allan Green, the No. 7 super-middleweight in the world, fought in the season premiere two weeks ago.

Zab Judah, who lost to Miguel Cotto in a great fight last year, fought in the season finale of "Friday Night Fights" last September.

So if you're skipping ESPN2's weekly boxing cards because you think they're filled with tomato cans, you couldn't be more wrong. You're seeing guys who could be fighting for world title belts by next year, if not this year.

Plus there is no better, more informed and more honest announcer-analyst tandem in televised sports than ESPN2's Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas. Plus Brian Kenny is good in the studio, and the studio gets big-time fighters as live guests for interviews and commentary on the night's bouts, with a live hook-up ringside with Tessitore and Atlas from Bristol. Last year's live guests included Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Kelly Pavlik and more. Just last week, Wladimir Klitschko stopped by the ring to talk on air with Tessitore and Atlas.

You're really missing out if you enjoy boxing and skip ESPN2's weekly fights.

Take care,
PK

[michiganfanatic720]

Re: Network tv boxing?

"Friday Night Fights" is on every Friday on ESPN2 from January through September, with "Wednesday Night Fights" joining the lineup in May or June through the summer for two nights of boxing per week on The Deuce.

And ESPN2's cards have DAMN good fighters. Just last week, Edison Miranda and Jean Pascal -- two super middleweights in the top 10 in the world -- fought in separate bouts. Allan Green, the No. 7 super-middleweight in the world, fought in the season premiere two weeks ago.

Zab Judah, who lost to Miguel Cotto in a great fight last year, fought in the season finale of "Friday Night Fights" last September.

So if you're skipping ESPN2's weekly boxing cards because you think they're filled with tomato cans, you couldn't be more wrong. You're seeing guys who could be fighting for world title belts by next year, if not this year.

Plus there is no better, more informed and more honest announcer-analyst tandem in televised sports than ESPN2's Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas. Plus Brian Kenny is good in the studio, and the studio gets big-time fighters as live guests for interviews and commentary on the night's bouts, with a live hook-up ringside with Tessitore and Atlas from Bristol. Last year's live guests included Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Kelly Pavlik and more. Just last week, Wladimir Klitschko stopped by the ring to talk on air with Tessitore and Atlas.

You're really missing out if you enjoy boxing and skip ESPN2's weekly fights.

Take care,
PK

You know your stuff, and you are right. I wanted to say some of this stuff but I thought I would be typing forever because I could talk boxing all day!

[Scooter3]

Re: Network tv boxing?

CBS used to put on some good fights, I would like to see the networks bring back some fight cards...

Scooter...

[JayBee74]

Re: Network tv boxing?

Back in the day "ABC Wide World Of Sports" had some good fights on, the best one I can remember was afternoon bout between sluggers George Foreman and Ron Lyle. The first Ken Norton/Ali match and several Carlos Monzon championship bouts were on ABC WWS.

[Scooter3]

Re: Network tv boxing?

Back in the 70's I used to watch a weekly boxing program called "Boxing from the Forum" and "Boxing from the Olympic" both located in southern California...They featured lots of up and comers...

Scooter...

[Scooter3]

Re: Network tv boxing?

Back in the day "ABC Wide World Of Sports" had some good fights on, the best one I can remember was afternoon bout between sluggers George Foreman and Ron Lyle. The first Ken Norton/Ali match and several Carlos Monzon championship bouts were on ABC WWS.

Foreman and Lyle rock-em sock-em robots...sluggfest and a half! I'll never forget that fight...

Scooter...