RESTORE BOXING’S PROMINENCE: MAKE FIGHTS PEOPLE CARE ABOUT!
November 18th, 2009 By Pedro Fernandez
HOMETOWN FLAVOR LOST IN 2009 FIGHT WORLD
San Francisco, CA- A fortnight ago during a rant on “Ring Talk Worldwide,” the longest running fight show in history, 25 + years, I spoke of “fixing boxing.” One problem with the fight game is casinos! While they throw down a substantial chunk of coins for fights, they are, more often than not, hurting the fight game. If you want to boxing to mean “something,” than HBO has to stop buying fights that nobody gives a s*it about!
WHY HBO KEEPS WASTING THEIR BOXING MONEY?
That being said, let’s take a look at the Chad Dawson-Glen Johnson rematch that HBO (yawn) aired from Connecticut recently. The fight, a rematch necessitated by inadequate judging (what’s new?) that gave Dawson a decision win in a match where “Bad Chad” got his tail kicked by Johnson 19 months ago. In the rematch, the now 40-year old Johnson was simply outclassed by the still unbeaten Dawson.
IF NOBODY GIVES A “S*IT,” WHY SHOULD BOXING FANS?
When the HBO cameras showed up, there was no story to highlight here. So the producers found good eats and drink and settled in for one of the most uneventful boxing telecasts HBO has put forth in a while. Dawson fighting in New haven, CT, which is about 30 miles from his hometown of Hartford, is a non entity with the state’s sports fans. The fact that the arena was a sea of green seats makes that obviously clear.
COULDN’T DRAW WITH A PEN?
If Chad could draw with anything other than with a writing utensil, and have a following, there would be a story to tell. I think Dawson is of the “Mayweather” mindset, electing to go the “yawner’ route instead of a willingness to “gamble” on greatness. That’s why Floyd doesn’t deserve a fight with Manny Pacquiao, he’s done nothing but talk.
WHY HOLD A FIGHT WHEN IT DOESN’T MATTER?
Unbeaten at 27 years of age, Dawson is not a bad fighter. At the same time, he’s not a man that will ever have a following. To be blunt, he’s a not that exciting black guy that can’t draw fans or garner decent ratings for HBO. Why HBO would waste a World Championship Boxing date on Dawson is perplexing. If he can’t draw and people are not enamored with his style or persona, why should Chad Dawson even be on HBO in the first place?
MAKE FIGHTS “SOMEONE” CARES ABOUT!
HBO shouldn’t have made this fight a main event anywhere, especially in Connecticut. This was an undercard bout at best. Talk about a waste of time and money, HBO spent better than $2 million to put this show on. Seeing Dawson can’t draw, he should be forced to fight in another guy’s hometown, where somebody gives a s*it about the match. Stop gifting HBO dates to fighters that people couldn’t care less about, all because they’re with people that connected.
Pedro Fernandez
For all of the ‘King’ of boxings money, they only put about 3 compelling match-ups a year. What I mean by compelling is an even fight, and not a showcase.
I think the reason is, is that the men running HBO Boxing, are not Boxing people. They have advisors that help them pick fights and fighters. Its like everyone knows they are suits with bags full of money.
The MAJOR problem is that these advisors also have active interests in the fight game, with connections to managers, promoters and fighters themselves. Al Hayomn is an HBO Boxing advisor, but it is a conflict of interest if an advisor, is also an advisor to a fighter, ala Mayweather. The you have Golden Boy, who is an adivsor to HBO, about the ‘State of the Game’.
So what you have is despotisim in HBO Boxing Land. And lets say a fighter on the rise, is ready for a step up in competition, and money, he has to go through the ‘RIGHT’ channels to get put on HBO. If he doesnt he dont get put ON.
Its obvious from my perspective from watching Showtimes 360, is that u might not need boxing people running a boxing program, but u have to have someone competent ala Ken Hershman of Showtime. From the series 360 it appears the Hershman is not a boxing guy per say but he does know the industry. Hershman comes across as a guy that will not let boxing people push him around, or try to tell him something he knows is right for him and his program. Hershman challenges the fight managers and promoters to give him the best product they have, and not pass off junk with a jewel, like HBO does with its programing.
HBO needs someone like a Ken Hershman, to come in a DEMAND what he needs to run a boxing program, and not be sleeping with vested interest ‘advisors’.
Ypu don’t build a new house with old lumber.Start something new and different be creative wjth the sport and fans around the country will start to come out
I agree. Dawson/Johnson was horrible. Anyone who has followed Glen Johnson should know he likes to catch fighters off guard the first time. He never performs nearly as well in rematches. This fight should’ve been undercard to Pac/Cotto. Would’ve made much more sense (although the fight itself wouldn’t have been any better than any other of the stinkers that night leading up to the main event).
I also agree that Mayweather doesn’t deserve the big money fight with Pacquiao, but boxing does and so do the fans. Mayweather is talking crap (surprise!) that Manny is the only person from his camp who hasn’t come forward and said he wants to fight Mayweather because ”he doesn’t want to fight because he knows it’s a fight he can’t win.” Lay off the pipe, Floyd. Manny doesn’t need you. He’s already #1 P4P King. The only reason this fight will draw money is because there are LEGIONS of true fight fans that are salivating at the chance to finally see you step in there with a young, hungry, talented fighter and get your ass smashed. Other than that, no one cares about you. Get over yourself.
In FMJ’s mind no one deserves to fight him since no one can win. If that’s the case he should just leave now and never come back to boxing. Better for us if he is not seen and not heard.
Have you heard him on interviews, he’s a blabbering idiot just like his Dad and his ………. uncle.
Yuri vs Miguel, Miguel takes title and Manny/Miguel 11 at CW 149 lbs. Hire Ted Atlas/Emanuel Steward and a new great fight. Eight is not enough???
Showtime makes the good fights.
HBO just showcases their house fighters.
Nothing has changed.
JUAN DIAZ vs PAULIE MALIGNAGGI is a fight that never should have been broadcast on HBO and it’s unbelievable to me that they picked up the rematch for December 12th. The first fight was a borefest as both fighters fought with no sense of urgency and created no drama. I have a feeling it will be more of the same or even worse this time around. HBO, has to stop featuring guys with no punching power like Yuri Foreman and Paulie Malignaggi on their air cause all they do is pollute it!
Lou DiBella is the reason why Paulie Malignagi gets HBO fights. Paulie is like family to DiBella. If Paulie had punching power he’d have a huge Italian-American following like Arturo Gatti used to have.
In 2002, someone had enough brains to put Arturo Gatti into a ring with Micky Ward and stick it on a HBO headliner. One guy had five losses, the other 11 and neither were considered division elite… That fight was free for HBO subscribers and visually speaking, set the world on fire. It became one of boxing’s great trilogy’s.
In 1999 Oscar De La Hoya faced Felix Trinidad in a fight that was sold on PPV for $50 and comically called “The Fight of The Millennium”… Oscar and Felix were both undefeated and it showed as both guys showed WAYYYYY too much respect for each other all night long.
In short, the fight absolutely sucked and for good measure, boxing arguably screwed up the decision… Thankfully, there was no rematch.
Boxing match makers will never see the forrest through the trees and this is why boxing will die… It is ONE reason anyway.
Dawson’s a safety first boring fighter who thinks he’s a star. He’s not. Ask anyone in Connecticut. Or if you really want to find the truth, ask anyone on the main strip of your own city who is Chad Dawson? You’ll find the answer in their confused looks.