DSP Boxing thread. Ding! Ding!

[pk500]

Al Haymon's deal to return good fights to NBC prime time, to be announced today, has much larger long-term ramifications for the health of boxing than an overdue Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

I still want to see a Pac-Money bout and will happily pay the expected $100 PPV price. But returning world-class fighters and bouts to network TV is HUGE for the return of boxing to a slice of the sports zeitgeist in America.

[greggsand]

One step closer

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/12 ... fight-want

A potential showdown seemingly took a step toward fruition Friday night when Mayweather said during a Showtime interview that he wants to fight Pacquiao next and wants it to be May 2, the Cinco de Mayo weekend that Mayweather has regularly fought on.

I have a better chance of growing a 12-inch c*ck and starring in porn in 2015 than this fight happening.

IT. WILL. NOT. HAPPEN.

Good luck with that c*ck growin'. I don't know jack about the boxing biz, but cash always wins. Esp with 2 aging boxers who will parlay this into a multi-fight deal - even if they're way past their prime or relevance (for say 'Money vs Paq 3' in 2018).

[pk500]

Gregg:

This much cash has been on the table almost annually for the last six years for both of these fighters, and both have turned away from this bout for whatever reason.

The impending end of both of their careers may raise the impetus. But Floyd Mayweather has more money than even he can spend, and protecting his "0" is far more important to him than any sum of dough.

I'll be stoked if this fight happens. I still don't believe it will, at least not in 2015.

The Haymon deal with NBC has a far greater chance of sewing the seeds for a boxing revival than this one night between Pacquiao and Mayweather. The casual boxing fan will be disappointed by this bout, as it has all the makings of a snoozer. Mayweather will run and pot shot for 36 minutes, trying to ease his way to a decision. He can win this bout without much trouble with that strategy; he probably will lose if he tries to engage regularly with Pacquiao, who has far heavier hands.

[Rodster]

Ding..ding..ding, we're making progress. Both fighters were at the Heat's game last night and talked during halftime. Then Mayweather met Pac-Man in his hotel suite and talked for an hour about the fight.

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/12 ... erms-fight

[pk500]

Ding..ding..ding, we're making progress. Both fighters were at the Heat's game last night and talked during halftime. Then Mayweather met Pac-Man in his hotel suite and talked for an hour about the fight.

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/12 ... erms-fight

Which doesn't mean jack-sh*t until Bob Arum yields. Mayweather refuses to work with Baghdad Bob, who represents Pacquiao.

It's all posturing, mainly by Mayweather. When the bout collapses, he can say he tried, even though his effort has been about as sincere as Marshawn Lynch reaching out to the press on Super Bowl Media Day.

[fsquid]

Al Haymon's deal to return good fights to NBC prime time, to be announced today, has much larger long-term ramifications for the health of boxing than an overdue Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

I still want to see a Pac-Money bout and will happily pay the expected $100 PPV price. But returning world-class fighters and bouts to network TV is HUGE for the return of boxing to a slice of the sports zeitgeist in America.

I agree with that. UFC's deal with FOX has helped that sport grow a ton using the same logic.

[pk500]

I agree with that. UFC's deal with FOX has helped that sport grow a ton using the same logic.

Yes and no. The ratings have plummeted faster than Michael Corleone's body in the lake for UFC on FOX compared to its first season:

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2015/01 ... ship-down/

But that's more reflective of the fad of UFC fading with the non-hardcore and Dana White's mismanagement of his monopoly.

The fair-weather fans and their methamphetamine, Mountain Dew, Affliction T-shirts and chinstrap beards have moved to another outlet for their affection.

White is learning not every fighter is marching in lockstep with his vision of underpayment and total control. White also is foisting just as many sh*t cards as promoters in boxing despite his claims during UFC's heyday that he was so much smarter and better than Arum, De La Hoya, Schaefer, Haymon and other boxing promoters.

Ironically, most think Haymon wants to move boxing toward a UFC-style monopoly. Difference is Haymon has a proven track record of success as a businessman in the music industry, with such megastars as Jay-Z. Haymon also has a proven track record of return on investment for investors. He also pays his fighters handsomely, often for not fighting, which is troublesome.

[Rodster]

Bob Arum: Deal close on megafight

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/12 ... ouple-days

The megafight that the boxing world has been clamoring for between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. should be finalized in "the next couple days," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told the New York Post.

The sides have been negotiating what will certainly be the richest fight in boxing history, but no deal has been struck yet. The two fighters met privately for more than an hour on Tuesday in Miami.

"Everybody is doing the right thing," Arum told the Post on Friday. "We're looking to complete the paperwork. Everything is moving in the right direction. Hopefully, the next couple of days it will get done."

[pk500]

Told you this fight isn't happening:

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/3799 ... to-anybody

[greggsand]

Told you this fight isn't happening:

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/3799 ... to-anybody

I think it is about to change.

[pk500]

Told you this fight isn't happening:

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/3799 ... to-anybody

I think is it about to change.

Based on what information? Gut? Ouija board? A fistic mystic?

[greggsand]

I was reading this article last night claiming it was nearly done. I went back and read it again today and it was really nothing but conjecture. I think I'm officially 'burned out' on this story.

[pk500]

I was reading this article last night claiming it was nearly done. I went back and read it again today and it was really nothing but conjecture. I think I'm officially 'burned out' on this story.

As a boxing zealot, I hate to write this, but don't waste your time hoping this fight will happen in May. It won't.

[greggsand]

It's on.

[Rodster]

I was just about to post it.

[Rodster]

Let's all meet at PK's house

[pk500]

Holy sh*t. After nearly six years of failed promises, flying accusations and false starts, the Superfight is actually happening.

I'm happy to eat a steaming pile of crow tonight, washed down with my salivation over this bout. Sure, Mayweather-Pacquiao happening five years too late, as Money and Pacman are both past their respective primes. But: IT. IS. HAPPENING. Such a huge plus for my favorite sport and the greatest sport on Earth, as this fight returns boxing to the global sports conversation.

I give Mayweather a slight edge because of his defensive genius. But Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, already has studied hundreds of hours of Mayweather film, devising a fight plan for this bout. Roach wants to beat Mayweather perhaps more than Pacquiao, and he's a master ring tactician.

Should be a very interesting fight full of subtlety. Won't be a slugfest, sadly, as that would please the tire-kickers returning to boxing just for this bout. But it will be a dream matchup for boxing aficionados like me. I'm STOKED.

[pk500]

Let's all meet at PK's house

Ha! That would be epic. Sadly, I may be on the road that weekend for work.

[10spro]

Better late than never. I can see Manny dropping Money in the third but ultimately Floyd winning a contraversial unanimous decision setting up part deux.

[Rodster]

PK, is it odd that the Mayweather v Pacquiao fight took place so soon after they announced it? I would have thought they would have amped up the hype even more for an Aug or Sept fight.

[pk500]

Boxing is back on NBC primetime at 8:30 p.m. (ET) Saturday night for the first time in more than 30 years. First card of new Premier Boxing Champions, through which Al Haymon is trying to brand boxing like UFC and take control of the sport.

Two EXCELLENT fights to start PBC: Adrien Broner vs. John Molina at 140 and Keith Thurman vs. Robert Guerrero at 147. All of these guys are top-10 in the world in their respective weight classes.

Haymon also is supposedly sparing no expense in the TV production, with new features and angles. NBC TV team also is stacked, with Al Michaels as host, Marv Albert on play-by-play, Sugar Ray Leonard on color and Laila Ali on ring interviews.

I'm STOKED!

[pk500]

PK, is it odd that the Mayweather v Pacquiao fight took place so soon after they announced it? I would have thought they would have amped up the hype even more for an Aug or Sept fight.

No. This fight needs no more hype. It could take place next week and still be the biggest fight in boxing in two decades, at least.

Cinco de Mayo weekend is a huge weekend for boxing fans, especially Hispanic fans. So all the promoters involved wanted this date.

[Rodster]

Ding..ding..ding.. three more weeks for the fight of the century !

[pk500]

EXCELLENT Premier Boxing Champions card at 8:30 p.m. ET tonight on NBC. Two fights featuring world belt holders. Danny Garcia vs. Lamont Peterson and Irish Andy Lee vs. Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin.

Should be a fun night at the fights.

[Rodster]

Here you go PK: "Al Bernstein remembers being ringside for Hagler-Hearns"

http://www.cbssports.com/general/eye-on ... ler-hearns