This boxing world of ours, full of politics and sloppy promotion-as-news, wants a bull-load of gooey, salty reality shot into its ear hole– and I’m simply the toro to do it. So, step again and watch me wash away the boxing ignorance. This week, we have now feedback/questions concerning the odd split-event Beterbiev-Bivol/Shakur-Cordina present, Saudi boxing involvement, extra…
Shakur-Cordina, On PPV?
Hello Paul.
I needed to rub my eyes and clear my glasses once I noticed that Matchroom was planning on making Shakur Stevenson vs. Joe Cordina the principle occasion of a DAZN PPV that includes the remainder of the Beterbiev-Bivol undercard, with Beterbiev-Bivol airing on ESPN+. What are these individuals pondering? What sort of psychological faulty sucker would purchase that present with out the one battle (Beterbiev-Bivol) that may make it price shopping for? What a method to start the Matchroom-Stevenson alliance! My guess is that they don’t even do five-digit gross sales within the US. What say you?
– Jerry from Chicago.
Hey Jerry.
It’s spectacularly silly. I get that High Rank has the rights to Beterbiev fights, however I’d have assumed that Matchroom was brilliant sufficient to provide you with some kind of broadcast association the place they may not less than broadcast Beterbiev-Bivol as a part of their DAZN PPV present. There’s completely no approach Shakur-Cordina does properly on pay-per-view. This truly makes me wonder if Matchroom’s signing of Stevenson wasn’t funded by the Saudis, not less than partially. The primary battle of their 2-fight deal will likely be an excessive cash loss for Matchroom. No firm operating itself like an actual firm would voluntarily hemorrhage cash like this.
The split-event nonsense can be horrible for followers who need to see the complete occasion. They’re going to need to pay twice to see all the present. Nevertheless, I’ll concede that it is likely to be good for individuals who simply need to see the principle occasion and never all of the filler beneath it.
After The Gravy Prepare…And A Thanks
As a Boxing fan for over 50 years, I’ve seen a number of issues come and go.
Sadly, the game is now at a possible low ebb.
Regardless of Saudi deep pockets giving us some matches we have now needed to see, I’m wondering what number of media firms will proceed to speculate cash in a sport with a dwindling fan base and former champions, social media content material creators, superstar hacks and con males promoting PPV exhibitions as Boxing.
Your article in the present day on the doable finish of the Saudi gravy prepare is stellar and should studying for any severe fan. It is going to be fascinating to see which different writers choose up on the concepts in your story and make them their very own.
Thanks.
Please hold doing what you do.
– John
Hey John.
I actually respect your form phrases. If I generally is a bit indulgent for a second, there’s no actual reward in me making an attempt to talk the reality as I see it in a approach which will have some affect. Media colleagues don’t acknowledge my contributions and truly work to freeze me out of the discourse. Even those who like me and my work, won’t ever say so publicly. They ship me “attaboys” privately so their colleagues don’t see them doing it. There’s additionally no cash in doing what I do. All I’ve to go on is the faintest notion that my phrases are resonating someplace, which regularly crashes up with the fact that, in the event that they do resonate, they in all probability will likely be stolen by media individuals with greater platforms. This has been taking place to me for 17 years now. So, when readers write to me and let me know that I’m not less than a little bit bit good, properly, it feels good.
As for the Saudi stuff…
There are such a lot of the reason why this take care of the satan will likely be unhealthy for boxing in the long term.
One of many unmentioned risks in all of that is that the Saudis’ curiosity in just about all the pieces exterior of oil is unstable and determined by the whims of 1 man– Prince Mohammed bin Salman. We’ve seen large adjustments in Saudi funding technique and their view on enterprise with outsiders, simply over the previous couple of years. So, what occurs if we flip all the pieces over to them, allow them to bankroll a lot of the high-end exercise and name so most of the shots– after which they only cease? The place do we discover the funding after we’ve lower ourselves off from the true world (even additional)? How will we restart our enterprise mannequin once we abruptly have to start out working within the black once more? How will we construct stars after they’ve been sacrificed on the Saudis’ altar? The Saudis don’t have any actual dedication to this sport. Of their funding portfolio, boxing must be WAY down on the checklist. This Turki/Saudi stuff is only a knee-jerk cash seize with zero considered the long run.
Bought a query (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? The most effective of the very best will get included within the weekly mailbag section proper right here at FightHype. Ship your stuff right here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.
