It’s Thursday, that wonderful time of the week when I pull out my bulging sack for a bit of fresh air. And, while it’s out, we might as well take a look at what we have.
The Next PPV Star
Hey Magno,
Simple question,
Who’s the next star to dethrone ppv records set by Money May?
I think the middleweight to super middleweight division is going to be the best for the next 3/4 years and can really see one of the Charlo brothers becoming that star.
Keep up the good work.
-- Simmie
Hey Simmie,
I don’t think anyone breaks Mayweather PPV records. Mainly because I think the PPV business model will soon die off or be altered beyond the point of recognition.
At some point, some boxing mind has to come along and realize that people don’t watch TV like 60 year-old men with 12 cable channels and no DVR or access to the internet.
We’re seeing diminishing returns across the board when it comes to boxing’s biggest stars and PPV sales, especially, are in the shitter for anyone not named Mayweather or Canelo.
I’m counting on someone stepping outside the box to figure out a better way to sell the sport to the masses. Either way—whether boxing adapts or continues to sink further into its niche—Mayweather’s records are safe, IMO.
On The Take?
why u act like Fighthype is any different than the other sites? A lot of people know that PBC has paid for hotels for Ben and other writers to cover their events. Even airfare a couple times but the hotels has happened on several occasions.
Us educated fans can see through the BS. Maybe you don't take these spiffs but best believe your web site sure does.
I know you won't post it becuz the truth hurts but it is true.
Some of your info is good so I won't dis you too much but some is way off base too man.
-- Virgil Demayo
Hey Virgil.
All I can account for is myself and my experiences. I’ve never taken any compromised money or any free swag from those I’m supposed to cover objectively.
For the sake of answering your email, though, I did get ahold of Ben Thompson, who told me that he pays his own way to fights and keeps every last receipt for tax purposes. I also reached out to a representative of Premier Boxing Champions who told me that, to the best of his knowledge, the Haymon company hasn’t paid for any FightHype travel or lodging.
I suppose I could dig deeper and explore the question further, but what would be the point? Even if FightHype writers and videographers got free airfare and a night at a Holiday Inn, it still wouldn’t be one-quarter as bad as what some of these other guys do—guys who are actually employed by the promoters they cover and just “happen” to blast that promoter’s competition whenever they get a chance.
It’s the double standard of the whole thing that I find disgusting. FightHype is always blasted for having an editorial slant, although there really isn’t all that much editorial content on the site anymore. Meanwhile, the other guys pass themselves off as legitimate reporters and scoop up more and more gigs because of their willingness to play the game, but are rarely held up to public scrutiny.
If the PBC wanted to fly me out to cover an event, I’d still rip on the guys I always rip on and praise the guys who deserve praise.
The idea is that they need press more than we need swag, so there’s no reason for us to sell ourselves out. But it doesn’t work like that in boxing. There’s a subsection of boxing writers who actually specialize in selling themselves out. And these are often the guys who are given the most access to the greatest audiences.
It’s hard for fans to tell who’s shilling and who’s slinging from the hip. But one sure way to know is to see who is actually earning all of their income from those with horses in the race.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Sorry, Virgil, but I'm gonna have to call bullshit on your claim. You're either lying or just poorly misinformed. PBC has NEVER EVER paid me, Ben Thompson, or anyone from FightHype, for hotel or airfare to any event or function. I think you have me confused with someone like Marcos Villegas or Jake Donovan, who actually did work for PBC and received quite a few checks from them at one time for their services. I, however, have never worked for or recieved money from any promotional company in the 20 years I've been covering boxing. Truth be told, unlike A LOT of other "reporters" and media outlets in this sport, we have NEVER received ANY type of help or support, financial or otherwise, from anyone in the boxing industry, including our peers. On the contrary, we've constantly had roadblocks put in our way, even by people you would think would be somewhat friendly to FightHype. But hey, that's another story for another time. Perhaps we'll discuss it more when we unveil FightHype LIVE! Anyway, if you DO have any evidence that myself or anyone else on Team FightHype has received this alleged compensation from PBC, please feel free to email me directly at editor@fighthype.com and I'll be sure to contact someone at their offices to get my money back!]
FightHype Rankings?
Hey what's up man, I'm a big fan of your work.
I think fighthype should put out a ranking system if not for individual weight classes a pound 4 pound list. I think it will help deserving fighters get acknowledged and not just HBO fighters. Just a suggestion. Good job and keep up the good work.
-- Fontae Quinn
Hey Fontae!
Awhile back I set out to create an actual, workable, self-sufficient, and purely objective ranking system. I used it for a bit on my old Boxing Tribune site and, if I say so myself, it worked pretty well in showing us actual rankings.
Unfortunately, no other boxing writers or sites would even touch something purely objective. They all want to slap their fingerprint over anything rankings-related. So, we won’t likely get an objective ranking system from any of the major sites or writers any time soon. Subjective rankings always boil down to being popularity contests and are, therefore, useless.
Also, rankings for all 17 divisions are damn hard work to maintain. But I’d love to revisit the idea if someone would be willing to do most of the grunt work. I think that truly objective, fully independent rankings would be beneficial to the sport and are much needed.
Down with the Old School
So you called out Scott/TheBadLeftHook on the vastly different 1.3m PPV GGG vs Ward evals? I remember those different accounts well.
The 'faux boxing media' know what they're doing. It's not so much preying on fan intelligence, it's playing to their prejudices. Golovkin is the 'it boy', Ward is the 'villain'. All these writers do is reinforce those prejudices.
One of my fave examples is Mayweather vs Ortiz. The big controversy surrounding that fight according to media accounts was Floyd's "blatant cheap shot" on Ortiz, NOT the blatant head-butt. As sure as the sun rises in the east: reverse the roles, Floyd head-butts Victor, gets KO'd going in for a third kiss and hug. 'Boxing media' would fall all over themselves quoting "protect yourself at all times", "he had it coming. Bravo Victor"!
As you point out, promoters control all elements of boxing. It's comical to read certain 'media' like Rafael and Fischer claiming fighter X needs a promoter. It's uplifting to see guys like Spence, MikeyG, others declining to join promoters. It's been obvious for years how promoters operate, keeping event accounting/financials a secret from fighters. It was never more clear when it was revealed Don King charged Mike Tyson $50k for towels and gave his wife a $150k consulting fee for Tyson fights. I've always thought the promoter model was to inflate event expenses and under state revenues, then pocket the difference. My hunch was validated in one of the lawsuits GBP filed vs Top Rank when GB was owed a share of Pacquiao event profits. Inflated exps/under reported revenue was the claim.
The sad irony. I bet Pacquiao had NO idea how much revenue his fights generated or how much Arum actually paid him. What was obvious, Pacquiao's adviser Koncz worked for Arum. It was the perfect con, unless Manny ever sues for an accounting. One thing is absolutely certain, you'll NEVER read or see any reporting on promoter transgressions, EVER!
I hope more fighters continue to step out on their own. Break the cycle of 'old school' promoter shenanigans.
-- Tony
Hey Tony,
I didn’t mean to pick on one guy, specifically, because Scott Christ is FAR from the worst when it comes to bias. But even as a fairly reasonable, honest guy, it’s clear that bias is at play. Now, multiply that bias times 1,000 when dealing with the true scumbags…
As for the promoters-- I’ve long felt that the key to cleaning up the sport (almost overnight) would be to limit the promoter’s powers and/or flat-out prohibit a promoter from signing exclusive deals with any specific fighter. A promoter would then be invested in making his money from making events, not from riding any particular fighter, as if he were a second manager. Something like that, I imagine, would send a lot of promoters out of the business. But the ones who stay would be those willing to actually promote and not those looking to hustle their way to some easy scores.
Hey Paul,
You bring a philosophical edge to fighthype, very interesting.
HBO just needs to swallow their pride and compete with Showtime for the Mayweather/McGregor rematch? Ha ha.
-- Robert Jackson
Hey Robert.
Thanks.
Man, they need SOMETHING. The score from a Mayweather-McGregor-sized event could fund an entire year of fights for them. Right now, we’re getting ESPN-level fights for premium prices and, as I pointed out in my piece on Wednesday, anyone with even the slightest bit of star potential, is being pushed behind a paywall. HBO needs to step up their game, big time, or just step OUT of the game.
Got a question (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? The best of the best gets included in the weekly mailbag segment right here at FightHype. Send your stuff here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.