The **BOXING** thread (Vol 3)

[ACCYSTAN]

Barry let slip they won’t make an announcement until after the May 1st PPV

IMO it points towards they are going with DAZN as why wouldn’t you announce on Sky if you where planning for the future together.

Don’t be surprised if Sky go with MTK ; MTK have the right number of fighters, the shows would be cheaper and should still have plenty of British / European fights on the card.

[EddieSteadyGo]

ACCYSTAN said:

Barry let slip they won’t make an announcement until after the May 1st PPV

IMO it points towards they are going with DAZN as why wouldn’t you announce on Sky if you where planning for the future together.

Don’t be surprised if Sky go with MTK ; MTK have the right number of fighters, the shows would be cheaper and should still have plenty of British / European fights on the card.

Good points. MTK is a good call too for Sky. The only downside would be the reputational risk from being linked with Kinahan. Whilst Kinahan hasn't been actually prosecuted yet it seems only a matter of time.

[hyphen]

Would Hearn risk creating a large domestic competitor? Or risk Warren stepping in, once his BT deal expired.

UK is still one of the largest and lucrative boxing markets, and SKY promote the fights a lot.

I would be amazed if Eddie left SKY, unless SKY were not so keen on boxing anymore and bidding low.

But as said, I don't what DAZNs plans are.

[EddieSteadyGo]

hyphen said:

Would Hearn risk creating a large domestic competitor? Or risk Warren stepping in, once his BT deal expired.

UK is still one of the largest and lucrative boxing markets, and SKY promote the fights a lot.

I would be amazed if Eddie left SKY, unless SKY were not so keen on boxing anymore and bidding low.

But as said, I don't what DAZNs plans are.

DAZN plans = massive

SKY plans = modest (excluding PPVs)

Sky though seem *very* keen to retain Matchroom. If they could keep everything as it is now, I'm sure they would be happy.

If Hearn leaves, I think it is unlikely Sky would go for an "exclusive" promoter next time - I suspect they would be better playing different promoters off against each other, even though that will give them more headaches.

[hyphen]

EddieSteadyGo said:

DAZN plans = massive

SKY plans = modest (excluding PPVs) .

But Sky subscribers 10,000,000
DAZN uk subscribers 10



Will Dazn move to annual contracts? As people will just sign up for big fights and leave.

[EddieSteadyGo]

hyphen said:

DAZN uk subscribers 1012

You forget to add in ACCYSTAN and me

[Pugaris]

hyphen said:

But Sky subscribers 10,000,000
DAZN uk subscribers 10



Will Dazn move to annual contracts? As people will just sign up for big fights and leave.

Dazn offers a big discount on an annual sub here in Canada. It's also considerably more expensive ($20 a month so about £12) because we have all the Premier League, Champions League and boxing that's PPV on Sky for you. Think it's about $120 or $150 a year so big discount.

I'd imagine it'll be similar for you if they win the boxing.

edit: If they win the boxing expect Darts and Snooker to move to DAZN as well when contracts come up for renewal - they're on the platform here

[philv]

Just found out that Marvelous Marvin Hagar died last month.
Pissed off with my boyhood idols passing away.

Ali, Haglar....

So sad, only 66.

[ACCYSTAN]

Barry Hearn stands down from Matchroom, Barry didn’t want the decision for the boxing to leave Sky to be on his watch as he has worked with Sky on the darts for decades.

Barry’s decision today and the timing is the biggest clue matchroom is moving to DAZN.

Frank Warren is about to extend his BT contract.

MTK are rumoured to have ended their contract to stream their cards to ESPN+, this sets them up nicely for a move to sky.

[ThisInJapanese]

Ruiz looking in decent shape for his fight with Arreola on May 1st
https://www.boxingscene.com/photos-andy-ruiz-looki...

[hyphen]

Some interesting fights ahead for Ruiz, if puts on a decent performance.

[g4ry13]

ThisInJapanese said:

Ruiz looking in decent shape for his fight with Arreola on May 1st
https://www.boxingscene.com/photos-andy-ruiz-looki...

Sucking it in.

If he was actually in shape like other fighters i'm not sure he'd be a heavyweight.

[hyphen]

g4ry13 said:

Sucking it in.

If he was actually in shape like other fighters i'm not sure he'd be a heavyweight.

indeed he is, and so obviously.

[Lee Jones Jnr]

Andy Ruiz belongs at Cruiser, probably the old limit of 190lbs.
Obviously he will never have the discipline to drop and having been able to complete at heavy (where the money is) at a high level, why would he bother?

[Pugaris]

Lee Jones Jnr said:

Andy Ruiz belongs at Cruiser, probably the old limit of 190lbs.
Obviously he will never have the discipline to drop and having been able to complete at heavy (where the money is) at a high level, why would he bother?

A hypothetically in shape, lean Ruiz could probably even cut down to LHW. Genuinely impressive he's had the career he's had whilst being so out of shape and uncommitted to training.

[andburg]

hyphen said:

g4ry13 said:

Sucking it in.

If he was actually in shape like other fighters i'm not sure he'd be a heavyweight.

indeed he is, and so obviously.

If it were any more obvious he would be Kandy Ruiz Jr and her be using filters

[EddieSteadyGo]

Interesting news....Coppinger just reporting that "Eddie Hearn has struck a five-year deal that makes DAZN the exclusive broadcaster of Matchroom Boxing in UK"....

https://twitter.com/MikeCoppinger/status/138493223...

[BobsPigeon]

EddieSteadyGo said:

Interesting news....Coppinger just reporting that "Eddie Hearn has struck a five-year deal that makes DAZN the exclusive broadcaster of Matchroom Boxing in UK"....

https://twitter.com/MikeCoppinger/status/138493223...

I know boxing has always been and probably always will be a somewhat shady business but I thought the Ali act was written into the law of the sport and it precluded arrangements where promoter and manager cooperate to limit the opportunities of a fighter and that a fighters should not be limited to individual promotions or broadcast deals over their career?

Surely the tie between Matchroom as a promotional enterprise and its management of fighters (or very close relationship to them) and having sole broadcast rights over them is in breach of the sports rules. Eddie seems to be spending more and more time hanging around the UFC and Dana, I really hope it's not his plan to model that business because I think it would be a disaster for boxing.

[biggbn]

BobsPigeon said:

EddieSteadyGo said:

Interesting news....Coppinger just reporting that "Eddie Hearn has struck a five-year deal that makes DAZN the exclusive broadcaster of Matchroom Boxing in UK"....

https://twitter.com/MikeCoppinger/status/138493223...

I know boxing has always been and probably always will be a somewhat shady business but I thought the Ali act was written into the law of the sport and it precluded arrangements where promoter and manager cooperate to limit the opportunities of a fighter and that a fighters should not be limited to individual promotions or broadcast deals over their career?

Surely the tie between Matchroom as a promotional enterprise and its management of fighters (or very close relationship to them) and having sole broadcast rights over them is in breach of the sports rules. Eddie seems to be spending more and more time hanging around the UFC and Dana, I really hope it's not his plan to model that business because I think it would be a disaster for boxing.

What, well matched fighters fighting competitive fights regularly, a culture where the '0' is not protected and doesn't mean a fighters end when it inevitably goes, solid bills from prelims to the main event, a travelling show that attracts fans and builds interest around the world and one champ per weight class? Sounds dreadful

[EddieSteadyGo]

BobsPigeon said:

I know boxing has always been and probably always will be a somewhat shady business but I thought the Ali act was written into the law of the sport and it precluded arrangements where promoter and manager cooperate to limit the opportunities of a fighter and that a fighters should not be limited to individual promotions or broadcast deals over their career?

Surely the tie between Matchroom as a promotional enterprise and its management of fighters (or very close relationship to them) and having sole broadcast rights over them is in breach of the sports rules. Eddie seems to be spending more and more time hanging around the UFC and Dana, I really hope it's not his plan to model that business because I think it would be a disaster for boxing.

You are raising a thorny topic. Who holds the whip-hand - The fighter? The promoter? The broadcaster? And who makes the (big) money?

In reality, a very small number of fighters genuinely hold the whip-hand. Most though are fodder who get used (and abused). And when you look at the management accounts for Matchroom, they are doing just fine.

I suspect Hearn is looking very carefully at the UFC model when thinking about DAZN. They need to expand their number of shows and they need talent which doesn't cost much. So I think we can expect lots of new signings from Eastern Europe, and South America - kids who are happy to work cheaply and are happy just for the exposure.

Then they can rotate them around the different countries, telling them who and when to fight, and make it like a mini Hunger Games

Edited to correct typo

Edited by EddieSteadyGo on Wednesday 21st April 21:24