Official 2017 Boxing Thread: 12/16 - Billy Joe Saunders vs. David Lemieux HBO

[Bobby Layne]

 
Well, the future of HBO boxing is secure in my view. We certainly are going to sustain our long term interest in boxing and make every effort to be seen as the network where the greatest fighters in the world appear.

If you look at my top 5 on TFG, or ESPN's top 10, or any other pound for pound list, the names on that list by and large are fighters on HBO. We focus on seeing those fighters on our network, without regard to whether they're American or Ukrainain, just that they're the best.

There are fewer fights right now on the network than has been the case in the past. Some of that has to do with the fact that the current cultural scene, a lot of fighters are eager to capitalize and make as much money as they can, and they lead themselves to believe that because they're big stars, they're PPV commodities. If a fighter and a promoter want to appear on PPV, it's difficult for us to dissuade them and so they have to learn the hard way. We've had instances where we've cooperated and done PPV shows and they made less money than if they'd taken the license fee, but we can't force them.

We still want to have the very best fighters in the world, but the other restriction is that the parent company, Time Warner, has had two very large financial situations with which to deal. A hostile takeover threat from Rupert Murdoch, which ultimately they fought off by strengthening the balance sheet and showing that we were secure. Following that came a different kind of offer from oAT&T which appears to be a sympathetic merger, and as we prepare for that, it makes sense not to do anything that upsets the apple cart and makes the balance sheet look different than before. The fewer risks we take, the better off we are for the moment but I expect that to clear up in the next year or so where we'll be more adventurous.

The overall image isn't going to change. We're devoted to being who we are.

From the Lampley AMA on r/boxing

 

[freakydestroyer]

I smell an upset. Rigondeaux isn't in the right frame of mind with the rumors of retirement and father time catching up. Fighting a bum per year doesn't help either. Moises Flores advantages are his size and strength. He's slow so he will need some Mayorga and Margarito style of fighting to win.

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[Bobby Layne]

I'm going with Kovalev by TKO in the 7th tonight.

 

[supreme3]

no way ward will let kov touch him tonight. its going to be all defense just like mayweather and maidana 2. ward by points  

 

[threeoneoh]

Excessive clinching and incessant back pedaling will be on the menu for a Ward UD in a snooze fest that will feature the snooze fest king, Rigo

 

[you go boy]

Don't compare ward to rigo. He actually engages and throws punches. Rigo is all defense and that's it. He's the definition of boring. He makes Mayweather fights look entertaining. Kinda hyped about the ward rematch though

 

[freakydestroyer]

Kovalev is going to walk away with crumbs because this fight is not selling.

 

[doublemesh96]

Kovalev is going to walk away with crumbs because this fight is not selling.

Idk what they expected. That was a stupid deal he signed.

 

[freakydestroyer]

It's a must win for Kovalev. If he loses this fight, then nobody has much incentive to fight him and he probably hasn't made much in boxing. His manager has him under some Pacquiao-Koncz type of deal.

 

[Baby Newport]

Hold up, kovalev really only getting paid by ppv revenue?? WHAT?! Ward skerry for that.

 

[Bobby Layne]

There's some rumors going around that RN is done after this fight, and Ward is going to jump ship to TR.

 

[snkrfollower]

Whose decision was it to put this thing on PPV, anyway? HBO? Ward's promoter?

 

[snkrfollower]

Listening to Roy trying to pronounce "Magomedov" is hilarious

 

[Mr.Guy]

lol I'm ready for the main event

 

[freakydestroyer]

Whose decision was it to put this thing on PPV, anyway? HBO? Ward's promoter?

They should've kept this non-PPV, but they got greedy I guess thinking this is some kind of main attraction fight. They may be P4P #1 and 2, but not big draws.

 

[Mr.Guy]

Come on Bivol knock this dude out so we can get to the main event faster.

 

[snkrfollower]

Come on Bivol knock this dude out so we can get to the main event faster.

Seriously. Agnew's landed 11 punches. 11.

 

[D StaXX]

Well that was a complete *** whooping.

 

[mr highness]

Bivol seems legit.

 

[snkrfollower]

Bivol seems legit.

Gets the winner of the main event, too. THAT will be a good fight, regardless of who wins later.

 

[mr highness]

WTF!????

He's really trying the cheap way out LOL

 

[snkrfollower]

Damn, that was waaaay late

 

[elpablo21]

Damn

 

[Mr.Guy]

Son is dead

 

[D StaXX]

Yoooooo