2013 - The Year Sky Get Back Into PPV?

Well Rob, sorry USA-Rob, mentioned it but he is the biggest Matchroom nuthugger on these forums so I'm not surprised.

 

Bellew Dawson/ Froch Kessler wont work as PPV
The other two fights, definitely.

 

To be honest, I prefer it if there is PPV in boxing, why? we're more likely to see the big fights get made.

Anyone who isn't happy to shell out £15 to see Froch and Kessler go bang at it just isn't a boxing fan in my book.

That is a PPV worthy fight if i've ever seen one.

So is Haye-Vitali too to be fair.

What they need to do is monitor it closely, don't let fighters take the **** out of it and exploit boxing fans like has been done in the past.

Hatton did it, Haye did it, Khan tried to do it.

 

Froch/Kessler won't work? are you mad? of course it will.

Froch is at an all time high in terms of popularity, it's a rematch, the first fight was great, both guys are warrior and legitimately world class fighters, both guys have an iron chin and like to stand toe to toe, and it's a VERY tough fight to call.

It has literally everything you need, one of the most PPV worthy fights I could think of in boxing right now.

 

Bellew/Dawson is acceptable as a PPV fight, as long as it has a good undercard. The main event is a brilliant fight but the issue is that Dawson isn't too well known over here and Bellew hasn't established himself properly yet, so I think it'd have a hard time selling to casual fans. The best thing to do with Bellew, assuming he gets by Chilemba, is to have the Dawson fight at Goodison and that will generate massive publicity. If he wins a world title then, his profile will be big enough for PPV bouts, providing there are good opponents out there.

Bellew is in a tough spot though because the 175lb division lacks big names, so even if he becomes a world champion and a draw himself, it'll be hard to sell PPVs. Hopkins is the biggest name and beyond him, a Cleverly fight would sell but that is probably impossible. Cloud isn't a draw. Maybe Bute at 175 or something like that? Pascal, perhaps? There isn't a lot of star power there.

 

I agree to an extent and dont mind PPV at all providing the main fight is a good one and with a decent undercard.

But then who decides what is a worthy PPV?

 

St Eddie the mighty saviour will decide, he cares about the fans, that's why he gives us the joy of Prizefighter, he would never mug us of with shite PPVs.

 

We do when we decide whether to buy it or not.

 

It should be that simple but that doesn't stop people squealing like stuck pigs when a fight they don't like is PPV.

Haye-Harrison was PPV because Hearn/ Sky knew people would buy it and look at the criticism that attracted.

 

Its a great fight , would I be willing to pay to watch it, absolutely but I just dont think Froch has the crossover appeal necessary to make big numbers for Sky.

For it to work, it would need BIG fights on the undercard and given the amount both Froch/Kessler will be making, im not sure thats possible.

 

Is it the fight to relaunch PPV in this country though? I think it's borderline PPV buy for casuals unless Sky market it right. Will it be on German TV for free?

To explain my previous post Sky are bricking it that they have a situation like last time when they had people not able to see the fight because of ordering issues. It's not about the fighters it's about Sky's PR department- do they risk another PR disaster and run another unsuccessful PPV or do they play it safe and keep all the cards on Sky Sports?

 

Yer we're not allowed to say c.racker. Moronic Americans I assume. However it did make my christmas message look a little more sordid.

 

Even then, would a stacked undercard attract different buyers than the main event already would have? Boxing fans buying it and casual fans not, casual buys come from a main event, most don't give a **** about the undercard.

 

hmmm, back to square one and where Sky was prior to the new deal with Matchroom/Hearn.