Kalle, Nisse and the end of boxing on channel 5

I think Mick could certainly put on a decent main event, but he never really had the depth of a roster to put on consistently good cards. But in the days of Channel 5 and ITV4 15 years ago, he probably didn’t need to. You just didn’t get the six or seven hours of full televised shows like you get now. Good domestic title main event, area title fight and a prospect as support does the job for Channel 5.

His biggest problem was he just didn’t have the financial muscle or TV backing to compete once his fighters got to world level. Mentioned the mess he made with Froch previously, but Tyson Fury outgrew him, and he got himself in to all sorts of financial trouble with Hughie Fury that seemed to end his time as a promoter.

 

No but it's nostalgic to remember when boxing was simpler and not the social media circus it can be nowadays.

 

Similar issue happened more recently with Josh Kelly's appearances on channel 5. I thought the broadcaster did a decent job in building the fighter back up, but as soon as Kelly's career started to pick back up he moved on.

Cue the process starting all over again with Harlem Eubank, with due respect, a sizable downgrade. It seems like the finances just aren't there to follow a fighter beyond a certain point.

As someone who is relatively starved of live boxing I'd like Channel 5 to keep in the game, but clearly the economics need to be addressed.

I'm enjoying the VIP boxing events that are currently streaming on YouTube, maybe they could approach C5 and see if there's interest?

The level is to me secondary to seeing competitive contests
Maybe C5 could set the goal to following fighters in the challenge to get an area belt or the English? Accept that if they go further they likely jump ship, but at least lock them down sufficient to follow thd journey for a little while?

 

It's a pity ratings and advertising revenue are so important in TV promotions. C5 and now YouTube have given us some great nights although as was said above, the big events have spoiled us. When I started going to shows even the world title bouts would be supported by maybe an Area title fight, a couple of prospects and two or three reasonably-matched locals. I'd be delighted to see nights like that on TV.

 

Let's be honest, Harlem Eubank is to blame

 

Obviously C5 were minor players, but still this isn't good news. For an average casual fan, if you want to watch boxing where do you turn to? Boxing is gone from TNT, and on Sky Sports it is on life support; the two main sports subscription services are basically devoid of boxing. Yes there is DAZN, but in the grand scheme of things it is a relatively obscure streaming service that is also eye-wateringly expensive for what you get. Add to that pubs are much more likely to carry fights that are on Sky or TNT, and it seems the masses are being starved of boxing which will only negatively effect the sport in the long run.

 

I fear boxing is a victim of its own success to an extent. The PPV run from 2014 to 2020 which elevated everyone's expectations and then just as it was starting to self-correct again Saudi made it worse.

The correction is still to happen where shows are run at a certain affordable level outside of the absolute elite, and where the likes of Five can put up enough of a TV fee to stay in the mix. The Sauerland era there has been a joke but they probably haven't had much cash to work with.

 

Nobody made it worse but the consumer. If the consumer didn’t purchase all of these paywall events then there wouldn’t have been a market for it. Don’t blame Hearn or the Saudis. Blame your average Joe who actually pays for this stuff. I haven’t bought a pay-per-view since the late 1990s.

 

I think you're right and wrong at the same time. Consumers did buy them but it just created a market where certain fighters needed PPV to justify their asks, and idiots like Benn choosing to shout "PPV BABY" after a knockover win. I hoped the Eubank fights would be the peak of that era but it might still have a bit to wash out yet.

DAZN briefly did a favour trying to remove PPV and Netflix is doing it now at much bigger scale but there's little doubt boxers have higher expectations now that they barely justify.

 

If the consumer didn’t purchase, then boxers would soon realise that the kind of money they were demanding wasn’t on the table. They’d simply have to box for less or sit on the couch.

 

Ideal world scenario

It's never gonna happen though

It could however wake certain fighters up and they might realise they ain't PPV material

 

Channel 5, that's a shame.

Helped build Tyson Fury's profile his USA debut against Steve Cunningham.

Boxing is becoming all about PPV and simply it's been shifting that way for decades, terrestrial TV for anyone above European or domestic level holds little interest for the casual.

PPV be it app's, Sky or hit that red button for that bonanza fight you can't miss!