Just watched Kugan's latest interview with Eddie Hearn and he says that a Jack v Degale unification in September would not to big numbers and would not be a PPV in the UK. So it looks like he's going to push for Callum Smith getting his chance first. I think it's ridiculous. Jack's not a big name but Degale is. He's a bigger name than Kell Brook in the UK IMO so why can't he top a PPV bill? Put Dillian Whyte v David Price for example on the undercard and Murray v Groves and I can see it doing well. Pretty pathetic that Hearn doesn't seem too interested in a big unification for Degale. Probably holds a grudge over the Haymon link up. It's not like Smith has any commercial value outside Liverpool, no casual fan knows who he is. They know who Degale is.
Degale isn't someone who gets huge PPV numbers, the groves fight was something like 50k wasn't it? He's right on Jack not being a big name but unless it's a really stacked card (on a par with rule Britannia) to the extent it probably loses money or makes little it's not worthwhile for hearn
That was a British title fight when he was still a novice in the pros. He's now a proven world champion and I'm sure he has a much greater presence amongst casual fans now. Remember when he was up on the big screen at the O2 card and the arena erupted in cheers?
This from the same pos who managed to make a ppv out Nathan Cleverly, vs Bellew after both fighters were coming back from the receiving end of maulings from Stevensona and Kovalev.
The groves fight was massively hyped up by sky, was a huge huge flop. As for having more presence becuase he has a belt, belts mean ****** all (Khan is far more known than brook, McDonnell, Haskins, fury etc), especially as he is approaching his third fight in a row outside the uk and as we saw with Khan on his return it doesnt reflect in terms of ticket sales if you are on at 4am uk time
I think we can say that DeGale/Jack will be in the US as Hearn won't have the money to bring Jack over or win the purse bids (as per normal). Hearn probably would like Smith to get the Jack fight first solely so he could put the unification on in this country (if Callum won) and on PPV. It's all about PPV now for Eddie however unknown the fighters are.
:good Yea I'll go with that Mayweather would surely beat Hearn in the bids. Wasn't Degale supposed to fight Jack when he was with Mick.
The Sky hype machine could make DeGale v Jack into a big PPV fight, with a good undercard in support of it. DeGale: - Olympic Gold Medalist, from Beijing, not gifted his medal like some medal winners from 2012. - British title in his 9th fight, stopping Paul Smith, who some deluded fans claim to be world level. - European title in his 12th fight, - Won a genuine world title in the US, beating a very credible opponent who had operated at World Level, was an Olympic bronze medalist, a Southpaw and a tricky night's work for anyone (ask Carl Froch), - First defence in a rejuvenated Lucien Bute's hometown with a good performance (I had him winning 116-112). I think this is bitterness on Hearn's behalf, and nothing more. DeGale has done far more than Callum Smith, as an amateur and a pro, he's a bigger name and a better fighter. Badou has also proved himself of late, I was never hugely impressed but the Dirrell and Groves wins were both impressive.