Would it need to be financially geared? Promoters can submit potential card, and Sky choose who gets the gig. Would undoubtedly increase quality.
In an ideal world. Can you imagine the financial demands of the fighter's managers if a promoter's contract hinged on that tender? It just wouldn't work. The chain is strained enough as it is.
I agree with your complaints about the match ups etc and over the years it has been ****, but TV have a role in putting that right. But, they need a realistic strategy to do that. Tendering fights is Alice in Wonderland - it will never work. What promoter is going to put their balls on the table and hand a big contract to two or three Olympic stars on the back of a tendering scenario? Get real! What will happen is pittance offers will be made to the best fighters - who will get offered a lot more overseas.
It's either accept it, or don't earn. If you're good enough, the rewards will follow down the line. It can work, if it's done right. I don't really give a **** if the Olympians want to go overseas, they can take the money if they want. Taking the money hasn't helped any of the class of 2008, because they haven't been able to fight often enough to develop as pros, as a result. If they were given more realistic deals, it would leave more money in the pot to make better matches for them, and for everybody else, and people wouldn't want to see them beaten as much. DeGale and Gavin have both been guilty of banging on about ''I'm giving you more money'' or ''you can't afford me''. That breeds contempt :yep Exactly. If you want to make mismatches, do it on your own TV channel, or try and find a network abroad that will accept it. Shape up, or **** out. Nowt.
Sky are clearly going for the HBO/ Golden Boy business model. I actually think its a good idea. As long as they are more thoughtful about what they show. Those three fights after Bellew were pretty pointless even though I had an interest with Scott Cardle in action. Simply make decent main events and decent undercards.
Or have four promoters that rule the roost but wont match their fighters together. No, I will take the one big player if he makes the matches. I want to see the best domestic fighters facing each other before moving on to European or World level. With four promoters they are not risking that, they are going for the easier money and fastest route to a world title shot.
If there's a promoter that will do it, and the terms of his contract dictates that he does it.... it might be worth a try. Of course, we've seen promoters not wanting to make in house fights before. Maloney didn't want to make Price vs Dallas until both were at world level - that is, until Dallas ''beat'' Zack Page. Hennessy was keeping Barker away from Elcock unnecessarily, then in came Macklin to do the job and take the British title. There's loads of examples. If Hearn delivers fights like Brook vs Hatton routintely then great - but what they must do is make sure that fighters who aren't with them aren't left out in the cold, not getting title fights and whatnot.
I didn't see all the show on Friday but am I right in thinking they didn't show the Hamilton-Watson fight? I'm biased because I know Darren but anyone could see this was a competitive fight and more interesting viewing than prospect-journeyman **** they showed after Bellew.
No they didn't show it, even Boxnation probably wouldn't have shown Johnny Greaves and whoever the other 3-40 guys they put prospects in with. The only thing worth seeing was one nice KO, the rest was pointless.
Its like they don't even think what to show. Just whatever fits in the time. There is no thought or strategy. They need to create a relationship. I know exactly how i'd do it.....
how could they form this relationship, and can it be done? boxing is a total shambles (worldwide?), its actully incredibly frusating being a boxing fan, and i can see exactly why causal sports fans dont eve try follow it.
Sky could do worse than look at Friday night Shobox. Time and time again they put on a great show. Lots of prospects facing each other or being gutchecked. They don't pour big money into it but it delivers. Last Fridays show opener was brought to DiBella Entertainment, Gary Shaw Promotions, Top Rank and Showtime. This is how it should be done. All the guys share the pie and they are willing to put their guys in risky fights. Win some, lose some but the promoters know as long as they keep Showtimes quality control happy, they'll keep getting their fighters on the show.