The Survival of Boxing: Promoter Lou DiBella Speaks

Exclusive interview by Marc Anthony

“I don’t blame Manny Pacquiao for not taking that fight. I don’t criticize him for not doing that fight. Simply, Sergio Martinez is bigger and better.” – Lou DiBella

MA: What’s a typical day like while promoting a big fight?
The typical day is, you spend ninety percent of your time on the phone and I would say ninety percent of your time is involved in discussing stuff that never happens. It’s a very time consuming business in the sense that you can’t really go 9-5 or 9-6 because you have people calling you from all over the world; you really can’t turn your cell phone off.
It’s very difficult to if you’re going to maintain a successful operation. It’s a lot of schmoozing with a lot of negotiating and right now it has become increasingly more difficult with certain promoters not doing business with other promoters.
It’s very difficult to make the big fights. A lot of times fans are frustrated but they don’t understand a lot of us promoters are frustrated because we can’t get big fights for our fighters. So it’s a frustrating business. One of the reasons that I am very happy that I am the Managing Partner/ President of the Flying Squirrels is that it gives me something else to focus on other than boxing. Because, right now being in the boxing industry is very frustrating. You’re trying to do your best to whip up public interest and create fans in an environment where the sport is fading and it’s been fading pretty consistently for over a decade. So it’s very frustrating particularly when you love the sport.


MA: Martinez-Williams – did 1.3 million viewers, do you view that number a great success?
Yes, I was very happy that it did a good rating and a big audience on HBO. Because I think that helps the sport. And also the sensational knockout, I think multiples of that 1.3 million saw the knockout on YouTube or by getting it sent to them virally by other sports fans. The knockout was something that was a water cooler conversation at businesses.
Anything that gets the general public discussing boxing…people were saying: “My God, did you see that knockout on HBO the other night?” That kind of buzz is great for the sport!


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The only promoter I like.

 

I wonder why.

 

Realized his limits? By smashing a guy in every single round who outweighed him by about 20 pounds? Yeah he's real limited.

 

27 Time World Series Champs. Most by any team in any sport. *****.

 

Pac is fighting at least 1 or 2 weight classes above his natural weight. And you want him to take on a natural middleweight?? Margo got smashed because he's a slow plodder, and he's not a middleweight. A guy like Martinez has way too much physical advantages over Pacquiao.

 

DiBella is awesome.

Yankees fans are butthole surfers.

 

Obviously I'd like to see the fight. I think it can be entertaining between two of the best in the sport and who knows, maybe Pac could do it. However, I understand if he doesn't and how unlikely it is. My comment was to the other dickbag who was knocking DiBella saying there were no negotiations. And we all know why. But you wouldn't watch the fight? And you're basically saying that as long as Pac fights terrible bigger fighters it's ok, but not the talented ones.

 

I would rather see Mayweather V Martinez. That fight intrigues me more than Pac v Martinez

 

But that fraud won't take on DOMINANT guys at or one weight class above his natural weight class?

Do you realize there are a ton of good fights against guys on WINNING streaks at the weight classes he allegedly is "comfortable" at?

 

If Pacman did fight Martinez, just how many "experts" will say he was ONLY moving up in weight classes to avoid the ones he was ducking at the lower weights he is STILL the champion of,guy like Marquez and Mosely,and Mayweather.......


Id like to see a Martinez vs Margarito to get a better sense of who is the real deal,and who is not.

But a great hard fight is all I really want to see when all is said and done.:deal