Mick was still at C5 at the time wasn't he? To me it was clear why such an outfit was bought in Sky got burnt hard on Matchrooms exit and didnt want a company that could dictate to them replacing Eddie
That's what I was thinking too. Just wasn't sure on Sky's options at the time, that's why I asked for a memory jog.
They had a range of options. A broadcaster I was working with at the time told us Sky was likely getting out of boxing, but a faction managed to get Sky leadership stick with it. Could have gone with a multi promoter setup like back in the day. Could have lured Mick H away /waited his contract out. Could have given the opportunity to any of the established mid tier promoters. Certainly didn't have to immediately jump into signing a multi year, multi million exclusive contract with an outfit that had done two or three small hall untelevised events headed by a 25yr old. Very, very strange decision. Something very weird about it.
Not when you just simplify it and realise they wanted control and bought in a new outfit that would listen to orders ( proven with purse bid situations) Sky felt they got shafted by Eddie and wasn't going to be put in such a position again You've also got to consider how other boxing promoters come across to TV executives Say what you want about Shalom but I bet his presentation would have been more impressive that any mid level promoter Final product might not be better but I bet they sold it far better