HBO set to start new monthly Boxing series on HBO2?

In Steve Kim's latest article (discussing Boxing on Epix), he mentions HBO has been discussing a new monthly series focusing on up and comers that would air on HBO2. The license fees would be in the $150,000 range. If I'm not mistaking that is nearly triple the amount Showtime generally shells out for Shobox . He also added that Ross Greenburg has apparently promised 9 of the first 12 dates to Golden Boy, Lou DiBella, and Gary Shaw which may already be a step in the wrong direction. If the series is going to work, HBO should be focused on putting on the most compelling match ups. Not commit to promising a promoter X amount of dates when that particular promoter may not be able to provide the best fight available at the time.

 

Nice!!

Would this be on Fridays like Shobox??

 

Great news!

 

I wish they would give foreigners who perform well a shot like pirog instead of just some american hypejob. But the more boxing the better.

 

Its always great news to get more boxing. 150,000 per show could deliver some really good fights. Thats a lot more than ShoBox and ESPN and they have no problem putting on good fights. I have a bad feeling HBO will waste this idea and deliver mostly showcase fights instead of simply putting on the best fight. Giving away three guaranteed dates to three different promoters isn't a good idea. HBO should give each date to whomever delivers the best fight, regardless of who the promoters are.

 

Promising young fighters against bums :yep

 

Thats why I'm not overly excited about this series. Giving guaranteed dates eliminates competition and allows promoters to put a good young fighter against an old fighter, smaller guys, or fighters with glossy records. Sadly, I don't trust HBO anymore to do the right thing with these cards.

 

more boxing, I love it

 

that's gonna be a whole lot of Canelo and Berto

do not want.

 

Explain.

 

Great news!

 

Depends on the match-ups they make. Promising promoter's dates is **** like Kim says - you want them to compete with each other to put on the best cards.

Is this going to be like HBO's version Shobox then? 150k is quite a bit more than Shobox or ESPN offer. We should get some good boxing from this.

 

I already touched on why in the last sentence of my original post.

 

But how's giving dates to promoters with many prospects is wrong? 150k is so low that Shaw Hi, Loud Lou and Richie Rich would actually have to do their job which is to PROMOTE the show to make it profitable. Don King doesn't really work anymore and Arum just flipped to HBO, so what's wrong with these promoters getting the dates?

 

I love the idea of showcasing promising young fighters, but like everyone else, I hate the idea of guaranteed dates for promoters. If HBO wants to do this right, they should forget favoring certain promoters and hire an independent talent scout.