interesting letter to the editor in the current issue (Tom Brady on cover), written by Russ Thompson (CEO of HBO Sports). he calls the magazine out for wondering if Kelly Pavlik will "save boxing," asking why the magazine talks about "saving boxing" anytime they decide to actually cover the sport. he talks about the healthy state of boxing based on HBO figures for the Pavlik/Taylor fight and Mayweather/Oscar, and says that SI doesnt take care of the boxing customer (which exists), but HBO does. good stuff. i really dont get why ESPN, SI, and mainstream sports media marginalize boxing so much. im not saying it should get the same amount of coverage as the NFL or NBA, but surely more than Arena Football or even something like tennnis! Why, for example, wouldnt the dramatic, exciting Pavlik/Taylor fight have warranted a full article in SI? They could do the sports fan/readers not familiar with him a favor by introducing a young, exciting fighter. i dont get it. probably has something to do with $$$, I'm sure, maybe even moving up the ladder to Time Warner (which owns SI)
The numbers for Barrera-Pacquiao were also healthy. Did he say what the numbers for Taylor/Pavlik were?
I found it out: http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/10/chart_national_sports_ratings_2.php So it got a nielsen rating of 1.3 About 1/8 the viewers as big NFL games these days. I can't put that into perspective since I don't know the Nielsen ratings for other HBO boxing matches.
i think this is a lame attempt from HBO crying about not getting there free publicity for boxing like the other sports do with Sports Illustrated. Why doesn't HBO come out with thier own magazine then and give it all the boxing press it wants? HBO has to realize that boxing does not grab the attention of everyone. It has and always will be, for the most part, an underground sport. And honestly, I could care less if it stays that way or not. I'll be paying for ticketes to fights no matter what. If the major networks arent showing fights anymore, its only because ESPN does. and they do a fine job at it especially now with the Contender series.
I will say this, Boxing is alive and well, maybe not in the american mainstream...to many Moms want their babys to be soccer players attitude, which is the main reason it is not show regulary anymore in the Olympic Games...it has a nitch in the market with many fellows like us and the casual fan for the major fights mades up fopr a healthy fan base...hell we have more boxing on TV that we ever had!!!! Viva las Vegas for Keeping Boxing alive and well!!!
Soccer gets no ratings in the US, superfights like Oscar/Mayweather get amazing PPV sales. HBO puts together better matchups than showtime, the funny thing is showtimes main event matches seem to turn more compettitve and exciting for some reason.
