The sorry state of today's undercards

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Barber-ian, Nov 9, 2008.


  1. Barber-ian

    Barber-ian Active Member Full Member

    1,234
    1
    May 24, 2008
    Remember when a night of pay-per-view boxing included a roster of enticing fights that lead up to the big show? Today you're lucky if you can identify one or two of the fighters on the undercard.

    The reason for this, we all know, is that our declining sport's ever more vulturous promoters don't want to "waste" multiple title fights (or intriguing non-title bouts) on a single pay-per-view event. Why stack three or four compelling fights on a single card for $50 when you can get customers to shell out their hard earned green for three or four separate cards?

    Doesn't seem right, but that's basically how HBO vice president Mark Taffett, who presides over the network's pay-per-view wing, sees it. This is from an article by George Kimball:

    Taffett told Kimball that "HBO's extensive research indicated that while viewers might express their displeasure over a less-than-compelling undercard, the dramatis personae of the supporting acts is a negligible factor when viewers decide to buy or not to buy a PPV telecast."

    "In the end, people who wanted to see Calzaghe-Jones were going to buy the fight no matter who was fighting on the undercard," he said. "And our figures show that viewers who are inclined not to buy a pay-per-view fight aren't going to change their minds based on the undercard, regardless of who is on it."

    In other words, it comes down to $$. If market research figures we'll unhappily shell out green to watch a boring night of prelims, then that's what they'll give us. Cynical, huh? No wonder nobody watches boxing except die-hard fans. Just sad that they're cannibalizing the few of us to still care.
     
  2. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

    61,460
    38
    Jan 7, 2005
    Its a shitter but the guy is probably right. Last nights undercard was pretty good though IMHO.
     
  3. sinosleep

    sinosleep GIRL=nicole whittaker Full Member

    2,398
    0
    Aug 17, 2004
    This is the primary reason that I have been ordering fewer and fewer ppvs, it's just not worth it to pay 40+ dollars for what amounts to a single fight instead of the fight "card" we are supposedly buying for that much money.

    If they want to play these silly ass games then they need to offer up the main event at a discounted rate, **** the undercards.
     
  4. adub215

    adub215 Active Member Full Member

    1,044
    0
    Oct 24, 2007
    i enjoyed the Emmunel Augustus fight didnt really pay attention to Judah fight
     
  5. Marnoff

    Marnoff Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    25,227
    27
    Feb 14, 2006
    Fully agreed. Augustus and Judah are excellent to have on an undercard. I had a lot of anticipation for this entire pay-per-view, not just the main event.
     
  6. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

    61,460
    38
    Jan 7, 2005
    The Salita fight was also pretty good. I know what the OP is saying, and I agree in general, but the undercard last night was pretty solid.
     
  7. ruskinhigh

    ruskinhigh New Member Full Member

    84
    0
    Oct 19, 2008
    the undercard was hella shitte'
     
  8. jimmie

    jimmie Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    16,706
    1
    Jul 19, 2004
    I thought the undercard was very boring none of the fights had any drama at all just sparring sessions basically.
     
  9. Jack Presscot

    Jack Presscot Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,489
    1
    Sep 23, 2005
    This is partly why I boycotted ysterday's fight. I am getting sick and tired of shelling out 50 dollars to make this Mark Toffet HBO Corporate Boy, and the rest of the Admin on HBOPPV rich end of the year bonuses. HBO doesnt give 2 ****s about the fans, they give 2 ****s about us calling our Local Cable Operators.
     
  10. JonOli

    JonOli Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    16,352
    2
    Nov 4, 2007
    They are progressively getting worse. So much money is lost in the main event now there is nothing left for the rest. Last nights under card was weak but pretty good compared to a lot of them nowadays - not that, that's saying much.
     
  11. doomeddisciple

    doomeddisciple Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,001
    8
    Jul 19, 2004
    Its always a mixed bag.

    There's been some bad ones, but the 90's was littered with Christy Martin and Butterbean cards, at least the fights that might suck a bit have more legitimacy...
     
  12. jimmie

    jimmie Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    16,706
    1
    Jul 19, 2004
    No doubt HBO goes out of its way to make us buy these PPVs.
     
  13. Cruiser1

    Cruiser1 Champion Emeritus Full Member

    4,622
    2
    Feb 23, 2005
    I remember the Lewis/Rahman II undercard. Now that was an undercard.

    You had:
    Braithewaite vs. Azille
    Joppy vs. Eastman
    Lyakhovich vs. Ahunanya

    and last but not least, Akinwande vs. McCall, a real treat for the fans.
     
  14. Jack Presscot

    Jack Presscot Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,489
    1
    Sep 23, 2005
    DKP baby.
     
  15. link2296

    link2296 Boxing Addict banned

    5,713
    1
    Apr 10, 2007
    It seems that the only promoter that actually tries to put together a decent undercard is Bob Arum. The other promoters are only interested in getting their "marquee" fighters the most money they can. If more promoters worked together on fight cards, the fight fans would begin to see much better pay-per-view fight cards. The few fight cards with Golden Boy and Top Rank working together is evidence of this.