Part of an article on Fightnews: Bernd Bönte, Managing Director of Klitschko Management, added "This fight is of much more interest worldwide and the marketing for it is much easier, too, than it would have been with [Alexander] Povetkin." I really wish managers didn't say stupid **** like this. Maskaev and Ibragimov's managers were bloody awful for it as well. Povetkin hasn't magically disappeared, they've still got to sell that Wlad-Povetkin bout down the line (most likely anyway) and saying up-front that it's a bugger to market and drum up interest for is really not helping things. You can bet your bottom dollar that if things go as expected and Wlad-Povetkin happens, Bernd here will be there banging up about what a wonderful event it will be and how the world is watching Wlad-Povetkin...a promoter's words are regarded as hollow too often anyway, wish they didn't shoot themselves in the foot like this to try to score feeble points against an unavailable opponent.
I don't see how he can say this when HBO is considering not even showing the fight now because of the change of opponent.
HBO would never dream of blighting their telecasts with below-par opposition for their champion fighters, cough cough. Showtime have said they'll snap it right up if HBO drop it, of course.
It´s a manager´s job to hype up his fighter´s fights which will often mean them saying BS things. I believe to the common man, this fight may also actually seem more interesting, as they are more likely to know the name Rahman than Povetkin (at least west of the Atlantic), so maybe it´s not pure BS. Is it true HBO is considering not showing this fight? Link please if you have one.
I don't it is BS, but if he tries to hype up Wlad-Povetkin along the same lines then that'll be pure Arum-grade BS.
How can HBO say they might not cover it? that's absurd...the attraction is Wlad not who he's fighting no offense to either fighter but lets be honest if it were Povetkin Vs Rahman without wlad or his belts it probably wouldn't be covered on HBO or Showtime...if at all This fight is as interesting as the Povetkin fight because instead of ruining a good young fighter (AP) he'll be retiring a fighter who's been in with but hasn't beaten the best (HR)
Well considering they showed Wlad/Austin I don't see why they would not show this. Dan Rafael has an article on ESPN.com about the fight and said HBO might be pulling out.
HBO won't drop the fight. It's their date. Believe me Rahman is a better name to an American TV audience than Povetkin no matter how fargone Hasim is. At least now they have a top American name. From a business standpoint it keeps the money coming in and the Wlad Klitschko train rolling. No real threat from the opponent and another potential highlight reel KO to add.
