Absolutely, positively, yes.
That’s the answer to the intriguing question of whether the just about to launch World Series of Boxing is going to make any impact on the sport in the United States.
While IMG, which holds 25 percent interest in WSB SA, a limited company duly registered Switzerland with the balance being owned by IOC-recognized world governing body, International Boxing Association (AIBA), is having real difficulty lining up a television partner, there is some breaking news on the sponsorship front for what is essentially a professional fight venture with amateur roots.
I’ve been curious as to why the WSB, which held a “boxer draft” in London in July, has franchises/teams in Miami, Los Angeles and Memphis when it originally sought to lift off in LA, Chicago and New York.
When you go over the list, Memphis, while a great place to get tasty ribs, comes across like Podunk.
(See hit taken by WSB in January when London pulls out before start.)
(Under their format, boxers will fight five three minute rounds sans headgear.)
Memphis particularly sticks out like a sore thumb in market size but the WSB crew may have shown a bit of genius in going to the Tennessee city (which has an NBA team but no other major league franchise).
I’ve been told by an insider that Memphis-based Federal Express is on the verge of inking a deal to become the top sponsor for the North America divsion of the WSB (Mexico City also has a franchise).
Now that’s impressive and don’t think top pro promoters Top Rank and Golden Boy won’t sit up and take notice.
Oscar de la Hoya’s company and Bob Arum’s outfit have or had sponsorship deals with some impressive sponors such as Southwest Airlines, Under Armour, AT&T, Tecate and (in years past) Budweiser in the beer category, but I think it’s a positive sign for the often beleaguered business if FedEx does come on board in a big way with the WSB.
As far as IMG’s failure to land a broadcadt platform, well in this battered economy how many companies want to take a leap of faith with a novel concept like the WSB?
I hope the TV situation gets fixed and is not a death knell for the WSB.
Under the WSB rules and regulations, the boxers are paid for their services but still retain eligibility for important amateur competitions inclduing the Olympic Games.
It’s been previously reported that the boxers are being given three year deals for a total of $400,000.
And why not when pro athletes from many sports compete in the Olympics already?
It’s past time that boxing joined that party although it won’t go so far that we see anybody named Klitschko, Pacquiao or Mayweathher fighting for gold, bronze or silver in upcoming Olympiads in London (2012) and the Rio de Janeiro (2016).
Here’s an explainer about the WSB:
“As the IOC-recognized world governing body for boxing, with 196 national federations, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has formed World Series of Boxing SA (WSB SA) a limited company registered in Switzerland. Owned 75% by AIBA, who have entered into a comprehensive commercial partnership with IMG, the world’s premier sports, entertainment and media company, and holder of the remaining 25% equity.
This partnership will combine AIBA’s expertise and authority in world boxing and sports management with IMG ‘s sports marketing expertise, global reach, and extensive media rights business knowledge in order to help ensure that the World Series of Boxing reaches devoted boxing fans around the world.
The company was established to own all of the commercial and other rights relating to WSB. WSB SA will have its own management structure that will oversee the development and global promotion of WSB as a whole, as well as managing the day-to-day relationships with the franchisees.
With its headquarters in Lausanne, WSB SA will seek to bring world-leading governance and commercial guidance and leadership to WSB and its family of stakeholders.”
