From time to time BoxingScene’s David P. Greisman and myself gchat one another. Sometimes we talk about boxing, even. Sometimes, I publish what we say. Besides the subjects in the headline, in this edition of “When Boxing Writers Talk” we discuss Epix, the CBS deal, Sergio Martinez, Bill Murray and more. (For visual purposes, hyperlinks to pictures have been translated to the pictures themselves. The conversation transpired Monday evening.)
David: My brother. I’m ready ? to imbibe massive amounts of caffeine and talk boxing ? whenever you are.
me: Are you talking… Four Loko?
David: I wish. But that stuff messes me up more than a Nonito Donaire left hook.
Bah gawd, that knockout.
me: Cool stuff, yo.
David: I wish Montiel had stayed down.
me: I know.
Or that the ref had ruled correctly.
David: But it’s legendary that he got up. And I still think this is Knockout of the Year consideration.
me: I honestly don’t think it’s as clean a KO of the Year candidate though, because of that. The “knockout” happened when the ref stepped in. There was nothing dramatic about that moment.
David: Okay, let me pose this question:
Say there’s a cleaner KO of the Year candidate, but the punch itself isn’t as HOLY BLEEP! to watch as Donaire-Montiel was.
Isn’t the HOLY BLEEP! factor what counts most?
me: if that was the case, then, outside of Martinez-Williams II, the KO of the Year runner-up in 2010 might have been Alexander-Urango. but you didn’t hear many people talking that one up.
David: To me, this is similar to the ending of Chavez-Taylor 1. It ended with a fighter on his feet, but it was still a helluva knockout, even if it was a technical knockout.
me: Did you see Montiel’s dented face?
David: I think dented faces are a more impressive accomplishment than their opposite ? the visually impressive hematomas we saw on Fernando Vargas or Hasim Rahman.
That… that’s a significant impression.
No pun intended.
me: I know that you are lying. Your headline this week was “Is Another Network for Boxing a Development of Epix Proportions?” You always intend puns.
David: What else could I have titled it? “Another ‘Network,’ But We’re Mad As Hell and Not Going To Take It Anymore” ?
What do you think about Vitali Klitschko vs. Odlanier Solis being aired on Epix?
me: I just don’t think it’s a coincidence that it ended up being a pun, dude.
I’m worried about the potential return of Lennox Lewis to the broadcasting booth.
David: You’re right about the puns. And you should give me due credit for the Network reference.
me: Credit given. I stand chastened.
David: How could anybody think bringing Lennox back would be a good idea?
me: There are so many better options.
Some guy off the street, for starters.
David: So, Rocky Lockridge.
I kid, I kid.
But beyond Lennox, is this a significant thing?
me: What’s Bill Murray doing?
He would be good for boxing.
David: I know that you’re big on paying for boxing when you can. Will you subscribe to Epix?
me: I can’t. It’s not available on DirecTV.
David: That could be a slight problem.
It’s not on Comcast either.
me: It’s going to be a problem for a lot of people.
And I’m not sure Klitschko-Solis is the kind of fight that gets boxing fans demanding the availability of Epix on their provider.
David: Amusingly, this is another case of a network making a fight more significant.
A la Showtime/CBS and Pacquiao-Mosley.
me: So, they’re probably going to have to step their game up. But they’re getting their foot in the pool, I suppose.
Let’s talk about all that.
Lately I wonder if I haven’t made too big a deal of that. Do you know anybody who’s ever started a sentence as follows: “I was watching CBS at 2 p.m. on Saturday, and…”?
Cuz that’s when most of those doc episodes air, I believe.
I think what usually airs on CBS then is commercials for Ginsu knives.
David: The first episode of Fight Camp 360 will be on April 2 at noon. That’s the day of the Final Four of the NCAA basketball tournament, but I’m pretty sure that’s hours beforehand.
me: No, that’s still a positive development.
David: Couldn’t they put it in the middle of the pre-game coverage, like Bill O’Reilly talking to President Obama on Super Bowl Sunday?
me: Being near the Final Four.
Yeah!
David: Episode 3 will also be on CBS, on April 30, a Saturday, at 8 p.m.
me: I’ll call Bob Arum and be like, “Bob, why can’t you be more like Bill O’Reilly?” He’ll love that.
David: That’s a combustible combination.
me: That would be a terrific interview.
They would just shout and shout and shout.
Remember Arum shouting down that guy at the Cotto-Foreman news conference? Sometimes Bob’s schtick is amusing.
David: Speaking of Cotto, he’s got his Mayorga fight coming up. And that’s on the same day as Martinez-Dzinziruk.
me: Anyway, given the hours those programs air… are we making too big a deal about the CBS deal? Are that many more non-boxing fans going to see it?
David: If any extra sales are made, that’s a positive deal.
me: That fight does nothing for me, man. I know it does for some people.
The “if” is bigger than I first thought, is all.
David: If you bring in 1,000 new boxing fans, that’s good in the long run.
It’s like attracting new customers. Every individual good experience counts.
me: HBO 24/7 is a proven commodity in that regard. I don’t know if a buncha 2 p.m. shows on a Saturday on CBS and one at 8 p.m. does better. I just don’t know.
David: I know that fight does nothing for you. But Cotto has more name value than Sergio Martinez. Do people tune in for a fight pitting a Sergio against a Sergiy?
You’re right about the CBS shows. I think it’s still a plus, the same way that Spike TV programming has benefitted the UFC.
me: If the price difference is $50, maybe not. But yeah — Cotto is a proven attraction. Sergio did good numbers for HBO his last time out. The gulf might not be so great.
Let’s see how well Cotto did last time he led off a PPV…
David: Pacquiao? Margarito? Those were strong pairings.
me: I mean where he was the clear A-side —
David: Zab Judah.
There was a Pacquiao on that undercard ? Bobby. And I mention Pacquiao again just to help drive Web traffic.
me: maybe that wouldn’t be fair either, though. I’m thinking Mayorga is closer to Jennings than Judah. maybe there’s no point of comparison.
Oh my God. I’m trying to kill that joke on my site. This will now be #4 in the past couple weeks. Thanks for ruining TQBR, DAVID.
What do YOU think, dude? Cotto-Mayorga vs. Sergio-Sergiy. Who wins?
In the ratings war.
David: Sergio-Sergiy. The minimal HBO audience is still much bigger than the independent pay-per-view crowd.
I don’t know if it’s the best fight for Sergio to grow his following after the Williams knockout. But I don’t know if ANY such fight exists.
me: I suspect you’re right.
Agreed.
David: Except for him facing Cotto himself. Or Mayweather. Or Pacquiao.
Donaire, meanwhile, has the future ahead of him.
me: Holy cow does he.
David: The 154- and 160-pound ranks have plenty of younger talent, but nobody who’s proven themselves at the top tiers. It’s sad, because Sergio Martinez deserves to show his talent off now that he’s finally gotten the recognition.
As for Donaire…
Will his promotional team put him in with the right matches, or will we have to wait?
me: That’s my worry.
David: If we still cant get Gamboa vs. Lopez, are we going to get Donaire vs. whomever?
me: I did read today that his contract is up with Top Rank in May. Maybe that’ll be leverage to get him to make Top Rank get him the fights he wants.
I like that Donaire wants the Ring belt at 118, too. And I think Moreno should be dumped from #2 the minute the winner of Mares-Agbeko emerges.
David: The positive news in this is that while Martinez has all the factors working against him, Donaire has everything working for him.
He’s in a packed division, with a promoter who can work with anyone but Golden Boy, which only promotes Abner Mares. And HBO is now putting the spotlight on a lower weight class.
Devon Alexander and Tim Bradley might have the guaranteed dates. But HBO actually got its money’s worth on a fight ? it’s made people excited about tuning in for Donaire’s next bout.
And since I’m trying to drive traffic to the site, you should post a picture of his wife.
me: We should just stop talking now and give the people what they want: Filipino cheesecake.
