I?ve been hearing some light rumbling that Floyd Mayweather might leave HBO and join Showtime. The first reaction of hearing this news is to not believe it. Floyd Mayweather and his chief protectors Al Haymon and Richard Schaefer have very good relations with HBO.
But then I started to think about it. And maybe it?s possible. Anything is possible in boxing, right?
We know Mayweather is dead set on NOT fight Manny Pacquiao in the biggest Super Bowl event in the history of the sport. Why else would Floyd use almost a dozen different excuses and reasons to block the Manny Pacquiao fight from happening? HBO and Ken Hershmann cannot be overly thrilled with the fact that Mayweather is so firmly reluctant to trade blows with the Filippino sensation, after the network has been so vitally important in making Mayweather the major name he is today by giving him 24/7 exposure and predominantly favorable coverage over the years.
So if HBO and Hershman know Floyd and Haymon will not do business with Pacquiao and Arum, it?s entirely possible HBO could angrily shut their door on Mayweather, perhaps giving him an ultimatum that if Floyd doesn?t fight Pacquiao next, HBO will no longer support or promote or invest in Mayweather set up fights with the likes of Saul Alvarez, Paulie Malignaggi, Robert Guerrero or Erik Morales. The boxing public just isn?t interested to see ?fights? like that. And there?s no guarantee that HBO and Time Warner will make substantial profits on Mayweather versus anyone not named Pacquiao.
They say all good things come to an end and Mayweather and HBO could be at a crossroads. Mayweather said earlier this year he wants six more fights against not strong competition. HBO has played along with Mayweather?s handpicking for years now, it would not be astute business for HBO, Home of Champions, to continue to be manipulated by Mayweather and Haymon for six more fights, if none of them involve Manny Pacquiao.
Mayweather likes to call his own shots. So what are his options if HBO refuses to be a part of his next six fights after he serves his 87-day prison sentence which starts next month? Well, Mayweather can part ways with HBO if he knows another network will embrace him with open arms. That network could be Showtime, especially since the new head of Showtime boxing is a former executive of Golden Boy named Steve Espinoza. Of course, it?s easy to imagine that Mayweather?s chief protectors Al Haymon and Richard Schaefer would be able to influence Espinoza into liking the idea of having the Mayweather brand, the grand finale of the Mayweather career as a partnership of Showtime. The possibilities and potential are exciting for a new network boss. Surely, Espinoza will see dollar signs in Mayweather. Surely Espinoza will like the idea of seeing Mayweather pals Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne and 50 Cent on his telecasts which could lead to future entertainment projects and or concerts.
It?s happened before ? that a major boxing star jumped from HBO to Showtime. Mike Tyson joined Showtime after his release from jail in March 1995 after a long, successful relationship with HBO. Of course it goes without say that Showtime?s multi-year association with Tyson boosted the network?s credibility and revenues immeasurably.
If Mayweather were to join Showtime, it?s not quite certain that the network would gain remotely as much as it did from working with Tyson and King. Mayweather is 35 now and clearly on the decline. Mayweather is not nearly the caliber of star that Tyson was when he was freed from jail. Tyson earned $25 million for beating Peter McNeely in 89 seconds ? his first fight after three years in jail.
It?s highly unlikely Mayweather is a big enough attraction to earn $25 million against a no-name like McNeely in his first fight after jail, probably this November. Not in this economy. But if the Money Team continues to package and market Mayweather creatively, as they have done over the years and as they did by linking him with Bieber and Wayne and 50 Cent, anything could be possible.
Except of course, the fight the world has been demanding for over two years?Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Which seems more impossible and improbable each month that goes by.
