Let's have a show of hands from all of those who expected non-stop high-end PPV-level showdowns from the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) series? Okay, all of those with your hands raised...you are retarded (or whatever politically correct word people use these days for "retarded.") Remember, the PBC project is about growing the fan base and bringing in new viewers, not about … [Read more...]
Chasing Haymon…and the Target Beyond the Target; Magno’s Monday Rant
Don't pretend you know anything more about Al Haymon's level of culpability than anyone else. With lawsuits seeking damages from both Golden Boy and Top Rank, Haymon faces charges of shady business tactics as well as widespread violations of the Muhammad Ali Act. But, again, don't pretend that you know anything regarding whether those allegations are actually true. The media … [Read more...]
Six Crucial Questions For Premier Boxing Champions; Magno’s Monday Rant
No matter what you hear via media speculation, nobody outside of Haymon Boxing and their direct business contacts knows the long-term strategy of the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) project. Could they be angling for an exclusive network deal? Maybe the goal is a dedicated 24-7 cable network with weekly high-end live fights. Maybe the naysayers and dedicated critics are right … [Read more...]
Cotto, The Ghost, and The Secret to Making It All Work; Magno’s Monday Rant
The real secret to boxing's rebirth as a semi-mainstream, semi-universally respected sport is not really such a secret. Think of it more like an inconvenient truth that most everyone with half a brain in the business prefers to gloss over in favor of sleight of hand and get rich quick schemes. The Premier Boxing Champions card on NBC touched on this key factor Saturday … [Read more...]
The Little Book of Big Boxing Lies; Magno’s Monday Rant
Lies are part of the boxing business. If one cares to pay attention, not a day goes by without a hearty helping of bullshit. From publicist spin to fake job offers from wannabe power brokers, I deal with lies just about every waking moment as a boxing writer. Somebody's always selling something or trying to hustle you or leech from you. The useful idiots in our business … [Read more...]