I've looked at various reports on this supposed "huge", "record-breaking" deal that will give Showtime the rights to broadcast Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s fights in the next 30 months, which is advertised as up to six fights, but in all reality will be two or at the most three.
The timing of the deal doesn't make sense. Floyd is in his mid-thirties and showed he was vulnerable against Cotto, and is in the twilight of his great career. Fighting on much longer could put diminish his significance of others' who have tried to continue their careers longer then they should've, like Roy Jones, Evander Holyfield, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson.
So the question is, why now? Do you really think HBO wouldn't sign a deal that would make them money? Moving to Showtime is also a huge risk, his fights may lose buys as it becomes harder to follow his career. Additionally, HBO now cross-promotes with ESPN, just as good if not better as CBS' subsidiaries. Rest assured, Showtime probably got a bad deal.
Why aren't any numbers given in any reports? If it's "historic", and "record-breaking", what are the terms of the deal? Why can't anybody ask either Floyd, Ellerbe, HBO, or Showtime that question?
In any case, I think what's happened is that the welterweight division has seen its stars faded. The new 147 is in other divisions, like 175 and 154. And boxing needs a new star. I think HBO knows this, and rightfully passed on a deal that Showtime probably agreed to.
The timing of the deal doesn't make sense. Floyd is in his mid-thirties and showed he was vulnerable against Cotto, and is in the twilight of his great career. Fighting on much longer could put diminish his significance of others' who have tried to continue their careers longer then they should've, like Roy Jones, Evander Holyfield, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson.
So the question is, why now? Do you really think HBO wouldn't sign a deal that would make them money? Moving to Showtime is also a huge risk, his fights may lose buys as it becomes harder to follow his career. Additionally, HBO now cross-promotes with ESPN, just as good if not better as CBS' subsidiaries. Rest assured, Showtime probably got a bad deal.
Why aren't any numbers given in any reports? If it's "historic", and "record-breaking", what are the terms of the deal? Why can't anybody ask either Floyd, Ellerbe, HBO, or Showtime that question?
In any case, I think what's happened is that the welterweight division has seen its stars faded. The new 147 is in other divisions, like 175 and 154. And boxing needs a new star. I think HBO knows this, and rightfully passed on a deal that Showtime probably agreed to.
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