This was a very bad card and Calzaghe’s hasn’t proven to be a huge draw in the U.S. regardless of who he’s fighting.

I don’t really understand the rationale for having such a high expectation when the card is so bad. It makes me question whether HBO intended to put that card on, or were there more fight cancellations and back-outs than usual?

While I hate to see the cable tv cancellations of shows, spanish-language and WNF, I just couldn’t justify throwing down the cash for what I saw as a weak main-event and a horrible undercard. And, the feed was available online, intermittently.

HBO needs to stack up the fights better on these PPV cards. How? Andre Berto and Steve Forbes should’ve fought on this card, as should’ve somebody from the cream of the light middle division.

HBO cannot be surprised by these figures. Anybody know the prelims for the DLH-PacMan? They’ll get numbers on that card because of the main-event, but if the under-card is a bunch of perceived wash-ups and club fighters as opposed to prospects, the event may be another failure figure wise.

Here’s where I find the “economy” excuse to be a bad one, and one that promoters every where will use.

It’s historically proven that even doing harsh economic times, people will pay for entertainment. They’d rather take a short trip to the movies as a slightly cheap form of entertainment, but they might not go to a show, or take a vacation. Now, you’d think that if you could sit on your butt and order from your house, you wouldn’t have to waste any gas, and really, you have to take all of those things into account. But here’s where promoters everywhere (UFC, WWE, and boxing) will have to be smart. When you have to think more about money, you’re going to do less spending without thinking. Like you said, we saw what they were selling us and knew it wasn’t going to be something that was a serious must buy show. And they were selling it to us for $50.

Also, are people going to say the same thing about the economy when De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao does in the neighborhood of $1.2 – 1.5? No. But that is a serious no doubt about it buy show for a large amount of people. You have De La Hoya fans who will buy whatever he’s selling and this large Filipino demographic who are going to eat this up like candy. That’s what promoting is all about. There’s a need and you fill it. Reach the largest possible demographic.

You’re right on the money SC. it’s not necessarily the harsh economic climate as much as it’s about giving people what they will pay for. Or like Vince McMahon used to say, “I tell them what they want,” or something of that nature. When you fail to create new superstars like boxing (and WWE) has done, it’s not hard to see why the UFC continues to draw like they do. They’re making mistakes too, and they’re going to have to make some tough decisions because many of their superstars are in their mid 30s to 40s, but that’s why they immediately go with Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture. Don’t waste time when you can make a money fight immediately.

Roheblius, well I will aruge that even UFC is having a hardtime. Their event of the year UFC has not sold well and I believe are doing worse the last year.

I’m guessing that this UFC will at least do 800k in buys. To me, that’s not struggling. From a live event perspective, they have overpriced the market. If the ticket prices were a bit cheaper, they would’ve sold out the building easily.

But they seem to be understanding the market and are going to start dropping the prices according to Dana White.