The $50,000,000 Super Middleweight Tournament: Showtime is not alone
by SC on Jul 6, 2009 7:02 AM EDT
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Honestly? This is the most exciting story in boxing this year. It really is.
More details are coming out about Showtime's jaw-dropping super middleweight tournament, and it all amps me up because it makes it seem more realistic. The American cable network isn't going to be alone in trying to finance or produce this monstrosity, which is estimated at a total cost of $50,000,000. Also on board are SKY Sports (UK), ARD (Germany) and Viasat (Denmark), among others.
The first fight of the tournament is tentatively scheduled to take place on October 10 in Germany, with Arthur Abraham meeting Jermain Taylor, who was specifically noted as a questionable pick by the camp of unbeaten 168-pound titlist Lucian Bute, universally considered one of the world's two best at 168 pounds. Bute is not part of the tournament, perhaps because a Canadian network couldn't pony up the money to get him involved as "their" representative. But that is utter speculation on my part.
Bute's team has their points, obviously. Lucian really should be there. There are other guys you can talk about who also aren't included -- Sakio Bika springs to mind immediately -- and then you can start questioning Taylor, who has lost three of four fights, and the Andres (Ward and Dirrell), who just don't have deep resumes. Rick Reeno of BoxingScene.com (which has been the home for news on this tournament) was told by two reliable sources that Bute was offered a chance to be in the tournament and declined. Bute's team says they were never given an offer, and that they plan to go ahead with a rematch against Librado Andrade. They also sound pissed that Jean Pascal, who just won a 175-pound title, wasn't invited, either.
The money is being mapped out. If the idea is good to go, there will be a press conference on July 13 at Madison Square Garden, with further press stops in London, Copenhagen and Berlin. The fact that their target press conference date is so close makes me quite hopeful.
Boy, if this gets done, this is a huge step for boxing promotion. A round robin tournament, scored by result (KO win is +3, decision win is +2, loss is 0, I'm assuming a draw would be +1 for each man), with legitimate, top fighters involved. There are a million things that could go wrong (and I won't be surprised if all of them happen), but right now I can't help but just get caught up in it.
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Pascal looked strong at 175 and had been having trouble making 168, so I don’t see how it would have been wise for him to commit to a 2 year run at 168 even if he was asked.
Bute’s omission is strange – but he’s already got a fight lined up with Andrade, and you have to assume Pavlik will be moving up to 168 soon, and that could be an appealing big money fight. Plus, Bute might be able to make more money fighting Pascal in Montreal next year than he’d make against anyone in the tournament. He’s still got plenty of options, and you never know – someone might drop out of the tournament after a bad loss, leaving an opening for him to step in.
by A.F. on Jul 6, 2009 7:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s one of the things to worry about. Like, if Abraham puts Taylor in the hurtbox, is Jermain really going to want to go out and fight again on a set date? That’d be four of five lost. Although I guess you can’t do anything but try to get back on the horse.
by SC on Jul 6, 2009 7:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Taylor in the worst way needs a signature win after losing the luster of his W’s vs Hopkins.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
by Zocalo on Jul 6, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jermain
This is a plum deal for Taylor. It lines him up multiple paydays at what appears to be the backside of his career. So win or lose, he’ll be getting elite fights and cashing in. And if we’re wrong, and he somehow has a comeback in him, this is the only way I can see him actually proving it. Seems win-win to me.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
by Matt Miller on Jul 6, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also… Taylor no matter what gets my respect for those two wins and now having the balls to go to Germany to face Abraham.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
by Zocalo on Jul 6, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah JT so far has shown some grapefruits. Fought Pavlik again right away after getting brutally stopped. Fought Lacy in a comeback, which, you know, Lacy isn’t all that good, but he’s better than a lot of rebound opponents. After haggling, fought Carl Froch. Now willing to fight King Arthur in Germany. Nothing to fault there.
by SC on Jul 7, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is the most exciting story in boxing this year. It really is.
If this comes off – and that’s a monumental ‘if’ at this stage – then for me, this is far bigger than anything that’s happened in boxing for a long time. Elite boxers fighting each other to prove they’re the best in a division, rather than endless protection, fruitless posturing, joke mandatories etc.
In an ideal world, this sort of tournament would be a regular occurrence, but in boxing they’re fraught with danger, even before you factor in the potential political and monetary barriers. If they even get half of this done though, it’s going to be pretty cool. It’ll be nice to see kessler and abraham finally face some real competition, for a start. We’d find out just how good they are…
by thirdslip on Jul 6, 2009 3:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Has Abraham...
ever fought anyone of the caliber of a Jermain Taylor before? I mean, Jermain sucked down the stretch against Froch and got beat twice by Kelly, but he still was an undisputed Middleweight Champ
by FunnyBigHat on Jul 6, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unknown, really
He’s definitely never faced someone as athletic as Taylor. Probably his best opponent is pre-Pavlik Miranda or Khoren Gevor, but Gevor’s pretty untested, and Miranda hasn’t been the same since facing Pavlik.
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by Brickhaus on Jul 6, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, the middleweight ranks have been pretty shallow recently. With or without the tournament, his step up is good for everybody (except maybe kelly pavlik), and you almost can’t fail to make a good fight at 168. Hopefully the next time he puts on a masterclass, it will actually mean something
by thirdslip on Jul 6, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
One thing for sure… Abraham has Ali’esque chin and that is something that can really negate some of the physical advantages that some other boxers might have vs him.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
by Zocalo on Jul 6, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great defense, too. One of the five or ten best defensive fighters in the sport today, IMO.
by SC on Jul 7, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like the idea of a tournament but the round robin style I think is gonna cause some problems.. However, it will be sweet if it all works out.
by ultimoshogun on Jul 6, 2009 3:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
brilliant idea
would be incredibly exciting if it all works out, like an inifinitely better version of the Contender…
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
by BrianBrock on Jul 6, 2009 4:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I can’t believe something like this is being actually discussed and is a realistic probability. I mean… lets put the context of how much it takes to get this done. HBO’s Boxing budget is around 60/65 million dollars and that includes the promos, countdowns, 24/7 and etc. I have to commend all the TV channels willing to work together to get this done. I actually think this is bigger than the Lewis/Tyson show that HBO/Showtime produced together. I also love that the boxers have the sack to say…. F it… I think I am the best… I know I can win this… so bring it on.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
by Zocalo on Jul 6, 2009 6:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
would be amazing if this can even partially take place
I wish there were more tournaments like this, though they don’t have to all be round robins. When a weight class has a lot of talent, put them together and dangle a huge cash bonus to the last one standing. Sadly it doesn’t happen enough. (I’m not saying anything new, I know)
Any word on how McCain’s attempts to clean the sport up are going?
by missmanners on Jul 6, 2009 7:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Id love for this to happen but i wont believe it till the first fighters walk out and even then i wont be suprised if it all fell through after few fights. Unless they can tie them in so they have to fight.
The round robin thing i dont think is the best way to go about it. Having more points for a KO could force fighters to look for it and not fight as they usualy would, or worse end up getting KOed them selfs trying to war it out.
"Good, so it can’t go any deeper." - Arturo Gatti after being told he was cut to the bone
by sigidy on Jul 6, 2009 9:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Big money will get them tied in
There isn’t the risk of 1 loss ending your career here. If you lose 1 fight but KO 2 other guys you’re probably gonna advance and that means each of these guys is getting 2 if not 3 big paydays. It sets a guy up for life even if he loses all 3 fights. I think its a brilliant way to get these guys to all fight each other.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Jul 6, 2009 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There isn’t the risk of 1 loss ending your career here. If you lose 1 fight but KO 2 other guys you’re probably gonna advance and that means each of these guys is getting 2 if not 3 big paydays.
It’s a damned roundabout way of going about it, but UFC has been doing this for years. Guys lose fights. They fight again. They win. People enjoy watching their fights. They become bigger stars. Boxing getting rid of this mentality that one loss makes a guy unattractive is good. They’ve been working on it. Shit Ricky Hatton lost to Floyd and wound up in the biggest fight in the world a year and a half later. JT keeps losing and I still want to keep seeing him fight, as frustrating as it can be. Rafael Marquez lost a couple fights, but they were pretty good fights. I’d like to see him fight some more!
by SC on Jul 7, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Indeed
This is one thing that boxing lost that MMA picked up on and has ran with. I hope boxing comes back to this. Joey Maxim had 21 losses when he fought Floyd Patterson and Maxim is still a legend in my eyes.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Jul 7, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I dont like how boxing puts so much on keeping that 0 but a bad loss can realy change a fighter mentaly, it could be cause of all the pressure about remaining unbeaten. We see it alot when they change thier style or lose heart
"Good, so it can’t go any deeper." - Arturo Gatti after being told he was cut to the bone
by sigidy on Jul 8, 2009 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah there are things you should legit question. Victor Ortiz recently, obviously. But losing a fight should not be the end — even for a guy like Ortiz if he decides to keep fighting. Maybe he learns. Maybe he doesn’t. Whatever.
by SC on Jul 8, 2009 2:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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