Boxing Breakfast: Koncz Says HBO Is "Limited" For Pacquiao Fights

Michael Koncz Calls HBO "Limited" Compared to Showtime

The big story of the morning centers on Manny Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz, who was quoted by Lem Satterfield of BoxingScene.com:

BoxingScene.com: What are the chances of returning to HBO?

MK: To be honest with you, I think that HBO is limited because they're limited to their cable subscribers where Showtime has the advantage of using its parent company CBS on network television. But HBO, they're limited. I'm curious about that.

They're limited as to their relative exposure capabilities. We're talking about exposure, now. We're not talking about experience and expertise. I'm talking about exposure. And I think that Showtime has one of those key elements in crossing Manny over to the rock star status, and that's exposure.

With that exposure, then, you know, the money for the purse will follow. So the money is not the primary area of  concentration, but it's the exposure that is important.

The problems at HBO are very deep. We talked last night about Paul Williams' July 9 fight with Nobuhiro Ishida being disapproved by HBO, after initial approval by the network. The question now is whether the November 12 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will return to HBO -- their first two fights were with HBO -- or if Pacquiao will stay with Showtime. We've talked plenty this year about Showtime so aggressively pursuing the claim of being the No. 1 network in American boxing, and HBO falling behind. TV ratings are still close, but Showtime has far less subscribers, and far less money to spend. Showtime has just made better fights recently, and securing major stars like Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto has been a huge aid, too.

If Pacquiao vs Marquez III goes to Showtime, and Mayweather doesn't fight this year, HBO will be without a serious major event for all of 2011. Imagine that.

Anyway, let's just run to the Song of the Day.

Song of the Day