What does everyone think of a return to champions taking more non-title tune up fights and holding them on free TV? Are there any over riding reasons for this not being feasible? What do you think the impact on big fight pay per views would be? Would people then resent paying for them and hold off for the next free TV fight, or would having major stars on free TV available to tens, hundreds of millions to see be a boon for their stardom, prestige of the sport. Essentially a form of marketing. Would viewing non-competetive matches actually be a turn off? Thoughts.
Can you imagine the uproar around these parts if a top fighter had the nerve to fight a lesser opponent with no title on the line?
I don't know if I agree. James Toney in his prime is a perfect example of why Hut*Hut's suggestion would be beneficial to the industry - or at the very least, to the fighters themselves. I hate that everytime a fighter like Giovani Segura has a relevant fight (Calderon I and II), it winds up as an independent PPV. However, I admire the fact that he doesn't hold out for big fights, and keeps busy on the Spanish network circuit (Fox Sports Espanol, Mexico Azteca, etc.) The uproar isn't when top fighters take on lesser opponents, but do so in a premium slot (HBO, Showtime, etc.) or a PPV price tag. Those are the very fights that should be reserved for free TV, or whatever minor-league options are available in the absence of free networks being involved. It's pathetic that the industry packaged it as a GIFT when Oscar fought Steve Forbes on HBO and not PPV. That's the type of fight that should come on a lesser network, as buildup towards a big fight. Showtime has the platform to do this and I don't think anyone would've minded if Pacquiao and Mosley fought a pair of cans on CBS as a prelude to their May 7 fight. Personally, I'd rather see that than the dull ass Fight Camp 360 entry on them that aired a couple of weeks ago.
Basically none as long as he was fighting a decent guy 10 weeks later. Im not saying replace real fights with 'advertising' bouts, Im saying fight more often and add these tune ups in.
I also think boxers would get much better as a side effect, but let's leave that discussion to the side....
I like the idea but doubt most fighters would be for it. Most of them would prefer to hold out for only the biggest possible paydays.
The last time I can recall seeing one was when then bantamweight champion Jeff Chandler lost to Oscar Muniz in a nationally televised fight. I don't think it will ever happen.
Ottke did it all the time and people called his resume shit for years. Not the non-title fights, but the easy title fights between the quality opponents (bold). 1998: Smith, Nizard, Vojnovic, Krijnen, Brewer 1999: Nardiello, Hernandez, Tate, Johnson 2000: Bryan, Pudwill, Brewer, Branco 2001: Crawford, Ennebati, Butler, Mundine 2002: Thornberry, Tate, Gatti, Markussen 2003: Mitchell, Starie, Larsen, Reid 2004: Krajnc End Those are 15 extra paydays against solid opposition, every fighter can you use after his career is over. But a fighter like Dawson can´t draw a local crowd and turn a profit for his promoter without TV date. That´s what it comes down to in boxing these days. Some fighters couldn´t do it, if they wanted to, and some just don´t want to, because they feel it´s beneath them to fight a headline a local, once when they were on HBO/Showtime.
Great call. I stand corrected as Chavez stopped Kenny Vice in a non-title fight in 1989 on ABC on a Sunday afternoon.
What about exhibitions or something? I don't think we see fighters enough in the public arena, and when we do, it is usually something cheap, confrontational or has "Publicity Stunt" written all over it. Non-Title fights are a fine idea, and have a tradition in the sport. But.......the cynic in me says they would be used to delay "proper" fights.
I think fighters, especially famous ones, would not be receptive to this because it would mean having to train for less money. Up and comers would love the opportunity. But champions? Fighting for less? With the same amount of work? And the possibility of losing? I can't see it happening except for champions in more obscure weight classes.
