Oddly enough - and this is perhaps the greatest argument against holding similar tournaments - his drawing power has regressed since the Kessler fight. In fairness, that was a big deal - his first title shot and I think the area's first title fight in like 40 years. But his fight w/ Green drew about half that, and the Bika fight featuring an even smaller crowd. The Abraham fight was perhaps the most embarrassing moment for the Super Six. I think the fight sold 3,200 or so tickets, with a live gate of less than $250k. Granted, that fight was in Southern California, a good hike from Oakland. But the trend from Bika through last night... is that Ward is NOT a draw, and honestly not even identifiable beyond boxing circles. Certainly not the conclusion Showtime hopes to reach $26 million later.
@ Jake: Steve Bunce passed a comment about how this tournament was supposed to pay out $50m in purses to the fighters involved, but only paid out $24m. Any ideas about that? Thanks.
Well, it wasn't marquee super 6 match ups throughout and the guys who were brought in weren't the stature of the guys who fell out. we were supposed to have 3+3+3+ 2 + 1 = 12 premier matchups. We got 3+2+1+1+1 = 8 premier matchups. There's still money missing, but I don't think it's fair to say it's $26m.
I don't remember $50 million being the number, but know that they saved quite a bit when: - Ward/Taylor became Ward/Green (saving about $650k or so) - Ward/Dirrell was scratched, and Ward/Bika was separate from tournament and budget (saving $2 million) - Kessler/Taylor became Kessler/Green, which became Johnson/Green (saving about $1.5 million) - Kessler dropping out allowed Johnson to enter semi-finals (saving about $1 million or so, assuming Kessler made the semis had he remained in the competition) I don't know the exact payoffs for the semifinals and finals, so the last entry is a guesstimate. But I'm pretty sure the original Super Six members were guaranteed $1 million each per fight for Stages 1-3 (with add'l TV rights not included in budget). So that's more than $3 million saved with Taylor, Kessler and Dirrell dropping out and Green and Johnson receiving considerably less. Even with the money saved, though, the attendance numbers for the stateside fight don't come close to justifying the payouts. Not sure how Showtime's ratings were (they rarely if ever release such numbers), but unless their subscription rates increased dramatically, then again, a financial bust. Not to mention the $6 million they dumped into Bute as an after-the-fact enticement, whatever's being spent on Kessler post-tournament, etc.
Nah, Ive been saying for a few years now that I think Bute would do a number on Froch. Carl hasnt really showed me anything to change my mind. I think he walks into Bute's uppercut all night.
Froch added: “A couple of the judges made it 115-113 so a fast start would have won me a couple more of the early rounds.†:crafty: 2nd gear..
Ward hurt his hand in training the week before the fight...reinjured it during the 6th round...I saw Ward throw a left hook then catch Froch on the crown of his head...seemed to shake his hand afterward.
Did you score the first round even? Which rounds did you give to Froch? You reconfirm your stupidity by employing the playground fallacy that you should be pleased when someone who is beneath your status (according to you) disdains you ("I think you suck so I'm GLAD you think I'm stupid!!"). The only instance in which you would have cause to follow that logic is if the basis for that disdain is in and of itself contemptible (i.e, a fat person disdaining you for not being fat, or from your perspective if I had disdained you for your disbelief in Islam). Anyway.. moving on - At what age do you think a woman would have to be before a man marrying her would not be a pedophile in 7th century Saudi Arabia? - What impact does roaming a shitty desert have on one's veracity or intellect? - Do you consider the Qur'an to be an important and influential work of prose/poetry/literature? - Your statement about grown men not following Islam (or rather, your ignorant mischaracterization of it) is demonstrably false. There are literally millions of men who are more grown than you in every single possible aspect - age, intelligence, wisdom, financial success, physical strength, and so on - who follow Islam. This is self-evident to anyone who isn't a moron like yourself, and I'm sure if you strain yourself even you will be able to think of a few notable examples worldwide.
The only instances where I've insulted people are when they are being obnoxiously ignorant or have already attacked me in some way (as Free Ike did in another thread, which I didn't see until shortly before I responded in this one). I'm nothing like Free Ike. 90% of that retard's posts can be characterized as utter nonsense declared with brusque confidence and aggressiveness. I'm sure he sees it as his qwirky and unique online persona, but it's really just annoying as fuck and stupid.
Nah, I just think he wants a rematch. Bute is a good start. Bute would batter any version of Hopkins. Hopkins would write a written, formal complaint about handspeed and movement disadvantages that no athlete of his, shall we say, tone should be facing in America in the 21st Century.
Holy crap...just read Dan Rafael's notebook that said the american judge had Froch winning four of the first five rounds and had Froch winning after 7 rounds. :scratcher: So much for Brit's getting robbed in America.
Just rewatched this after watching a 10m George Benton highlight vid. Now I want to kill myself. Modern boxing is sewer goo.
Froch is amatuerish but so are lots of fighters, Marciano or the little wife-killer fella too. Doesn't mean they can't fight.
I think that's quite harsh. he has an ugly style but he tries to load up on his punches and throws a lot of good body shots and uppercuts. Most ammy's fight light Khan; high, ineffective guard, straight arm punches with nothing on them, quick, feebles flurries etc etc MTF
