“You Have to Become an Obnoxious Clown to Sell the Show”: While $2.2 Billion Worth Showtime Shut Their Sports Division, Fans Join Boxing Legend to Make Sense of Misfits’ 1.2 Million PPV Buys for Logan Paul vs. Dillon Danis and KSI vs. Tommy Fury Event
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 05: In this handout image provided by Top Rank, Jamel Herring celebrates defeating Jonathan Oquendo during a Jr. Lightweight WBO World Title bout at MGM Grand Conference Center Grand Ballroom on September 05, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images)
After 2023, Showtime will no longer cover boxing events. This comes five years after its main competitor, HBO, did the same. Chris McCarthy, the CEO of Paramount, announced this in a letter to staff. The network will also stop airing Bellator MMA. Despite the news of the shutdown, McCarthy said that Showtime will honor its existing event schedule. In his letter, the CEO of Showtime Boxing elaborated that the reason for the closure is the “shifting content priorities.”
He highlighted that the network has aired 750 live boxing events and 2,000 fights. However, the news has taken the boxing fraternity by shock. Expressing his views on the current scenario is Jamel Herring, the former junior Lightweight Champion. Moreover, his opinion probed fans to reflect on the changing landscape of boxing.
The opinion of Jamel Herring sparks a fervent fan debate about the changing landscape of boxing
Jamel Herring expressed his disappointment about the news via his recent tweet. In his tweet, he mentioned how they’ve lost HBO Boxing before and now it’s Showtime Boxing bringing in the upsetting news. However, what sparked a heated fan discussion is his comparison to the pay-per-views that the recent Misfits event has amassed. As Herring says, “We lost HBO Boxing, now Showtime Boxing, but the Misfits out here selling 1.3 million PPV buys. Am I missing something here?”
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Herring seems to be raising an important question about the current landscape of boxing with the recent PRIME card fights of Logan Paul vs. Dillon Danis and KSI vs. Tommy Fury seeing massive turnouts.
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One fan believes that boxing’s decline is due to various factors. This includes failing to consistently create star fights, network rivalries, and promoter disputes. The fan also mentioned the sport’s inability to adapt to social media and the high cost of pay-per-view events. The fan feels that these issues have made boxing vulnerable to competition from social media influencers However, the fan remained optimistic that boxing can return to its former glory with proper guidance.
This happened because for years good fights weren’t consistently made therefore fighters weren’t properly cultivated into stars, network wars, promoter beefs, the lack of adapting to SM, determining real champions, high PPVs, etc. all leads to poor ratings & SM influencers…
— Malik Spann (@BLITZMagPrez) October 17, 2023
A fan stated that HBO adapted better to modern times. The particular focus of the opinion is in the realm of social media. Furthermore, the fan emphasized that both boxing organizations and boxers need to understand and leverage social media.
HBO, not Showtime Boxing adjusted to the times. Those individuals at Misfits generate a lot of following on social media. I believe all boxing org need to figure out the social media aspect as well as all boxers. The game has changed.
— E. Fuentes (Boxing/Life Coach) (@E_Fuentes70) October 18, 2023
However, one fan lamented the current state of boxing. According to him, a pay-per-view star is more about being an “obnoxious clown” than about boxing skills. The fan felt that the focus had shifted from athletic ability to showmanship. This, the user believes, is a negative development for the sport.
Yes you are champ, nowadays in order to become a PPV star you have to become an obnoxious clown to sell the show. Your boxing skills come a distant second.
— Hector Santiago (@HLSantiago) October 17, 2023
One user pointed out that boxing could be more popular if fighters were willing to face each other in the ring. The viewer censured the industry for offering “tune-up fights” instead of exciting main events. Subsequently, this suggests that there is a lack of compelling matchups that are driving the fans away.
Boxing could be huge but the fighters never want to fight each other. People don't want to watch tune up fights and then a main event.
— Starfield Fans are DELUSIONAL (@Red4BadComment) October 17, 2023
One fan, however, echoed the sentiment that boxing is its own worst enemy. The follower specifically called out the sport for not delivering the fights that fans want to see. They listed several matchups that fans have been clamoring for but have yet to happen, indicating that these delays are detrimental to the sport’s popularity.
Boxing has been its own way by using every excuse to not make the fights fans wanna see. Make Crawford v canelo, tank v shakur, tank v Haney, teofimo v Haney, Garcia – Haney, wilder – Joshua, fury – Joshua. There’s sooo many good fights but they take ten years to make.
— GTB Tonio (@ToneWritesHitz) October 17, 2023
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If $2.2 Billion Network Showtime Sports Shutting Down Boxing PPV Rumors Are True, It’ll Change the Entire Sport for Better or Worse
Showtime’s exit from boxing marks a seismic shift in sports entertainment. Fans and fighters alike are questioning the sport’s future. The buzzword seems to be “adaptation,” whether it’s to social media trends or audience demands for star-studded fights. Thus, Jamel Herring’s tweet brings up a collective bewilderment of fans and pundits alike.
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What are your thoughts about the shutdown of Showtime Boxing? Tell us your views in the comment section below!
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Written by:
Edited by:
Gokul Pillai
