HBO Sports Passes on Heavyweight Fights for Foreseeable Future
When is being one of the two top heavyweight fighters in the world not enough? Apparently, it isn’t enough to keep winning if you can’t impress American fans. That’s what HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg is saying about IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs) and his brother, WBC heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KOs). Greenburg told ESPN.com that he is currently uninterested in the heavyweight division and that the influential cable network – which is the prime location for bouts in America along with a major PPV broadcaster – does not have plans to air any heavyweight fights in the foreseeable future.
Greenburg said that he is “souring” on the heavyweight division because of a total lack of interest in the United States. More specifically, the lack of legitimate opponents who could provide a challenge to either of the Klitschko brothers and draw casual fans appears to be a death knell to HBO’s interest in the sport. Greenburg said that there is only one heavyweight with any “juice” in challenging the Klitschkos and that is current WBA heavyweight champion David Haye.
However, it appears that any chance of Haye fighting either of the Klitschko brothers is fairly small in the near future. Haye has publicly gone after both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko in the past, claiming the he desperately wants to fight one of the two in the near future. However, reports have suggested that Haye has not been interested in serious negotiations for an upcoming fight with either of the Klitschkos, damaging his reputation and hurting the heavyweight division as a whole.
HBO Sports has telecast many of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko’s fights in the past but it appears that the broadcaster is serious about its lack of interest in the heavyweight division. Greenburg said that HBO Sports made a decision last week to pass on televising Wladimir Klitschko’s title defence in September against Alexander Povetkin or Vitali Klitschko’s next title defence later this fall.
The fact that the majority of major heavyweight title fights take place in Europe is also a factor in HBO Sports losing their interest in the division. Greenburg said that one reason that they are not interested in the heavyweight division is bouts from Europe would have to be shown or tape delay or at unusual hours – neither of which are particularly interesting propositions to Greenburg and HBO Sports.
Greenburg said that there are limited circumstances that HBO Sports might be interested in the heavyweight division again. Essentially, it would come down if there was a bout involving either of the Klitschko brothers, Haye or former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek. If a fight doesn’t involve two of those four fighters going up against each other, it doesn’t appear that HBO Sports will be interested.
"Other than that, we'll take a pass," he said. "It would be great if the Klitschkos came over here and reignited some interest in this division. It's tough to continually go over there. I understand their financials. I know how big they are in Germany and they will continue to fight over there. I understand the economics of their business."
Many of the issues with the heavyweight division in the United States stem from the fact that there are no prominent American boxers within the division. Only two of the top 10 heavyweights in the world are American, and neither Tony Thompson nor Eddie Chambers is considered to be an elite contender. Evander Holyfield might be the most popular heavyweight in American despite his advanced age and diminishing skills. Some interest in the division might be sparked by the announcement that former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver is attempting to move up to the heavyweight ranks.
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