HBO main man says company is gearing up for rebirth of boxing
HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg vows that he wants to “get the mainstream sport fan back” to boxing.
In an interview with FanHouse, Greenburg was happy to update fans regarding upcoming HBO boxing events and speculate on the beginnings of a renaissance for the sport.
Greenburg pointed to a flurry of upcoming HBO events that indicate both boxing's rising popularity and that his company is ready to take advantage of the developments.
"I think that the fall line-up is kind of a statement that we're back, and that we're ready,” he said. “We gave everyone a little bit of a break at the beginning of the football season, and through the World Series. But I think that we're gearing up and
that it's the rebirth of boxing in a way," said Greenburg. "We really want to get the mainstream sports fan back."
Some upcoming HBO cards include the November 13 mega-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito, which will be on pay-per-view, and a November 27 contest between Juan Manuel Marquez and Michael Katsidis.
Greenburg assumed the role of liaison when negotiations for a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather peaked, but unofficially resigned from the position when it was clear no fight would be made. Nevertheless he remains hopeful of Pacquiao-Mayweather
in 2011, a fight that would likely break all-time records in terms of profits.
On the possibility of Pacquiao-Mayweather in 2011, Greenburg said: “I think that a lot of things need to fall into place for that fight to happen. First and foremost, Manny Pacquiao has to survive Nov. 13 against a tough, big man in Antonio Margarito. And
then, Floyd Mayweather has to clean up his personal life and the issues and whatever is going on in Las Vegas and then get back to the business of boxing."
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