"Guess Who's Bizack?"
Thursday, August 27, 2009
, Posted by 1 Punch Boxing at 10:48 PM
by: Joshuwa "Ashyknuckles" Jernigan
It's been 1 year, 8 months, 19 days, 14 hours, 12 minutes, and 30 seconds since Floyd Mayweather's last fight…31…. 32…. 33. If the excessive counting aloud doesn't show you there is great anticipation for his return to the squared circle, then nothing will. It's been a hot and cold 2009, and that's not a description of the irregular temperatures in the forecast this year. That description is more denotative of what type of year it's been so far in the sport of boxing. The highpoint of the year being the upset knockout victory from a resurging "Sugar" Shane Mosley over, the once perceived, indestructible Antonio Margarito. And low points of year include the many fight cancellations, the wreaking stench of hometown cooking, and the frequent occurrence of fighters quitting in championship bouts. If the word "quitting" is too harsh of a description, then those fighters saw fit to discontinue all efforts in fighting in a championship fight. [Clears throat] Uh.Erm..quitting..erm!
Now, we are at a point where the boxing world needs a huge dose of excitement to keep everyone abuzz. Enter Floyd Mayweather Jr......
Floyd Mayweather is arguably the best fighter in the world and equally the most talented fighter too. However, he has just as many detractors as he does supporters, if not more. Why? Is it because he's a brash, egotistical, self-centered, narcissistic jerk? Or is it because he's the most technically sound, athletically gifted, and the most skilled fighter on the planet? I happen to think it's a combination of both. Floyd is good. He's damn good, and doesn't mind telling the world about it.
"I'm the best fighter to ever lace up a pair of boxing gloves. When I retire, I will go down as the best fighter to ever live," Floyd confidently boasts.
That is the type of braggadocio that lures fans, in admiration, to witness his pugilistic prowess on fight night. But, it also makes his detractors watch, in utter disgust, hoping they will witness the night he finally gets knocked out. Either way it's a good marketing strategy, and the kind that drives pay-per-view sales through the roof. It's no secret as to why Mayweather's name is associated with the record for the highest grossing pay-per-view event in history. Floyd's detractors believe with certitude that "The Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya should be credited for accomplishing that feat. However, Oscar de la Hoya was an immensely popular prizefighter, but he was never THAT golden. De La Hoya has fought more than a handful of Hall of Fame fighters and has not once come close to matching the 2.4 million buys shared between he and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The highest grossing pay-per-view event Oscar has ever participated in was a record 1.4 million buys for facing Felix Trinidad.
So, the additional 1 million buys isn't just a whim. And Oscar didn't suddenly have extra boost in popularity because he'd been virtually inactive two years prior. You aren’t sold yet? Floyd Mayweather's fight with Ricky Hatton did 900,000 buys domestically, not including the million plus buys, across the pond. Hatton doesn't have a large following in the US as he brings around 20,000 fans from the UK every time he fights on American soil. So, how do you account for those numbers? One answer...Floyd Mayweather Jr. has become a superstar. Yep, the same guy who, six years ago, couldn't attract flies to a fart festival is now a pay-per-view attraction. The numbers don't lie.
Floyd Mayweather pay-per-view history:
Floyd v Baldomir - 325,000 PPV buys
Floyd v Judah - 374,000 PPV buys
Floyd v Gatti - 365,000 PPV buys
Floyd v De La Hoya - 2.4 million buys
Floyd v Hatton 900,000 buys in US 1.4 million in UK
Love him or hate him, Floyd Mayweather is an icon, a global brand name. Why else would Golden Boy Promotions take flight to the United Kingdom to promote a mega-fight featuring two non-British fighters facing each other in Las Vegas, Nevada? You still aren’t sold? It’s the same reason why thousands of Brits gathered to watch Floyd Mayweather workout in a boxing gym in England. He has the "IT" factor. And whatever "IT" happens to be, the haters and huggers are all attracted to it. Why would 170 theaters nationwide be willing to show the "Number One/Numero Uno" event?
So, even though the pundits have criticized the Mayweather vs. Marquez fight it should gross a shade fewer than 700,000 buys. Not only because Mayweather is fighting, but also because it's a solid fight card. And the same people who complain that Mayweather shouldn't be fighting a smaller guy are the same people tuning in to watch the fight. And though Floyd is bigger, faster, and stronger than Juan Manuel Marquez, he's been inactive for two years, which is detrimental when fighting at the elite level. Plus, Marquez is the guy who arguably beat the current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, twice. There are a lot of compelling storylines leading into this fight. With a victory, Marquez will have surpassed the great Julio Caesar Chavez in popularity. And while the outcome isn't predictable, it's inevitable that on Mexican Independence weekend there will be excitement generated by two p4p fighters facing each other with the winner expected to face the “Diamond” champion of the Pacquiao vs. Cotto bout later this year. This is the type of excitement the boxing world needs at this juncture. Welcome back, Floyd.
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