When it became clear that HBO would pass on producing and distributing Manny Pacquiao’s pay-per-view fight against welterweight world titleholder Jessie Vargas on Nov. 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Top Rank set out to find another partner.
And when it came up empty, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum did what he has so often done in his 50 years in the business -- he decided to do it his way, which in this case meant on his own. So Top Rank will handle the pay-per-view on its own.
“I explained to HBO that Manny wanted to fight again this year and that Nov. 5 was the only date I can do it (because of his schedule in the Filipino senate),” Arum said. “So I told HBO and they said they won’t carry it. I said, ‘Fine, we’ll do it ourselves.’ It’s a great opportunity for us. It let us ask the question -- why do we need anyone else to do a pay-per-view, just because we have had a partner all these years?’
“We have all the people and brain power and man power to do it ourselves and we don’t have to pay HBO a 7.5 percent fee (from the net proceeds).”
HBO, which passed on the fight because it was already committed to the Nov. 19 Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward pay-per-view and did not want two PPV events in the same month to compete against each other, brings marketing muscle to any promotion with its array of shoulder programming, such as “24/7.” But Arum said that Top Rank will produce its own shoulder programming on the fight and “what happens if bigger outlets than HBO play that programming?”
Arum also said that another aspect of doing the pay-per-view on his own is that consumers who might be on the fence about buying the fight might not because they know they can watch it the follow week on HBO on a tape delay.
“People shell out money for the pay-per-view and a lot of people say, ‘If we can watch it the next week why spend the money?’ But there won’t be a delay on HBO the week after this fight,” Arum said.
In doing his own pay-per-view, Arum also needed to construct a broadcast team since HBO’s announcers won’t be involved. On Monday, Arum unveiled his team.
Brian Kenny, who anchored ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and hosted “Friday Night Fights” for years -- and has ample blow-by-blow experience -- will call the card alongside analyst Stephen A. Smith, co-host of ESPN’s “First Take.” Coincidentally, Smith’s “First Take” partner is Max Kellerman, who is also HBO’s boxing analyst but on the sidelines for this Pacquiao fight.
Welterweight contender Timothy Bradley, a Top Rank-promoted fighter who has fought Pacquiao and Vargas, will also serve as an analyst. Charissa Thompson, co-host of “Fox NFL Kickoff” and the entertainment news show “Extra,” will host the pay-per-view. Top Rank’s Crystina Poncher will serve as the roving reporter.
“We wanted to give the viewers a different perspective that informs and entertains and I think we have accomplished that with this fantastic team," Top Rank president Todd duBoef said. "It's a great combination with Brian, one of television's top TV announcers, color commentary from Stephen A. and Charissa's balanced hosting style. The expert analysis from Tim will round this out perfectly as he is considered one of the best fighters in the world and has secured victories against both Pacquiao and Vargas.
“We will expand the reach of this event beyond the boxing fan to an audience that has watched Stephen A., Brian and Charissa as regular fixtures in covering other major sports."
Smith’s inclusion is interesting. He is a lifelong boxing fan and has occasionally covered the sport but his back-and-forth for years with former “First Take” co-host Skip Bayless over the ups and downs in making Pacquiao’s fight with Floyd Mayweather was memorable for Smith’s constant backing of Mayweather and Bayless’ unabashed support of Pacquiao. Now Smith will be calling a Pacquiao fight, which should make for interesting television.
"To say I'm incredibly excited would be an understatement," Smith said. “Anyone who knows me knows I fell in love with boxing from the time I was three-years-old, when my dad showed me Muhammad Ali beating Jerry Quarry in October 1970. Ever since that day, boxing has been a passion of mine. But never -- ever -- in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd ever get a chance to actually call a fight. Nov. 5 can't get here soon enough."
Kenny, an MLB Network host, has called many fights, both on “Friday Night Fights” and on Top Rank international feeds, including Pacquiao.
"I'm thrilled to once again call a Manny Pacquiao fight," he said. “Pacquiao remains one of the most exciting athletes in not just boxing, but in all of sports. After his win over Timothy Bradley (in April), he is also still at the top of the incredibly competitive welterweight division. Jessie Vargas, coming off a tough win over the talented Sadam Ali, will present Pacquiao with a challenge that will test his world class talent."
Article courtesy of Dan Rafael
And when it came up empty, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum did what he has so often done in his 50 years in the business -- he decided to do it his way, which in this case meant on his own. So Top Rank will handle the pay-per-view on its own.
“I explained to HBO that Manny wanted to fight again this year and that Nov. 5 was the only date I can do it (because of his schedule in the Filipino senate),” Arum said. “So I told HBO and they said they won’t carry it. I said, ‘Fine, we’ll do it ourselves.’ It’s a great opportunity for us. It let us ask the question -- why do we need anyone else to do a pay-per-view, just because we have had a partner all these years?’
“We have all the people and brain power and man power to do it ourselves and we don’t have to pay HBO a 7.5 percent fee (from the net proceeds).”
HBO, which passed on the fight because it was already committed to the Nov. 19 Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward pay-per-view and did not want two PPV events in the same month to compete against each other, brings marketing muscle to any promotion with its array of shoulder programming, such as “24/7.” But Arum said that Top Rank will produce its own shoulder programming on the fight and “what happens if bigger outlets than HBO play that programming?”
Arum also said that another aspect of doing the pay-per-view on his own is that consumers who might be on the fence about buying the fight might not because they know they can watch it the follow week on HBO on a tape delay.
“People shell out money for the pay-per-view and a lot of people say, ‘If we can watch it the next week why spend the money?’ But there won’t be a delay on HBO the week after this fight,” Arum said.
In doing his own pay-per-view, Arum also needed to construct a broadcast team since HBO’s announcers won’t be involved. On Monday, Arum unveiled his team.
Brian Kenny, who anchored ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and hosted “Friday Night Fights” for years -- and has ample blow-by-blow experience -- will call the card alongside analyst Stephen A. Smith, co-host of ESPN’s “First Take.” Coincidentally, Smith’s “First Take” partner is Max Kellerman, who is also HBO’s boxing analyst but on the sidelines for this Pacquiao fight.
Welterweight contender Timothy Bradley, a Top Rank-promoted fighter who has fought Pacquiao and Vargas, will also serve as an analyst. Charissa Thompson, co-host of “Fox NFL Kickoff” and the entertainment news show “Extra,” will host the pay-per-view. Top Rank’s Crystina Poncher will serve as the roving reporter.
“We wanted to give the viewers a different perspective that informs and entertains and I think we have accomplished that with this fantastic team," Top Rank president Todd duBoef said. "It's a great combination with Brian, one of television's top TV announcers, color commentary from Stephen A. and Charissa's balanced hosting style. The expert analysis from Tim will round this out perfectly as he is considered one of the best fighters in the world and has secured victories against both Pacquiao and Vargas.
“We will expand the reach of this event beyond the boxing fan to an audience that has watched Stephen A., Brian and Charissa as regular fixtures in covering other major sports."
Smith’s inclusion is interesting. He is a lifelong boxing fan and has occasionally covered the sport but his back-and-forth for years with former “First Take” co-host Skip Bayless over the ups and downs in making Pacquiao’s fight with Floyd Mayweather was memorable for Smith’s constant backing of Mayweather and Bayless’ unabashed support of Pacquiao. Now Smith will be calling a Pacquiao fight, which should make for interesting television.
"To say I'm incredibly excited would be an understatement," Smith said. “Anyone who knows me knows I fell in love with boxing from the time I was three-years-old, when my dad showed me Muhammad Ali beating Jerry Quarry in October 1970. Ever since that day, boxing has been a passion of mine. But never -- ever -- in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd ever get a chance to actually call a fight. Nov. 5 can't get here soon enough."
Kenny, an MLB Network host, has called many fights, both on “Friday Night Fights” and on Top Rank international feeds, including Pacquiao.
"I'm thrilled to once again call a Manny Pacquiao fight," he said. “Pacquiao remains one of the most exciting athletes in not just boxing, but in all of sports. After his win over Timothy Bradley (in April), he is also still at the top of the incredibly competitive welterweight division. Jessie Vargas, coming off a tough win over the talented Sadam Ali, will present Pacquiao with a challenge that will test his world class talent."
Article courtesy of Dan Rafael
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