NOVEMBER LOOKS LIKE A INCREDIBLE MONTH
Las Vegas, NV– The middleweight (160 lbs) championship match between titleholder Kelly Pavlik has been postponed until November 21, this due to hand infection suffered by Pavlik. The bout with Williams was originally set for October 3.
2009 A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER
On November 14, seven days prior, Miguel Cotto (31-1, 27 KOs) defends the WBO 147 lb. (welterweight) belt against the Philippine phenom Manny Pacquiao (47-3-2, 37 KOs). The Cotto-Pacquiao fight is on HBO PPV, while Pavlik-Williams is on HBO. If one were thinking ahead, it appears the Cotto-Pacquiao match will be shown delayed on HBO just before Pavlik-Williams.
HEY BOB, DO SOMETHING FOR THE GAME!
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, in his late 70s, has a chance here to help a sport struggling with the advent of MMA. Arum & HBO should give up the Cotto-Pacquiao replay and instead air the fight on either CBS, ABC OR NBC. Rupert Murdoch and FOX need not be considered seeing how badly they did with boxing working with Oscar De La Hoya.
PUT COTTO-PAC REPLAY ON ABC SUNDAY AFTERNOON OR NIGHT
If you remember the kind of attention fights like Roberto Duran-Ray Leonard I got with just a 24-hour (or 48) delayed broadcast, you know this can work if properly worked. This would be a great way to showcase boxing to the (younger) masses for free. With the De La Hoya-Mayweather fight, HBO eventually lost when the fight ended up a dud, this after such a great marketing idea. But then again, I’ve always felt that Arum and the New York suits, they like boxing just the way it is, lacking the regulation that could stifle their power.
Pedro Fernandez