Even though we are only half way through 2015, this has been the biggest year in boxing history. The Mayweather-Pacquiao mega-fight finally happened and broke every record possible. Super adviser Al Haymon has taken boxing back to prime time with the birth of the PBC series which combined with cross marketing between network television and cable channels, has brought back the casual fan.
This has all happened while HBO and Showtime and promoters like Golden Boy and Top Rank still hold their places among the top spots in boxing. With their second season gearing up to premiere, the hit reality show Knockout has also become an international boxing brand.
Under network advice, the reality show has switched gears to overdrive and has incorporated “music, night life, and pool parties to turn a fight into a weekend experience for the casual fan,” stated Orel Barclay, Head of Global Marketing for Steven Marcano Holdings which owns the rights to Knockout and My Lil Star Baby Products.
On August 15th the hardcore fan will have a treat that even some of today’s biggest promotional companies can’t create. Both legends and contenders will be incorporated under the banner of a championship weekend.
Knockout is a reality show that has rapidly created a major international presence. The show’s executives are currently working on format deals in several countries which lead them to also reach a deal with the major overseas sanctioning body, the UBO. The organization is also recognized in the United States but currently doesn’t have quite the same luster as some of the other belts.
That international presence intrigued boxing legend Roy Jones, who previously held a UBO belt. He has wanted to help young, up and coming fighters get to a place where they control their own destiny and have the financial freedom that Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather and himself have. He believes this agreement is a great move for the young fighters.
The first step in financial security is becoming an international star and that’s why it’s so important to let young boxers fight for any and all titles because the media makes stars and the media is always more interested in champions. Why limit yourself to making money in the U.S. when you can make money in various countries, get endorsements, commercials and chances to do movies like The Matrix?
So with the hundreds of millions of dollars that major companies have poured into the boxing business, Knockout has proven that they are creatively one of the best in the business. And that they are here to stay. They are the American Idol of boxing.
At the pace that upstart cable channel Nuvo/Fuse has been on, the weekly Knockout series and the live event are proof that they can already compete with the leading boxing networks.
When you also factor in the first class Foxwoods resort, which has hosted many top level combat cards, the competition is on notice that they better keep their guard up or they may get knocked out.