Manny Pacquiao has returned to his familiar television home of HBO for his upcoming November fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao’s last fight in May was televised by Showtime, marking a significant departure from HBO Sports.
Showtime displayed extreme creativity in luring Pac-Man away from HBO. They offered him an appearance on 60 Minutes, a countdown series on CBS, and promotion during March Madness. HBO’s reluctance to match Showtime’s offer resulted in them losing arguably the biggest draw in boxing, and it led to the firing of Ross Greenburg. After losing Pacquiao’s May fight, HBO wasn’t about to miss out on his November bout.
The suits at HBO landed Pacquiao’s brawl with Marquez by putting together a package comparable to the one previously offered by Showtime. Lem Satterfield at RingTV.com has the details on everything HBO has promised:
- – HBO’s 24/7 series will be broadcast on CNN and free cable
– Pacquiao and promoter Bob Arum will be interviewed on CNN International and by Piers Morgan
– The fight will be promoted on TBS and TNT throughout the MLB playoffs
– HBO will televise the fight week lead up, the final news conference and weigh-in
If that list doesn’t tell you who the most important figure in boxing is, then you just don’t get it. HBO fired an executive and is maxing out its network synergy to promote the fight. They had to; Pacquiao, along with Floyd Mayweather Jr., is the biggest draw in the sport.
