Sky boss Wakeling plan...
BySeconds Out
Published 14/11/2005 at 23:00 GMT
In a rare interview about the status of Sky boxing, Sky Sports head Vic Wakeling explained to SecondsOut's Ant Evans that Sky intends to gradually phase out the less well regarded championships.
BOXING 2006 glove
Image credit: Imago
Interview by Ant Evans: The ill-managed and internally sabotaged BBC experiment with the sweet science aside, Sky Sports has been the only consistent broadcaster of boxing in the UK since the mid-1990s. Boxing has always been important to the satellite (and now cable and digital) giant : in 1989 Tyson v Bruno helped launch 'the Sky Channel', live and exclusive broadcasts of Tyson, Holyfield and Lewis fights enticed the first wave of subscribers back in the early 1990s, Bruno v Tyson II launched pay-per-view in this country and Trinidad v De La Hoya was a major reason to switch to Sky Digital in 1999.
Most British fan won't have failed to notice the changes that have taken place as regards to Sky Sports's coverage of boxing over the last six months. Frank Warren's Sports Network no longer provides Sky with boxing programming and, instead, Sky has been essentially cherry picking the very best domestic action from promoters, be it from Fight Academy, Matchroom, Chris Sanigar or the Maloneys.
Perhaps even more importantly to the arm chair fan, though, it that Sky Sports, which has attracted criticism for presenting WBF and WBU 'world title' fights between fighters we weren't even the best fighters domestically, much less the world, have seemingly initiated a new policy of 'real titles, real fights'.
In a rare interview about the status of Sky boxing, Sky Sports head Vic Wakeling explained to SecondsOut that Sky intends to gradually phase out the less well regarded championships.
Speaking from Sky Sports' office in Osterley, South West London, Wakeling began: "We had a good, successful relationship with Sport Network over the years, it was a friendly parting of the ways (in June), but once we decided not to renew we decided we could duck and dive and just put on the best fights available be it Scott Dann fighting in Plymouth on a Chris Sanigar show, Clinton Woods or David Haye on a Fight Academy show in Sheffield or Martin Power on a Maloney show in London.
"We also brought in some top fights from America, live when possible and also delayed in the Friday night (slot) on other occasions and we are very happy (with the results). The ratings have held up; we are happy with what we are providing to subscribers and we will continue to do this until the end of June 2006."
At that time expect almost every promoter in the country to begin a determined - and perhaps desperate - wooing campaign against Wakeling and the other Sky executives as they vie for the 30 per annum (or thereabouts) TV dates. But, up until then, competition between the promoters is resulting in some of the very best action Sky Sports have screened in some time.
There's little doubt that Sky Sports has been exercising tighter quality control this year and at least part of that has been a marked movement away from what some fans dubb the 'intergalactic championships'.
Wakeling said: "There have been some dodgy fights billed as been for world championships in this country over recent years. We've shown some of them, I admit, and I won't mention names because it would be unfair to the fighters, but I think these sort of fights damage boxing.
"I've recently turned down two international title fights. Whether they are called international titles or intercontinental titles, the public don't understand what they are, I'm not sure I do either, and they aren't worth the paper they are printed on. I can't stand them. I'd rather put on a Southern Area Title fight, as long as it is a good scrap. In fact, we've shown David Haye (against Vincenzo Rossitto) in a non-title international fight just because it was a meaningful fight, and we are open to other fights with no title on the line as long as it is well matched."
Wakeling added: "But you've got to allow time because there are fighters out there who've earned these (others) titles and you can't say to them 'sorry guys, we're dumping you' after they've put so much work into getting these belts. But, over time, it would be good for the sport if all broadcasters said 'we won't take anything with any old set of initials'."
But the Sky boss added that this is not a hard and fast rule, boxing, the strange animal it is, won't allow for that. For example, Wakeling shares the view of a percentage of fans that the IBO, despite having the most respected ratings, does not command the respect of it's older, most established rivals.
"It's not fair to call it a strict 'policy' as such but there's no doubt what we are trying to do is concentrate on the titles from the more widely recognised sanctioning bodies. That means British, Commonwealth and European Titles and, at world level, WBC, WBA and IBF titles. There are the ones recognised across the world. I'd also add the WBO into that purely because of the WBO's history in this country with (the reigns of) Benn, Eubank, Collins and Hamed all lending it credibility in this country. I think they are the titles which we should try and concentrate on."
Nevertheless, Sky recently broadcast delayed coverage of Tarver v Jones III which was not only an IBO light heavyweight title bout but, according to the majority pre-fight opinion, a dangerous mismatch.
It is understandable Sky screening Tarver v Jones III, a fight about the personalities, not any title, but IBO cruiserweight champion Carl Thompson stills feels slighted that Sky don't want to pay for him to defend his belt in his fight November 26 in Sheffield, when 'the CAT' is due to be chief support on the Ricky Hatton Sky Box Office event.
In a move which may puzzle some fans, Sky want Thompson in a meaningful fight but not in an IBO title defence. Thompson was even asked to challenge Mark Hobson for the British Title on the show and, while that would be an excellent fight, at age 41 Thompson understandably feels miffed that he, a proud world-class title holder if not exactly a 'world champion', was asked to fight for a domestic belt he has twice relinquished without ever losing in the ring.
Moreover, with the three world titles which Sky want to concentrate on about to be unified, the IBO belt will soon be the only meaningful belt in the cruiserweight division not controlled by American promoter Don King.
"We're kicking around two or three names for a 10 round international fight for Carl," Wakeling said. "I wouldn't say 'no' just because it is the IBO title and not, for example, the IBF but it (any hypothetical fight) would have a different valuation on it if it were an IBO title fight and not a WBC, WBA or IBF title fight."
"I'm not saying that we are not going to take another IBO title fight, for example. That would be wrong and unfair to the likes of Carl and also Ricky Hatton, who held the WBU title for a long time."
Wakeling added: "Also I, like you probably do, use the IBO's ratings list as a reference when making decisions about fighters but I don't think they have the same world wide recognition as the other three organisations at this time.
"Like I said, it will take time to get where we'd eventually like to be and of course we'll make mistakes on the way but, on the whole, I think we are doing something with benefit's the sport."
Most British fan won't have failed to notice the changes that have taken place as regards to Sky Sports's coverage of boxing over the last six months. Frank Warren's Sports Network no longer provides Sky with boxing programming and, instead, Sky has been essentially cherry picking the very best domestic action from promoters, be it from Fight Academy, Matchroom, Chris Sanigar or the Maloneys.
Perhaps even more importantly to the arm chair fan, though, it that Sky Sports, which has attracted criticism for presenting WBF and WBU 'world title' fights between fighters we weren't even the best fighters domestically, much less the world, have seemingly initiated a new policy of 'real titles, real fights'.
In a rare interview about the status of Sky boxing, Sky Sports head Vic Wakeling explained to SecondsOut that Sky intends to gradually phase out the less well regarded championships.
Speaking from Sky Sports' office in Osterley, South West London, Wakeling began: "We had a good, successful relationship with Sport Network over the years, it was a friendly parting of the ways (in June), but once we decided not to renew we decided we could duck and dive and just put on the best fights available be it Scott Dann fighting in Plymouth on a Chris Sanigar show, Clinton Woods or David Haye on a Fight Academy show in Sheffield or Martin Power on a Maloney show in London.
"We also brought in some top fights from America, live when possible and also delayed in the Friday night (slot) on other occasions and we are very happy (with the results). The ratings have held up; we are happy with what we are providing to subscribers and we will continue to do this until the end of June 2006."
At that time expect almost every promoter in the country to begin a determined - and perhaps desperate - wooing campaign against Wakeling and the other Sky executives as they vie for the 30 per annum (or thereabouts) TV dates. But, up until then, competition between the promoters is resulting in some of the very best action Sky Sports have screened in some time.
There's little doubt that Sky Sports has been exercising tighter quality control this year and at least part of that has been a marked movement away from what some fans dubb the 'intergalactic championships'.
Wakeling said: "There have been some dodgy fights billed as been for world championships in this country over recent years. We've shown some of them, I admit, and I won't mention names because it would be unfair to the fighters, but I think these sort of fights damage boxing.
"I've recently turned down two international title fights. Whether they are called international titles or intercontinental titles, the public don't understand what they are, I'm not sure I do either, and they aren't worth the paper they are printed on. I can't stand them. I'd rather put on a Southern Area Title fight, as long as it is a good scrap. In fact, we've shown David Haye (against Vincenzo Rossitto) in a non-title international fight just because it was a meaningful fight, and we are open to other fights with no title on the line as long as it is well matched."
Wakeling added: "But you've got to allow time because there are fighters out there who've earned these (others) titles and you can't say to them 'sorry guys, we're dumping you' after they've put so much work into getting these belts. But, over time, it would be good for the sport if all broadcasters said 'we won't take anything with any old set of initials'."
But the Sky boss added that this is not a hard and fast rule, boxing, the strange animal it is, won't allow for that. For example, Wakeling shares the view of a percentage of fans that the IBO, despite having the most respected ratings, does not command the respect of it's older, most established rivals.
"It's not fair to call it a strict 'policy' as such but there's no doubt what we are trying to do is concentrate on the titles from the more widely recognised sanctioning bodies. That means British, Commonwealth and European Titles and, at world level, WBC, WBA and IBF titles. There are the ones recognised across the world. I'd also add the WBO into that purely because of the WBO's history in this country with (the reigns of) Benn, Eubank, Collins and Hamed all lending it credibility in this country. I think they are the titles which we should try and concentrate on."
Nevertheless, Sky recently broadcast delayed coverage of Tarver v Jones III which was not only an IBO light heavyweight title bout but, according to the majority pre-fight opinion, a dangerous mismatch.
It is understandable Sky screening Tarver v Jones III, a fight about the personalities, not any title, but IBO cruiserweight champion Carl Thompson stills feels slighted that Sky don't want to pay for him to defend his belt in his fight November 26 in Sheffield, when 'the CAT' is due to be chief support on the Ricky Hatton Sky Box Office event.
In a move which may puzzle some fans, Sky want Thompson in a meaningful fight but not in an IBO title defence. Thompson was even asked to challenge Mark Hobson for the British Title on the show and, while that would be an excellent fight, at age 41 Thompson understandably feels miffed that he, a proud world-class title holder if not exactly a 'world champion', was asked to fight for a domestic belt he has twice relinquished without ever losing in the ring.
Moreover, with the three world titles which Sky want to concentrate on about to be unified, the IBO belt will soon be the only meaningful belt in the cruiserweight division not controlled by American promoter Don King.
"We're kicking around two or three names for a 10 round international fight for Carl," Wakeling said. "I wouldn't say 'no' just because it is the IBO title and not, for example, the IBF but it (any hypothetical fight) would have a different valuation on it if it were an IBO title fight and not a WBC, WBA or IBF title fight."
"I'm not saying that we are not going to take another IBO title fight, for example. That would be wrong and unfair to the likes of Carl and also Ricky Hatton, who held the WBU title for a long time."
Wakeling added: "Also I, like you probably do, use the IBO's ratings list as a reference when making decisions about fighters but I don't think they have the same world wide recognition as the other three organisations at this time.
"Like I said, it will take time to get where we'd eventually like to be and of course we'll make mistakes on the way but, on the whole, I think we are doing something with benefit's the sport."
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