Gary Shaw Talks Golden Boy-Affliction Partnership

by Luke Thomas on Sep 15, 2008 3:41 PM EDT in News Comment 20 comments

Say whatever you like about the man and his capabilities, but he has promoted MMA and boxing at the highest level. So what does he think about this new partnership? Not much, incidentally:

The news of Affliction Fighting's new partnership with Golden Boy Promotions wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire around the boxing folks at the MGM Grand this weekend. They were in attendance for the Joel Casamayor-Juan Manuel Marquez fight. Affliction and Golden Boy are fooling themselves if they think ANY of the boxing media on hand was happy to learn that they may have to watch future cards featuring both boxing and mixed martial arts fights. There's simply no experience amongst the 'young' fellas in the boxing media with MMA and they view it as competition akin to taking bread off of their plates. And if you've seen much of the boxing media, you know not to mess with their plates.

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Shaw (pictured w/Kimbo Slice) described the MMA fans as a sort of cult who won't be open to the pacing of boxing. He also said there is no market in boxing for apparel. The apparel market in MMA has exploded because the fans live the sport's "lifestyle." Shaw thinks that boxing doesn't have fans that follow the sport with such loyalty to buy t-shirts and gear that runs $40+.

Even if Shaw has been poorly promoting both sports recently, one has to think through that error he's likely learned what makes both communities tick. He seems keen on the idea that the two sports are not just adversarial towards one another, but they fundamentally they mean different things to their respective fan bases. The question is whether any event can bridge that divide. We shall see.

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Comments

Fuck Gary Shaw

Let’s be more condescending to MMA fans, shall we? If dedication determines whether you’re a ‘fan’ or ‘cult member’, than the NFL is the largest cult in America (beating out the Mormons).

Fuck you, Gary Shaw. Nice job with that MMA promotion of yours.

by subo on Sep 15, 2008 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Relax with the language a little. Shaw didn’t murder your family or steal your car. Save that level of vitriol for someone who has.

by Luke Thomas on Sep 15, 2008 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How do you know Shaw didn’t steal his car or murder his family? He seems like the type.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Sep 15, 2008 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It finally happened!!

And even though its 90 degrees outside right now, I am looking outside to see the snow start to fall here. It should be any moment now.
Here marks the first time I agree with Gary Shaw about anything. Everything should be freezing over soon…..

by Nick Travaglini on Sep 15, 2008 3:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hah Hah

I was coming to post a similar comment and you stole my thunder. Da&* you (avoiding Luke the language police)!

To all you others that agree with Shaw’s point, How much of a real problem that the Boxing media doesn’t want to touch MMA? Is this really a bad thing? Personally I’m not a big fan of boxing media at all and for the most part would like to see a new generation.

by natyong on Sep 15, 2008 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can you elaborate on what you mean by the boxing media? HBO carries the big ass paycheck and if by some grace of god GBP can lure Ross Greenburg than UFC has a reason to be scared. Nevertheless, it is very doubtful that HBO would ever want to dilute it position as the creme of the crop in boxing by adding MMA fights on their PPV fights that they produce and distributes with GBP.

by Zocalo on Sep 15, 2008 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not really, to the extent that you want. I haven’t watched a live boxing event in years so I’m far from an expert opinion. I just never liked Shaw (or most other promoters for that matter). Boxing media to me is the loads of independents that write piecemeal for ailing newspapers that need extra copy. I’m sure the sports changed since my old crew used always have the big fight night (granted the “old crew” changed also).

by natyong on Sep 15, 2008 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shaw is a joke both within boxing and MMA fans. The thing as much as we love our sports, we are both following niche sports. The falling off of boxing basically started with Kim’s death on national TV and Tyson’s fall from grace. MMA on CBS has been nothing short but a disappointment for various reasons. In the end they both aren’t mainstream. Boxing and MMA media doesn’t have any pull when it comes to getting national air time or significant print press. The only real impact that Boxing and MMA has is on their respective channels that they are basically a foundation of. HBO has Championship level Boxing and Spike has UFC.

by Zocalo on Sep 15, 2008 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zuffa would love nothing more for HBO to convert their boxing fans to MMA fans…

by mmalogic on Sep 15, 2008 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

why affliction wouldnt do a deal with Elite/CBS is beyond me… better for their chances and their clothing line.

This tells me Elite’s upper management at this point don’t give a shit and are already off the titanic.

by mmalogic on Sep 15, 2008 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There’s not enough money in the Elite/CBS deal for anyone to really want a part of that.

by Phildo on Sep 15, 2008 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It gets more exposure for their brand, though.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Sep 15, 2008 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

how much money is in the golden boy affliction deal?

by mmalogic on Sep 15, 2008 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

your losing money on both deals… at least if their was a merger they would still have a brand in MMA for their core business.

by mmalogic on Sep 15, 2008 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Affliction wanted pretty much the same licensing deal with the UFC…

Big mistake by making it a grudge and big mistake now losing out on this “lifestyle” rabid market.

by mmalogic on Sep 15, 2008 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am a boxing fan and I don’t understand how this can work out. Just the logistics is a nightmare. How many boxing fights are you going to have? Usually there are 4 in a PPV. You add some MMA fights and you are then limited to what? Two fights? HBO isn’t going to have a part of it so the production values are going to be low. You also have to question what the fighters themselves are going to think? You think boxers like the idea of losing their PPV spot to a MMA fighters? Who is going to get the coveted main event? The Boxers or the MMA fighters? There are so many problems that can and will arise.

by Zocalo on Sep 15, 2008 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I just notice this post and I’ll really disagree with you production, but offer some other, I think more important, logistical problems. Show production would certainly improve in my opinion. I’ve never understood boxing’s “tux production”. Only sport I know that everybody, but the contestants are wearing Tuxes. The days of boxing being a Gentleman’s sport are long over (was it ever?) and it’s time on to be more in touch with reality. Sure Affliction Banned had plenty of problems, but it was also a very complicated setup with all the mic inputs that were needed due to the music performance. Also UFC is certainly making a ton of money on a model nothing like HBO production.

On the other hand on the logistics side are held in an MMA ring or a boxing ring? 12 rounds on a MMA ring to me would find boxers legs giving out pretty quick. And MMA slams in a Boxing ring are often fight ending injuries. I can see these shows being all day events where boxing’s current model is 4 fight where most people spend the first 3 getting halfway loaded, watch the Main card, then complete their drunk.

by natyong on Sep 15, 2008 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is a big difference between a HBO and UFC PPV production and one that is done by GBP/TopRank and Affliction. They are both( HBO and UFC) experts in what they do respectiveness to their sport. I know it is a small part the event but if you are going to have a paying public paying equal to cards that are exclusively boxing and MMA you got to make sure it isn’t 2nd rate. At least in my opinion boxing is a more of a ethnic sport than a gentleman’s sport. You get all these die hard Pinoy and Mexican fans rooting their fighters. You have Welshs and Brits that cross the ocean to root for their guy. I think that is a very bad stereotype that you are labeling the sport with. You think they come with tuxes?

When it comes to the ring, it doesn’t matter maybe just add more padding for the MMA fighters. Boxers use both big and small rings. It is usually up to the promoter and host of the event. Just this past week, we had lightweights in a 20 by 20 ring. It isn’t a big deal in the entire scope of things compared to other problems that will arise. I have seen fights with 16 by 16 to 25 by 25.

Anyways I just don’t think it will work out and both fans of each respective sport will be disappointed with their joint PPVS.

by Zocalo on Sep 15, 2008 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unless something has changed recently since I’ve watched boxing it’s the producers, commentators and other HBO guys that always come in Tuxes. Their production is better suited for an Hollywood awards show than Fight/Sporting event. This type of production isn’t boxing, it’s just Las Vegas showboating. UFC is down and dirty with Rogan in T-Shirt and jeans (although Affliction t-shirt and jeans are more expensive than the one tux I bought). And they kill in the PPV consistently.

I think it’s more that HBO production has stagnated towards the audiences that you mentioned. Again I have watched it recently so I’m not that sure how HBO’s producing things recently.

On the ring size I agree doesn’t matter. What does matter is padding and the give in the floor. Also on a lesser scale the tension and number of ropes. In regards to a boxing match the padding and the floor often can make a big difference in regards to a 12 round fight. The “legs” of the boxer are hampered when the floor is soft in that its harder to move/dance and create power from the legs. Compound this over 12 rounds and your going to very likely have some boring latter rounds.

by natyong on Sep 16, 2008 7:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's wrong

Given the right circumstances, fans gravitate to combat sports.

Atlanta has had a few all-in-one boxing, Muay Thai, and MMA events.
Atlanta has also hosted the Titan Games several times—Judo, Boxing, Wrestling, etc.

Las Vegas just had a very successful turn out (sold out if I remember) for the Thomas & Mack Center show with Kim Couture and John Alessio vs Pete Spratt.

This is a timing about timing and old and new and old becoming new. Boxing and MMA have a place together.

by dohfil on Sep 18, 2008 12:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs