The good people over at HBO sent me their latest boxing calendar for 2011. Every month, the glossy, well put together item recaps one of the big fights from the network’s 2010 fight schedule, such as Pacquiao-Clottey, Cotto-Foreman, and Mayweather-Mosley. Another nice touch is monthly trivia on a historic fight of yesteryear, even going as far back to 1921’s Jack Dempsey vs. George Carpentier, boxing’s first million dollar gate. What intrigued me most is the cover, which served to both give me hope and infuriate me at the same time. Look at the two guys who are front and center.
On one hand, it’s a good indication that HBO is still focused on getting these two in the ring (as HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg tried in vain to do over the summer). At the same time, it makes me mad when I think about how much time I, and other writers, had to devote to explaining to fans why this fight wasn’t happening. From Pacquiao’s random blood testing refusal in early 2010, to Mayweather’s “vacation” in the summer, both men can shoulder the blame for what could have been the biggest fight in boxing history turning into an embarrassing media fiasco. We can only pray that HBO’s calendar is a premonition of this bout finally coming off.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 