By Charles Brun: Eddie Hearn doesn’t have much to say about Showtime’s recent unveiling of their boxing schedule for the next five months from August to December. Hearn believes the September 26 pay-per-view card headlined by the Charlo brothers, Jermall and Jermell, will be a disaster.
He doesn’t view that as a PPV worthy card despite Jermall and Jermell facing two excellent fighters in Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Jeison Rosario.
Hearn feels that when you dig deep into Showtime’s five-month schedule, you see a lot of flawed match-ups that won’t do much to move the needle with boxing fans.
Showtime fights that Hearn isn’t excited about:
- David Benavidez vs. Roamer Angulo – August 15
- Chris Colbert vs. Jaime Arboleda – November 28
- Angelo Leo vs. Tramaine Williams – August 1
- Sergey Lipinets vs. Kudratillo Abdukakhorov – October 10
Eddie likes Gervonta Davis vs. Leo Santa Cruz
“I had a little back and forward with old Stevie baby [Stephen Espinoza of Showtime],” said Hearn to Boxing Social. “I say fair play to him. If you’re going to ask me honestly what I think about it, outside of the two pay-per-view events, tell me a fight that you’re looking forward to.
“Actually no, Nonito Donaire and Nordine Oubaali aren’t too bad, but let’s go through the others. David Benavidez against Roamer Angulo. No, awful fight. Chris Colbert and I like Chris Colbert, but he’s headlining an event against Jaime Arboleda. Stephen Fulton against Angulo Leo.
“Sorry [editor’s note: Stephen Fulton Jr is out of the fight after testing positive or COVID 19. He’s been replaced by Tramaine Williams]. Easy for you to say [Sergey Lipinets vs. Kudratillo Abdukakhorov].
“I will say one thing, Gervonta Davis against Santa Cruz and the Charlo events are strong nights and strong events. Pay-per-view Charlo, oh dear, watch the numbers. Gervonta Davis is a star.
“Gervonta Davis against Santa Cruz is, in my opinion, is a pay-per-view event, and I think they’ve done a wonderful job. Listen, we’re all guilty sometimes of what we say in England in polishing a turd, where you have something, and you dust it up to make it look great, Hearn said.
Showtime’s schedule of events involves cards that have one great fight, which is what virtually all cards have nowadays. It’s rare for a card to have more than one compelling fight, even for pay-per-view. Showtime’s events are about the same as we see nowadays, unfortunately. It’s a rare case where you see more than one good fight.
Hearn sees flaws in Showtimes’ schedules of events
“What they did was really clever,” Eddie said about Showtime. “They said, ‘This is our schedule,’ and everybody came back and went, ‘Wow.’ But when you dissect it.
“I think Coppinger got a bit of stick. He said actually, ‘what am I supposed to look forward to again?’ But two pay-per-view events are great nights. Even the Charlo night, it’s not pay-per-view, but it’s a really great night.
“Charlo-Derevyanchenko is a great fight, and then you’ve got [Jermell] Charlo-Rosario unification fight. So fair play to Stevie [Espinoza] baby. We’re not best buddies, and sometimes I just want to grab his cheeks and give him a little kiss. But it’s going to be a while before I can do that again.
“12 to 18 months, a year ago,” said Hearn when reminded that he predicted recently that Showtime won’t be around in boxing in 12 to 18 months. “Give me another six months.
“There’s no cast-iron guarantee. Listen, we might not be around in boxing in six months’ time. Boxing might not be around in six month’s time. Fox may be out of boxing in six months’ time. Anything can happen.
“I think you’re very brave to think that Showtime has a deep, long-term strategy in boxing because boxing is in trouble. The sport is in trouble; content is in trouble.
“So anyone that comes back, Showtime, Top Rank, Warren, fair play. It ain’t easy, so good luck to them,” said Hearn.
The Charlo brother’s pay-per-view card on September 26 isn’t a bad one, as they’re both facing quality guys in Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Jeison Rosario. The undercard is lacking for the doubleheader on that date.
These are the fights on the Charlo undercards:
- Brandon Figueroa vs. Damien Vasquez – Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko
- Diego Magdaleno vs. Isaac Cruz