View Full Version : Should Froch just pack his bags for the US of A?
Losfer_Words
10-05-2009, 09:03 AM
I've been thinking about this ever since the Super Six was announced and the subsequent struggle to get a TV deal as a package for the tourney over here in the UK. Here's how I see the situation:
Froch is coming off of a huge win in dramatic fashion over a huge name in the States. He was also told after the victory over JT by the honchos at Showtime that 'as long as he fights like that [like he did against Taylor]' he'd be guaranteed slots on Showtime's boxing schedule. Going by American boxing sites as well as the general forum's reaction to him since the win, he has also captured the interest of both the hardcore and casual boxing fan in the States. Couple that with Froch's Polish roots and I think you have a potentially huge product to sell over there.
Contrast that with over here: the man on the street doesn't know who Carl Froch is; the Nottingham Arena is yet to sell-out; and Froch has struggled to get TV backing in the UK so much that his inept promoter (Hennessy) has had to set up a stream on his website for the JT fight and is now having a stab at unchartered territory on a brand new PPV station that seems set to bomb.
With all of this in mind, does it not just make more sense for Froch to go to the States full-time? For the sake of arguement, let's take McCracken out of the picture when considering this.
As always, any thoughts are welcome:good.
DAVEMAKER
10-05-2009, 09:04 AM
i think he would be more appreciated over there.... but i think he likes to fight in nottingham to much
Beeston Brawler
10-05-2009, 09:06 AM
Yeah - it's an absolute no-brainer.
Lewis did it, Hamed and Hatton fought there regularly as well.... why not?
PrideOfWales
10-05-2009, 09:11 AM
Yes
Mazallan
10-05-2009, 09:17 AM
Yes he would do very good business in the states also he could pack out stadiums in Canada too.
Cobbler
10-05-2009, 09:44 AM
I expect Mick Hennessy would be just as capable of failing to sell out arenas, providing terrible undercards, failing to get tv deals and generally being incompetent in the USA.
Conclusion: Froch's geographical location is not the problem.
Mazallan
10-05-2009, 09:45 AM
I expect Mick Hennessy would be just as capable of failing to sell out arenas, providing terrible undercards, failing to get tv deals and generally being incompetent in the USA.
Conclusion: Froch's geographical location is not the problem.
Wonder what would happen to Froch if he jumped into bedwith one of the Franks or Hatton?
Cobbler
10-05-2009, 09:48 AM
Wonder what would happen to Froch if he jumped into bedwith one of the Franks or Hatton?
He'd be on a TV station that didn't have to be invented for the purpose.
kleonkinch
10-05-2009, 09:55 AM
Bad Chad sold 1,426 tickets for his last fight. Maybe he should move to the UK.
He needs to leave Hennessy.
He may be loyal but he is gona end up doing himself out of alot of exposure and dosh. Go to the US and sign with Arum or Golden Boy, he would probably even have more chance getting a tv deal with Hatton than Hennessy. Shit Promoter.
kleonkinch
10-05-2009, 10:12 AM
Sky Sports are the only game in town. Carl needs to get himself on there anyway he can. Look what they have done for David Haye. I can't turn on the tv without seeing him. He must be better known now than at anytime in his career and he hasn't fought for a year.
robpalmer135
10-05-2009, 10:19 AM
Sky Sports are the only game in town. Carl needs to get himself on there anyway he can. Look what they have done for David Haye. I can't turn on the tv without seeing him. He must be better known now than at anytime in his career and he hasn't fought for a year.
Sky are really pushing Haye at the minute.
Froch should sign with DiBella. A promoter that beleives in him.
Froch still cant sell out in nottingham here. Its a joke. Hennesey is a joke.
Losfer_Words
10-05-2009, 10:28 AM
The question isn't so much about Hennessy being a shit promoter, it's more about Froch's chances at becoming a huge star Stateside. It goes without saying that Hennessy is completely inept (as I said above)- I'm just asking if Froch's career would be better off in the States:good.
Cobbler
10-05-2009, 10:40 AM
The question isn't so much about Hennessy being a shit promoter, it's more about Froch's chances at becoming a huge star Stateside. It goes without saying that Hennessy is completely inept (as I said above)- I'm just asking if Froch's career would be better off in the States:good.
And my answer was that, if changing location was the only change, no. Hennessy would still be the problem.
There's no reason to think that he could go to the US and be headlining shows and selling out arenas. The US is hardly a hotbed of boxing these days and most of the people that do attract crowds have either a regional base or a particular constituency. As kleonkinch pointed out Dawson fought Tarver twice for combined ticket sales of less than 3000. That's appalling. Froch couldn't hope to get anywhere near the crowds in the US that he can get in Nottingham (which are actually pretty good).
If we're talking switching to an American promoter, then that's obviously a different matter. However the switch of promoter would be more relevant than the change of location imo. In fact I'm pretty sure any promoter would want him to carry on having some fights in Nottingham. The fanbase that he's built up there is not to be sneezed at and not easily replicable.
If we're discussing options though, here's one no-one has suggested: froch should ditch Hennessy and sign up with Sauerland Promotions. Competent promoters and a better fit for Froch's mentality than someone like Arum.
Losfer_Words
10-05-2009, 12:25 PM
11-0. Mr Froch, America awaits:good.
robpalmer135
10-05-2009, 12:30 PM
Why not sign up with GBP and Hatton in the UK. That way he can fight on Sky Sports in the UK on decent bills, and then be promoted well in the US on HBO.
After Dirrel Froch has two fights, agasint big name, that will be happening before midnight.
Doesn't make a great deal of difference. Hennessy is just shite. He might get a prime time slot on American TV but that would almost certainly be negated by the fact very few would turn up for the fights, particularly against fellow European foes.
Hennessy is a woeful promoter, this should be piss easy to sell.
Bad Chad sold 1,426 tickets for his last fight. Maybe he should move to the UK.
That's cos his promoters took the easy money and put his fight on in a Vegas casino. His next fight is in his home state. Let's see how well he does there.
Hennessy is a crap promoter, Froch should leave him.
Cobbler
10-05-2009, 01:01 PM
That's cos his promoters took the easy money and put his fight on in a Vegas casino. His next fight is in his home state. Let's see how well he does there.
That's exactly relevant though to a discussion as to whether Froch could just rock up in Randomsville, USA where he has no fanbase and sell tickets for a fight. He couldn't.
G.A.V.
10-05-2009, 01:16 PM
Yes, he should. The publicity for him over here is pathetic and nobody seems to care. Infact, the only mainstream british boxer right now is probably Amir Khan and coming slightly to fruitition... David Haye, but for all the wrong reasons. People just think he's fighting some kind of UHMAAAZING GIANT, so the whole thing grows out of another bias 'rule britannia' standpoint with more idiotic fans that know nothing.
Meh, for the most part, British boxing fans are gullible, irritating and non-sensible so the quicker boxing comes to be a forgotten legacy over here, the better.
Fucking Phil Fury over the other guy by 2 points, that's still making me rage...
Losfer_Words
10-05-2009, 01:16 PM
That's exactly relevant though to a discussion as to whether Froch could just rock up in Randomsville, USA where he has no fanbase and sell tickets for a fight. He couldn't.
I'm sure if Froch played on his Polish roots (as I suggested before) he'd get a fair few fans into an arena as well. You also have to take into account the opposition that comes with being promoted in America as well and also the way he would be promoted in the Sates witha proper promoter. I reckon it would be a good move. The Yanks have really taken to him. Amazing, really, given that he was 14 seconds away from defeat and looking daft for running his mouth.
scunny slugger
10-06-2009, 06:02 AM
yes he should deffo go,he would be more appreciated over there
Brit Sillynanny
10-06-2009, 07:06 AM
I'm sure if Froch played on his Polish roots (as I suggested before) he'd get a fair few fans into an arena as well. You also have to take into account the opposition that comes with being promoted in America as well and also the way he would be promoted in the Sates witha proper promoter. I reckon it would be a good move. The Yanks have really taken to him. Amazing, really, given that he was 14 seconds away from defeat and looking daft for running his mouth.
Gonna have to agree with Cobbler. Boxing is completely dead over here. Sport fans don't have a clue who Jermaine Taylor is just as they didn't have any idea who was Jeff Lacy. Boxing has been dead with the exception of just a few names for a long time. Sport fans know various football, basketball, and baseball players they don't know more than a handful of boxers. Virtually no one would have had any exposure to Andre Ward or Andre Dirrell either. They are nobodies (and not because of talent but because boxing is just that far far down the ladder).
I'm in Vegas and can assure you that being a boxer is not far above the bottom of the sports pyramid within eye shot of bowlers, cyclists, and hockey players.
I just don't see any opportunity to generate a fan base unless Froch is gonna be able to decapitate an opponent or knock someone completely out of the ring so that they are maimed. American sport fans will accept incredible excellence from anywhere or anyone as entertainment content is big business - but, do you really think that Froch could generate that kind of buzz? I don't. It would take a prime RJJ, SRL, MT or something comparable to have a shot. Even Floyd isn't a large celebrity. The last big star was Oscar. Before that Mike. Even RJJ was only big box office for a very short period and to a somewhat limited extent.
All the best athletes have been going to the big 3 sports for generations as it is the road to a subsidized education at a minimum and ample financial reward at the maximum (pros). Boxing is actually behind MMA now. There are a lot of obstacles to making a big name as a boxer in the US. Froch would have to completely destroy EVERYONE. Even the Klits are nobodies over here and it isn't merely because they aren't American. It is more attributable to everyone knowing that our best athletes aren't boxing so they don't get any credit for their victories over a parade of "C" class level bums. No one is impressed by those victories. The comp is not there to convince anyone of their talent. Their performances leave no one thinking they are boxing's "Usain Bolt".
saint
10-06-2009, 10:01 AM
I've been thinking about this ever since the Super Six was announced and the subsequent struggle to get a TV deal as a package for the tourney over here in the UK. Here's how I see the situation:
Froch is coming off of a huge win in dramatic fashion over a huge name in the States. He was also told after the victory over JT by the honchos at Showtime that 'as long as he fights like that [like he did against Taylor]' he'd be guaranteed slots on Showtime's boxing schedule. Going by American boxing sites as well as the general forum's reaction to him since the win, he has also captured the interest of both the hardcore and casual boxing fan in the States. Couple that with Froch's Polish roots and I think you have a potentially huge product to sell over there.
Contrast that with over here: the man on the street doesn't know who Carl Froch is; the Nottingham Arena is yet to sell-out; and Froch has struggled to get TV backing in the UK so much that his inept promoter (Hennessy) has had to set up a stream on his website for the JT fight and is now having a stab at unchartered territory on a brand new PPV station that seems set to bomb.
With all of this in mind, does it not just make more sense for Froch to go to the States full-time? For the sake of arguement, let's take McCracken out of the picture when considering this.
As always, any thoughts are welcome:good.
I think he should, he doesn't get the respect his wins/performances deserve over hear.
robpalmer135
10-06-2009, 10:14 AM
I'm sure if Froch played on his Polish roots (as I suggested before) he'd get a fair few fans into an arena as well. You also have to take into account the opposition that comes with being promoted in America as well and also the way he would be promoted in the Sates witha proper promoter. I reckon it would be a good move. The Yanks have really taken to him. Amazing, really, given that he was 14 seconds away from defeat and looking daft for running his mouth.
selling tickets doesnt matter anymore. its all about tv in thr states and HBO and Showtime would pay big money for his fights if he keeps winning or at least fight in that style.
Cobbler
10-06-2009, 10:17 AM
selling tickets doesnt matter anymore. its all about tv in thr states and HBO and Showtime would pay big money for his fights if he keeps winning or at least fight in that style.
But then the geographical location of those fights is not important. In fact they'd probably prefer them with an enthusiastic crowd that would be provided in Nottingham than in front of a half empty not particularly engaged school hall.
Even countries like Australia and Canada would get behind him a lot more.
whatcouldabeen
10-06-2009, 11:57 AM
yes he should
KingCobra
10-07-2009, 09:10 AM
Froch has built up a great fan base in Nottingham. It'd be a shame for him to leave and I wouldn't be able to see his fights live. So NO! Froch's problem is his lack of mainstream TV exposure and that problem transcends geographical location. Fat Mick needs to take a hit in the short term for increased exposure and greater profitability long term.
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