HBO and Showtime "usually operate in separate orbits of the boxing universe," but the "interests of the rival networks will align" for Saturday night's Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao fight, according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. The telecast "will be a joint venture of the networks, with a slight edge in influence by Showtime." The fight "will be produced from a Showtime truck, with David Dinkins Jr., the executive producer of Showtime Sports, and Bob Dunphy, the director, in charge." Two of HBO’s boxing announcers, Jim Lampley and Roy Jones Jr., "will call the fight, along with Al Bernstein of Showtime." Showtime's Jim Gray and HBO's Max Kellerman "will be the ringside reporters, and James Brown (Showtime) will be the host." The music and graphics "will be new, with no connection to either network." The networks on Friday "will simultaneously carry the fighters’ weigh-ins, and early Saturday evening, they will televise the countdown program." Dinkins said, “Some issues have to be worked out when rival companies get together like this because this is unprecedented.” But Sandomir reports the issues they have dealt with "have been minor: how often to use CompuBox statistics or when to use the networks’ unofficial ringside judges, Steve Farhood for Showtime and Harold Lederman for HBO." HBO and Showtime "had a collaboration of sorts 13 years ago when Lennox Lewis knocked out Mike Tyson in Memphis." Lampley called that match alongside Showtime’s Bobby Czyz. Each network "sent its ring announcer to the fight." HBO’s Michael Buffer will introduce Pacquiao, and Showtime’s Jimmy Lennon Jr. will introduce Mayweather (N.Y. TIMES, 4/28).
SO HAPPY TOGETHER: In California, Michael Lev writes, "Incredibly, despite decades in the business and Hall of Fame credentials, this will be the first time Lampley and Bernstein have worked together." Lampley said, "We’ve laughed about it over the years. We’ve known each other for a long time. We have similar tastes and approaches to the sport. We’ve chuckled about the obvious expectation that we’d never call a fight together no matter how long we’re doing this. Here we have our one opportunity. I think we’re both very excited about that. It’s a fun thing to press between the pages of the memory book" (
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 4/28).
COVERAGE KUDOS: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes, "As fight week begins, the spotlight is moving in another direction illuminating the darkest side, Mayweather’s history of domestic violence. Shockingly, ESPN, a valued business partner of Mayweather and his manager Al Haymon through its association with Mayweather Promotions, changed the focal point." The network's “Outside the Lines” presented "a comprehensive, riveting report on Mayweather’s violent confrontations with women." ESPN personalities such as Keith Olbermann and John Saunders "registered their disgust while separately vowing to boycott the fight." Raissman: "Could a five-day avalanche of adverse domestic violence publicity turn enough people off where it negatively impacts PPV sales? If there are protests by women’s groups at the site of the fight, how will that optic play nationally?" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/28). In Austin, Cedric Golden echoes the sentiments and writes, "Good to see ESPN take some time from its oversaturated, overhyped Mayweather-Pacquiao coverage to devote some time to Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s well-documented history of domestic abuse." Golden: "Kudos to the network for sending reporter John Barr to speak with Mayweather on camera about his record of domestic abuse -- five convictions in 14 years -- and on boxing lagging behind other sports like football in disciplining offenders" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 4/28).
