“Too Much Greed”: Amidst Showtime’s Collapse, Teofimo Lopez Brings Up HBO Debacle While Digging Deeper Into the Cause of Recent Shambles

It’s been 5 years since HBO aired its last boxing match. Now, another pay-per-view pioneer is following the suit. Paramount’s Showtime will be terminating its services this year after a 37-year-long run of its sports unit. The David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade fight scheduled for the 25th of November will be the last event under the network.

The company cited that due to ferociously changing content consumption patterns, it will be reallocating resources from the sports division to develop more scripted series content. The massive upheaval comes as the network looks to offload the mixed martial arts promotion Bellator MMA, which it purchased for about $50 million in 2011. As the news of its collapse hit the stands, there is a spurt of discourse around the changing scapes of sports entertainment. Partaking in it is Teofimo Lopez. 

Teofimo Lopez Blames “promoters, Managers & specific fighters” for Showtime Collapse

In the rapidly changing sphere of entertainment, sports remains the one area that has seen major disruptions in the last decade. But it peaked when HBO called it quits in 2019. Today, years later, when Showtime boxing stands at the same juncture of the story, super lightweight champion, Teofimo Lopez has brutally come out against the order of business that is quickly becoming a norm these days.

Contending that it is because of the promoters, managers, and fighters that have constantly gone on and off fights in pursuit of better contracts for them, the fighter said, “There is no one else to blame for the news of SHOWTIME & HBO then of the promoters, Managers & specific fighters. Too much Greed ends all desires of a wealthy lifestyle!”

With online streamers and promoters owning distribution channels entering the market, stalwarts like HBO and Showtime have suffered significant setbacks in profit-earning. In such new normative conditions, another combat fame recently chimed into the discourse.

Conor McGregor invites boxers into the cage as Showtime sees the dusk

As a historical boxing promotion sees its decline, Conor McGregor called upon boxers to venture into another sphere of combat- MMA. This call comes amid what McGregor perceives as a decline in the popularity of boxing and the rise of MMA, particularly the UFC. He’s dubbed this transition “the time now.” He said, “Showtime and hbo boxing is dead. But the @ufc is here and thriving. If you fighters in denial ever build up the courage to step in to the cage and fight. The time is now! Full circle.”

By inviting boxers to step into the cage, McGregor furthers his challenge against them. McGregor’s message is straightforward: MMA offers more action, and he urges boxers to embrace the challenge and switch sports. He firmly believes MMA is the future of combat sports and is committed to leading the way in both boxing and MMA.

Also Read: David Benavidez Hints Huge Jaron Ennis Announcement for Demetrius Andrade Fight

The demise of Showtime Boxing raises important questions about the future of the sport. Despite a wealth of skilled fighters, boxing faces challenges in marketing and relevance. Self-reflection is crucial for the players in the sport to stay viable and profitable.

Which is your favorite Showtime event to date? Let us know in the comments section below.

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