It's strange how things work. When the discussion first came up about a Beltway Boxing Supercard, little did we realize that there were other people thinking about this.
There were reporters like John Scheinman of the Washington Post (who set this discussion in motion here on the blog), matchmakers like Chris Middendorf and other promoters who gave quality information. And, of course, the many fans who expressed their sentiments about the subject here.
Meanwhile, over in Germany, the PMG/Headbangers group had the very same idea during Tony Thompson's bout with Luan Krasnigi, with the same people involved as we mentioned on the post dated July 24, 2007 -- Thompson, The Peterson Brothers, Jimmy Lange, Reginald Taylor, Darnell Wilson, Ty Barnett and others. The thought even came up (especially in the wake of the rousing success of the Keystone Boxing pro-am card at Rosecroft Raceway on August 3) to make this event an all-day boxing festival featuring amateur and pro bouts.
To make this even more interesting, members of the DC Boxing And Wrestling Commission have had their wheels turning about the very same idea. Both the commission and PMG/Headbangers told me separately that would like to put together a supercard in the memory of Dr. Arnold McKnight.
To even come close to doing this, there would need to be a conglomerate of promoters and matchmakers that would have to check their egos at the door. Maybe it could be a full Beltway card with Maryland and Virginia involved. That would mean the commissioners would also have to leave their egos behind.
I mention this only to let you know that the powers that be in boxing in this area are listening to you. They want to see this event happen.
I will say this much: With the boxing talent we do have in this area, we are more prepared to do this than we have been in at least a decade! Let's see what we can do!
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In the words of The Black Eyed Peas..."LET'S GET IT STARTED IN HERE"! Wowza! I see history in the making. What a roller coaster ride boxing has been these last few days!
The ego issue I think is the biggest obstacle to overcome. I like the all-day thing. It'd probably be at Verizon Center, on a Saturday (when the Wizards don't play), but man, this'd be awesome to see.
I concur. Let's make it happen!
ACW, I disagree. It's a MONEY thing. Will it make sense?
anon. true enough. But even if it makes enough dollars to make sense (paraphrasing Discombobulating Jones there), can the promoters check their egos?
I often see promoters work with each other, often remarkably well, granted mixing 2 states and the Nation's Capitol raises the stakes on potential friction, but it also introduces the ability to pull off something miraculous like landing on the moon. I would think the next move will be for all these factions who are getting bit by the Super-card bug, to set up a preliminary meeting and sit down with each other and take it from there. This is all kind of moot until that happens. So Super-card Mover'n'shakers when is that going to happen???
HBO, Showtime or any other (ESPN) is only going to commit airtime to porbably 3 or 4 bouts. Who decides who gets paid what? Who gets television time? How the pie is divided....I think the gate could sell out, and if the venue such as the convention center was donated by the mayor, which is a neutral location, or maybe the patriot center which has more on site parking....
I think an all day venue is too much...a "regular" show is exhausting enough to manage and more than entertaining for the fans to have 5 or 6 hours of quality solid boxing. Less can be more ...especially for first venture. This isn't a fundraiser, so I don't know how the Mayor or anyone can "donate" a building...still going to cost to run it and staff it. This is a crazy long shot and would never happen, but heck this is all conjecture now, so I am going to throw it out there. I think the New Stadium would be way too cool and would definitely attract big TV But that is probably already booked until 2050. Would be a new market promo for the stadium. How that TV time pie divided is easy, which promoter in the area has experience and exposure and top fighters that we see consistently on air. Perhaps do a draw of straws for a couple of the other bouts.
I know you Promoters are probably laughing your butts off at us, but this is fun...Kind of like SIM City but SIM Boxing.
My last comment and I know I will alienate a lot of you with it, but if it has anything to do with Dr. McKnight's memory...knowing how hard he fought to get MMA here...they should be a part of it.
Patriot Center i'd think would be an EASY sell out.
Thompson, Wilson, and the Petersons (and maybe Lange) would get the TV time.
ACW...
that's a great list, I love it, but there are titles to consider too so unless we draw the scared cats, i.e. pussies who hold the belts, those all won't be viable. Patriot Center is good, I like it, but this one is all about thinking outside the box ing ring.
Not th EASY button.
Well, one idea that floated through my mind to draw the champs (though I have absolutely NO idea how feasible this is) would be that, if the Beltway boxers won, the then-former champs would get a rematch in said boxer's hometown (e.g. if Tiger beats Sultan Ibragimov, the rematch for the title would be in Russia).
Why did Shelly Finkel sell the Peterson brothers contract to PMG?
I thought everything was going just fine. I understand that the brothers are not big ticket sellers but they are very good boxers and seen to be doing well.
acw..
Now why do you want to send Tony to Russia as a potential booby prize to someone he took the belt from? It's all about putting our area on the map. We have been sending our best nationwide and to whatever God-forsaken other country just to get the belt. This area has some great talent, some great promoters and a metropolitan area that is rich with resources and poised to go TOE-to-TOE with any city or country on the map. No "To Russia with Love" The line has been drawn along the BATB border Our new mantra has to be Cross it if you dare!
Linda, I see what you're saying, but do you think the champs would defend there titles here otherwise, in the challenger's hometown (not because it's DC, but because it's the challenger's backyard)?
Just like all boxing, there will be traveling and it depends who has the belt and where they are. I understand your logic, and it made sense. I guess I am just frustrated because I wish this area had the stature and respect that boxers, fans, and TV WANT to be here. You know, like Vegas or Madison Square Garden. I guess I want to be proud of an area that has it's own topnotch boxing flavor and recognition. To build our own boxing arena, with a place set up with State of the art accommodations for TV crews. Big screens, Nice dressing rooms for the boxers, Great lights for the photographer, and a place that fans from all around can't wait to flock to. That is all so lofty and often I feel completely silly to even think about it, but that is what I want.
Gabbie,
I am not familiar with Shelly Finkel and didn't know that the Peterson Brothers weren't really home based, especially from the last press I can find on them...
http://www.shellyfinkel.com/event/052507_espnpetersons.php
But even so wouldn't being under local PMG would be a good thing?
hello everybody this is the tiger yes the real tony the tiger and i just want to comment on the superfight proposal.i know it could happen because like any place else that puts on fights if d.c was willing to put up the site fees snd area buisnessess get involved because they would also profit we could make it happen.boxing follows the money and if d.c puts ups the money anybody would fight here just like when they put up for the tyson fight.now u have your home grown fighters and everyone is sitting back waiting to see if we become champions then jump on the wagon.u can't do that u have to support your fighters now
Hey,Tony glad to see that you dont't be sleep in our meetings[LOL],so when you retire after becoming the Undistputed Heavyweight Champion of the world, you can run the company,an i can retire, but Tony is 100% correct that's what it's going to take,i also believe its going to take for the commisions of the District, M.D,V.A to come together, the PMG/HEADBANGERS team is ready to go as Digital reported with our ego's all ready parked,Linda as i ask Digital to check with you to see would you be interested in coordinating everything by seeing who are serious an who are not,also it seem's like everyone respects you an you want what's best for boxing in the area with no agenda,so thats just my opion to all of this,an linda you can call Greg McCormick from my team he would be the contact person for us, an Gabbie to answer some of your questions,Shelly Finkel did not sell to PMG the peterson's contracts an still is envolved in their career's an the boy's are from D.C they leave in D.C an train at Bald Eagle rec located in D.C they just had most of their fights in Memphis,that was one of the reason's we did the fight on May 25 at the Armory it was the first time for Anthony,Lamont an Tony Thompson to fight in their own hometown an be on centerstage,but for getting World Champions to come here an defend their titles against our locals would be a challenge but like Tony said it could happen an it has happen before in other states but its going to take for every one to come together but it won't happen by this fall, an supercard can still be put in place with names that everyone have mention with the matchmaker's bringing in the right opponents,so like the Great marvin Gay sang "LETS GET IT ON"
Nate Peake
Nate...
I thought Gary was pulling my leg!
I am beyond honored that you considered me to work on this project! Anything I can do to help boxing in our area, definitely! I don't have George's 411 can you email it to me? info@lindasiadys.com.
WOW~Thanks so much! I have to go out back now and do some cartwheels.
The Patriot Center and the convention center have been suggested for potential venues for our Supercard, but I have to say (and I haven't been to the new convention center yet) but some of the best shows, including the 2 ESPN shows were there as was Omar's successful MMA event (they curtained off a section and had production semi trucks inside!) and big screens and did some coverage with green screen interviews in the background. Biggest appeal...close to Metro, so is accessible to everyone! If this happens any time other than summer...even better because you won't have the "oh-dear God...no air conditioning" problem. Here is a review I just read on it.
"The first time I was here, I wore jeans and ate hot dogs. The next time, I was in black tie at a fancy inaugural ball -- go figure!" It's hard to top that for a succinct description of the DC Armory's versatility.
Cavernous in size and unprepossessing from the outside, the Armory has trained visionaries who can transform the place with chameleon-like ease. It's an everything-arena, home to circuses and conventions, inaugural balls and animal shows. If you have 10,000 best friends, they'll fit here -- but 1,000 folks won't rattle around too badly when things are gussied up. The minimum is pretty much 100 tables of 10, though, in cabaret style. There's a 24-by-32-foot stage if you need it. Rentals include security guards, move-in-and-out personnel and even a nurse. Food is, well, reliable, and ranges from sandwiches and soft drinks to full-scale formal regalia with champagne fountains. You can jazz up the entrance lobby with tents and carpeting to create your own Academy Awards feel. Or you can keep things down home casual. Ask about rental rates and insurance requirements. -- Tracey E. Meloni
Sorry. I was referring to the DC Armory.
I think the Convention Center would be an ideal location..if the price was right. Even though you can take the metro there, parking's still an issue.
I think the Patriot Center -- albeit a nice venue -- is considered too far for a lot of folks to come from DC and Baltimore.
The Armory would not be a bad location, but those who are hung up on the glamour of a location may have a problem with this.
All three have their good points. And of course, there is Verizon Center.
I do love the Verizon Center, but figure they cost tons of money and I bet booking is tight. As far as the image I think John S. said something about the charm of the Armory... And get this, that last ESPN Fight had Mayor Fenty and my Floyd MAYWEATHER standing together...to this boxing girl...you really can't get any classier than that! I do agree about parking...I wonder if they could work some magic there. If I had too I could walk across to the stadium side for parking...or I would be glad to hitch a ride with you Gary!
Our boxers are the Glamour not the building!
If the Super DMV (District/Maryland/VA) team could provide a few buses from some central locations might really be good incentive for Patriot Center.They seem to have a hard time filling not just boxing, but concerts too.
Okay, final comment. Since this is an equal MEGA TRINITY in the making,I believe the first fight should be in DC and the next in either VA or MD etc. That the negotiator with PPV sign's them up for a package deal. So we really need to look at not one, but three dates and places to lock into.
OK, as for venues:
-Convention Center: guess it'd be good; never been there
-Armory: Fine location, but either have some AC, or have the card not in the summer
-Patriot Center: fine location (and concerts have sold out there); I like the idea of buses (maybe have some from the Vienna Metro?)
-Verizon Center: if not too expensive, probably the ideal location: high capacity, great location, great arena
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