“Part of what was intended to make the Friday PBC broadcasts better than their now extinct Friday competition is the name value of the fighters involved. No, familiarity is not enough for success, but if Haymon is looking to attract new viewers, and ultimately new sponsors, he is going to use the more recognizable names in his stable (at least for now). Unfortunately, Haymon has given little indication that he will risk having his familiar fighters knocked off. In this respect, there is little revolutionary about PBC boxing coming to regular cable. Mismatches, of course, are nothing new: HBO is guilty of them with their flagship fighters, Showtime is guilty of making them for whomever Haymon says.”

Read Trivial Pursuit: Amir Khan-Chris Algieri Preview on The Cruelest Sport.

“With the win, DeGale also joins Vasyl Lomachenko as the second 2008 gold medalist to win a vacant title over an Al Haymon fighter, a feat that is unremarkable given the number of fighters under Haymon’s purview, but nigh impossible considering his predilection for control. Like Lomachenko, DeGale, London, England, only got his crack at the title because of a purse bid won by Haymon, who staged the fight with one of his puppet promoters (in this case Warriors Boxing).”

Read The Other: James DeGale W12 Andre Dirrell on The Cruelest Sport.

“The problem of Golovkin’s opposition then, regardless of where you fall on the matter, is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. What supporters and critics of Golovkin alike can admit, is that without those noteworthy challenges, Golovkin’s run is beginning to lack the drama that Golovkin is said to represent. He is still developing as a draw, has never been more popular, and yet, there is a festering impatience about his career that even his staunchest defenders must admit. Even Golovkin’s catch phrases, repeated ad nauseum in the build up to his fights, have lost much of their charm.”

Read Walls, Closing In: Gennady Golovkin TKO6 Willie Monroe Jr. on The Cruelest Sport.