The boxing world was abuzz after boxing trainer Bill Haney boldly responded to rumors about Gervonta Davis’ low Pay-Per-View numbers. Haney suggested that Davis has “no place to hide”, sparking fervor among fight enthusiasts and adding fuel to the ongoing debate about the true worth of fighters in the PPV revenue model.
This debate was reignited after Gervonta “Tank” Davis defended his secondary lightweight title against Isaac Cruz on December 5th in Los Angeles. With the COVID-19 pandemic limiting access to public events, PPV purchases have become the primary source of income for boxing promoters and athletes.
Davis’ fight was reported by several outlets, including ESPN, to have sold around 50,000-80,000 buys, considerably lower than his previous fights. While these numbers are yet to be independently verified, boxing promoter Leonard Ellerbe downplayed the speculation, suggesting that the figures being circulated were inaccurate and misleading.
Bill Haney used these rumors to fire shots at Davis, saying, “Nowhere to hide!” The comment has resulted in significant attention online, with fans interpreting it as a challenge to Davis from his son, Undefeated WBC Lightweight champion Devin Haney.
Both Haneys and Davis possess stellar boxing records. Davis, at 27 years old, boasts an impressive 26-0 record with 24 knockouts. Similarly, 23-year-old Devin Haney holds an undefeated 27-0 record with 15 knockouts. The much-discussed potential matchup between the two young prodigies has been the topic of much debate in the boxing community for quite some time.
The tension between the two camps has been high recently, with both fighters calling each other out on social media – a feud that Bill has only escalated with his recent comments. However, Ellerbe passed off the criticism, touting Davis as one of the biggest draws in boxing today.
Gervonta Davis’ potential underperformance in PPV sales, if accurate, could be interpreted in several ways. Market saturation is a significant concern. With boxing matches viewable almost every weekend, casual fans might be picking and choosing what events to buy into. The price point of these events might also lead to lower sales. At $74.99 per event, some fans might elect to save their money for a “bigger” fight.
Another suggested reason for the low numbers could be the quality of Davis’ opponent. Isaac Cruz, while a competent fighter, is not as well-known compared to Davis’ previous opponents. The fight might not have had the draw that previous bouts have seen.
Bill Haney’s comments further underscore the intense debate surrounding PPV’s role in professional boxing’s future, a fascinating point considering the rise of streaming services and illegal, online streams. As such, the demands for high-quality fights are becoming greater, pressure that Haney seems to be vocally adding on Davis.
In closing, it remains to be seen if Davis’ PPV numbers were indeed low or if it is all part of the bigger game of boxing promotions. One thing is clear – with their rumored fight’s huge potential to reel in enormous PPV purchases, the continued call-outs between the two boxing prodigies are making the anticipation for a blockbuster bout between Davis and Haney even more intense.
All we can do now is wait, watch, and speculate on the future face-off in the ring and in the world of boxing finance.
