RSS 2.0 FeedVol. 3, No. 6, June 2007, Sports
The Fight Game
Boxing and MMA co-exist for the greater benefit of Las Vegas
The marriage of boxing and mixed martial arts flourishes, despite its skeptics.
Boxing purists incorrectly dismiss the MMA evolution as a fad. MMA enthusiasts naively believe their sport can usurp boxing’s fabled history, but Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather just established a pay-per-view record of more than two million buys for their May shootout at MGM. The extravaganza also contributed millions to the Las Vegas economy.
Neither sport has overshadowed the other. Look no further than the Las Vegas June sports calendar for confirmation. It contains a six-pack of boxing and mixed martial arts events, the most in the nation.
Each sport has a different reason to succeed. Boxing draws more single-event high rollers. MMA targets a younger crowd that pays high ticket prices, even when casinos won’t comp them.
Both sports will prosper again in June. Boxing contributes an international showcase, with British bomber Ricky Hatton facing Jose Luis Castillo on June 23 at the Thomas and Mack. It also features Crown Boxing at the Orleans June 15.
The MMA has a number of smaller events, but has also filled the big arenas and branched out its product.
New Format
The Las Vegas Hilton, for instance, offers a unique International Fight League doubleheader June 16.
The IFL has carved a niche within a niche. Mixed Martial Arts, dominated by Pride, UFC and the Spike TV reality series, has become a major player in the sports entertainment horizon. The less-publicized IFL continues to flaunt its successful formula: team sports.
The company makes its Las Vegas debut as the Toronto Dragons oppose the New York Pit Bulls and the Tucson Scorpions face Ken Shamrock’s Nevada Lions.
Team mayhem?
This event contains five matches, each of which involves four three-minute rounds. The usual hybrid of boxing, karate, jiu-jitsu and submission tactics apply. Fights occur inside a boxing ring, which has a four-foot apron extending beyond the ropes to accommodate a competitor forced outside the ring. Fighters use five-ounce gloves.
The Hilton show concludes the IFL regular season, which began in January and ran approximately every six weeks. Top teams advance to playoffs in August and a championship later in the year. Team and individual honors comprise the interesting scenario.
“The beautiful thing is that we cover this from all sides,” says Keith Evans, the league’s vice-president of operations. “Just like UFC is entertainment, we have entertainment. Just like boxing is a sport, these guys are professional athletes, regulated by a state commission. They have physicals, they comply with the rules and they are paid on a regular basis. They receive bonuses when they win in competition.
“We have 60 fighters under contract (five per 12 teams) plus alternates. Our fighters have been in UFC and Pride, they have fought for championships. They continue to do that here. Top fighters in each weight division also receive belts.”
Athletes constantly compete both for teammates and themselves.
The Hilton event features two elements. The first team to win three matches captures the contest, but all fights will still take place. Even if a team wins the first three bouts, it looks to collect bonus points in the final two fights for season-ending tiebreakers. Three judges score each fight, the same as boxing, but IFL adds a tiebreaking round if three rounds produce a draw. The four-minute concept is unique. Boxing features three-minute rounds. Most MMA events feature five-minute periods. The IFL found a middle ground to ensure a quick pace in its fights.
This is just one of several selections for MMA fans. The Hard Rock features World Extreme Cage action June 3. South Point delivers Tuff-N-Uff June 22 and the Palms features its own brand of the product June 23.
Hatton Comes to Town
The long-awaited Ricky Hatton-Jose Luis Castillo title bout unfolds in the Thomas and Mack Center that same June 23 evening. Philadelphia promoter Art Pelullo needed a big venue for this one after Hatton and Castillo triumphed in respective January 20 bouts at Paris Las Vegas. While that fight was set for 7,500 fans, this one will be set up for close to 18,000.
Caesars Palace and Wynn hook up for sponsorship of the event, which promises a significant financial return. Hatton brings a fanatical British fan base.
“I’m excited this fight is going to be in Las Vegas, just like the last one,” Hatton says. “There is a buzz there that never lets up.”
Hatton, 42-0, is happy to face his first right-hander in three fights. Awkward performances against Luis Collazo and Juan Urango raised question marks about his power, despite the victories.
Castillo, 55-7-1, gained acclaim with a two-fight split against Diego Corrales and a victory over Joel Casamayor. The Mexico native has held lightweight titles. He tries to capture a crown at 140 pounds.
Boxing purists incorrectly dismiss the MMA evolution as a fad. MMA enthusiasts naively believe their sport can usurp boxing’s fabled history, but Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather just established a pay-per-view record of more than two million buys for their May shootout at MGM. The extravaganza also contributed millions to the Las Vegas economy.
Neither sport has overshadowed the other. Look no further than the Las Vegas June sports calendar for confirmation. It contains a six-pack of boxing and mixed martial arts events, the most in the nation.
Each sport has a different reason to succeed. Boxing draws more single-event high rollers. MMA targets a younger crowd that pays high ticket prices, even when casinos won’t comp them.
Both sports will prosper again in June. Boxing contributes an international showcase, with British bomber Ricky Hatton facing Jose Luis Castillo on June 23 at the Thomas and Mack. It also features Crown Boxing at the Orleans June 15.
The MMA has a number of smaller events, but has also filled the big arenas and branched out its product.
New Format
The Las Vegas Hilton, for instance, offers a unique International Fight League doubleheader June 16.
The IFL has carved a niche within a niche. Mixed Martial Arts, dominated by Pride, UFC and the Spike TV reality series, has become a major player in the sports entertainment horizon. The less-publicized IFL continues to flaunt its successful formula: team sports.
The company makes its Las Vegas debut as the Toronto Dragons oppose the New York Pit Bulls and the Tucson Scorpions face Ken Shamrock’s Nevada Lions.
Team mayhem?
This event contains five matches, each of which involves four three-minute rounds. The usual hybrid of boxing, karate, jiu-jitsu and submission tactics apply. Fights occur inside a boxing ring, which has a four-foot apron extending beyond the ropes to accommodate a competitor forced outside the ring. Fighters use five-ounce gloves.
The Hilton show concludes the IFL regular season, which began in January and ran approximately every six weeks. Top teams advance to playoffs in August and a championship later in the year. Team and individual honors comprise the interesting scenario.
“The beautiful thing is that we cover this from all sides,” says Keith Evans, the league’s vice-president of operations. “Just like UFC is entertainment, we have entertainment. Just like boxing is a sport, these guys are professional athletes, regulated by a state commission. They have physicals, they comply with the rules and they are paid on a regular basis. They receive bonuses when they win in competition.
“We have 60 fighters under contract (five per 12 teams) plus alternates. Our fighters have been in UFC and Pride, they have fought for championships. They continue to do that here. Top fighters in each weight division also receive belts.”
Athletes constantly compete both for teammates and themselves.
The Hilton event features two elements. The first team to win three matches captures the contest, but all fights will still take place. Even if a team wins the first three bouts, it looks to collect bonus points in the final two fights for season-ending tiebreakers. Three judges score each fight, the same as boxing, but IFL adds a tiebreaking round if three rounds produce a draw. The four-minute concept is unique. Boxing features three-minute rounds. Most MMA events feature five-minute periods. The IFL found a middle ground to ensure a quick pace in its fights.
This is just one of several selections for MMA fans. The Hard Rock features World Extreme Cage action June 3. South Point delivers Tuff-N-Uff June 22 and the Palms features its own brand of the product June 23.
Hatton Comes to Town
The long-awaited Ricky Hatton-Jose Luis Castillo title bout unfolds in the Thomas and Mack Center that same June 23 evening. Philadelphia promoter Art Pelullo needed a big venue for this one after Hatton and Castillo triumphed in respective January 20 bouts at Paris Las Vegas. While that fight was set for 7,500 fans, this one will be set up for close to 18,000.
Caesars Palace and Wynn hook up for sponsorship of the event, which promises a significant financial return. Hatton brings a fanatical British fan base.
“I’m excited this fight is going to be in Las Vegas, just like the last one,” Hatton says. “There is a buzz there that never lets up.”
Hatton, 42-0, is happy to face his first right-hander in three fights. Awkward performances against Luis Collazo and Juan Urango raised question marks about his power, despite the victories.
Castillo, 55-7-1, gained acclaim with a two-fight split against Diego Corrales and a victory over Joel Casamayor. The Mexico native has held lightweight titles. He tries to capture a crown at 140 pounds.
Casino Connection Sports Editor Dave Bontempo is an award-winning sports writer and broadcaster who calls boxing matches all over the world. He has covered the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs, as well as numerous PGA, LPGA and Seniors Golf Tour events, and co-hosted the Casino Connection television program with Publisher Roger Gros.
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