Wladimir Klitschko vs. Ruslan Chagaev: How Will We Watch?

Wladimir Klitschko and Ruslan Chagaev have agreed to fight on June 20 in Germany, and I suppose that's the best possible outcome after David Haye dropped out of the fight. But HBO has decided to pass on televising Klitschko vs. Chagaev, and that means that with just 12 days to go, we have no idea which American TV channel -- if any -- will be showing the fight.

Most people I've heard from seem confident that some TV network -- maybe Showtime, maybe ESPN, maybe Versus -- will pick up the fight. And if not, the promoters could put it on pay-per-view. But 12 days is not a lot of time, and Klitschko vs. Chagaev is not the kind of fight that would bring in a lot of eyeballs. Is there a chance that this fight just won't be on American TV?

I sure hope not. Klitschko is the IBF and WBO heavyweight champion, and Chagaev is the WBA champ. I'd like to think that boxing is still relevant enough that a fight to unify three of the four heavyweight belts would have to make it onto American television sets in some way or another. But until I see an American TV station make an announcement that it's showing the fight, I'm going to have some doubts about whether I'll be able to watch.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-08-2009 @ 8:34PM

waaaaazuuuuup said...

THIS FIGHT IS NOT EVEN GOING TO BE WORTH 50 CENTS TO WATCH... ZZZ

6-19-2009 @ 12:47PM

mnsonfrkofworld said...

There's only one legitimate place I've found to watch it, the rest seem like scams :-/ You can see it over here though: http://vostuu.com/watch28015.html

They make you do a little survey but after that it's good to go :)

6-09-2009 @ 5:08PM

Mike said...

Two champions. Of course, I would watch. What the hell is wrong with people???!! Yet so many of them would watch up and comers who do nothing but KO a group of over the hill or "Opponent" types. Now THAT is a waste of time.

6-09-2009 @ 7:14PM

rod said...

The heavy weights are so convoluted with all the pumped up russians playing musical alphabet titles. Seriously who cares about the Klitskos?
There hasn't been a true lineage heavy weight champ since Lennox Lewis retired. You couldn't pay me to view the heavys any more. Bring on Packman & Marquez, there's a good fight.

6-11-2009 @ 8:07AM

chaosgreed78 said...

two bums with a belt that no one want to see the heavyweights are a joke they souldnt show none of these clowns fight on tv banned them all intill they start fighting real fighter boycot them all

6-11-2009 @ 4:35PM

imustbegoingnow said...

What is wrong with people. These are two of the three men who hold heavyweight title belts. I so wish the fight would be on TV, I would love to see this fight.

6-13-2009 @ 1:43PM

retrojoke said...

Boxing is over.

6-14-2009 @ 7:58PM

forrealdog2 said...

the only thing wrong with boxing is America cannot find a black fighter who can beat the russians.... if Klitschko were an American everyone would b drooling over him ... he is fighting everyone that we send to fight him so why r Americans moaning and groaning....I actually think the klitschko brothers r the best heavyweights fighting today. They earned their way , losing a couple of fights when they were young and coming back to beat those same fighters ....they have become very skilled boxers with alot of power ..just because they dont bounce around like Ali does not mean they cant fight... Joe Louis fought a very similiar style and the U.S. went crazy over him.