CABLE SPAR
HBO, Showtime locked in heavyweight rights battle
THERE will be plenty at stake when Anthony Joshua defends his IBF heavyweight championship against former longtime title holder Wladimir Klitschko April 29 at Wembley Stadium in London.
The fight features the 27year-old Olympic champion defending his version of the heavyweight title against the 41-year-old former champion who is coming off his first loss in 12 years. Nearly 90,000 tickets have already been sold for what is being billed as the biggest fight in British boxing history.
Yet to be determined is who will distribute the fight in the United States: HBO or Showtime? The two premium cable networks are lobbying for the bout, which could come down to the highest bidder offering the most incentives.
Klitschko, who had held some version of the heavyweight title since 2006, has a long-standing relationship with HBO. Joshua has an exclusive deal with Showtime, giving both networks a legal argument to rights if it comes to that.
For now, each network is preparing its best offer to Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, the lead promoter of the event.
When Floyd Mayweather fought Manny Pacquiao in May 2015, HBO and Showtime worked together to produce the $400 million bout, a rare occurrence between the two longtime rivals. It wasn’t a pleasant experience for either side. One or the other will win the rights to Joshua-Klitschko.
Industry insiders suggest it’s critical HBO win the rights to show that it still is committed to being viewed as boxing’s leading network. Showtime is riding a wave of success under vice president and general manager Stephen Espinoza, highlighted by a strong first quarter, while HBO won’t make any noise until Gennady Golovkin faces Daniel Jacobs on March 18 from Madison Square Garden.
There was a bit of tension in the air at the Joshua-Klitschko press conference this week in New York, where representa- tives from HBO and Showtime were in attendance, which is like inviting the Hatfields and McCoys to lunch.
Nelson and Espinoza led their respective contingents.
“Neither side is pulling out,” a source said. “Neither side is conceding.”
Hearn has the champion and will negotiate with both networks. It was suggested that the fight go to the highest bidder in a draw of envelopes during the presser in New York. Now the process is expected to heat up in the next 10 days.
“There’s a lot of intrigue going on here,” the source said. “This thing could be very, very interesting.”
Matchroom Boxing figures to make a bundle on rights to Sky Sports and German television alone.
“I know a lot of fans will be watching on TV and in the arena,” Klitschko said. “I’ve fought in front of huge crowds, but 90,000 is my biggest arena.”
Klitschko’s nine-year reign and streak of 22 successful title defenses ended in November 2015, when he lost his undisputed heavyweight championship to Tyson Fury. Klitschko was to face Fury in a rematch in July and then in October before the fight was canceled when Fury was declared medically unfit to fight. Fury later admitted to dealing with drug and mental health issues.
The fight with Joshua will be bigger. Think Mike Tyson versus Larry Holmes.
“I’m determined to become the best,” Joshua said. “That’s my obsession.”
Joshua looked like a NASCAR driver with all the logos visible on the shirt he was wearing at the presser: Stubhub, Lynx, and Under Armour are among those expecting great things from Joshua. Klitschko was wearing a gray buttondown that made him look every one of his 41 years.
Should he beat Klitschko, Joshua would become a global star. A loss would make him just another contender. You might say the same in Showtime’s battle with HBO. george.willis@nypost.com