The PBC has secured a broadcasting deal with Amazon Prime, marking a new chapter for the management/promotion company. As Showtime Sports has opted out of featuring boxing in its programming, this collaboration provides the PBC with an opportunity for continued exposure through the streaming service. No specific details about the deal, including its duration, have been disclosed.
However, it’s important to acknowledge the persistent concerns regarding the PBC’s reputation, which has long been associated with corruption. To sustain this newfound relationship, the company must undergo genuine transformation in its approach to fans, boxers, and its partners.
One notable issue with the PBC is its classification as a management company, despite operating similarly to a promotion in many aspects. This labeling discrepancy is just one example of the questionable practices that the PBC engages in, often exploiting loopholes and adopting ambiguous titles like “adviser” or “manager” for its owner Al Haymon. While affiliated with TGB Promotions, the PBC’s attempt to distance itself from the promotional label is overshadowed by its conspicuous branding on every show.
Despite the PBC’s questionable practices, many media outlets have overlooked or downplayed their actions. Unlike other platforms, our platform has consistently questioned their decisions and relationships. The negative impact of PBC’s interference in boxing is evident in instances such as the IBF stripping Terence Crawford to promote a PBC fighter like Jaron Ennis.
If the PBC aims to maintain its partnership with Amazon Prime, it must address these issues and reduce corrupt practices. Questionable relationships with sanctioning bodies and holding back fighters, exemplified by Gervonta Davis’s matchups, need to be rectified. The company’s credibility will be closely scrutinized in the upcoming months and years―even though he is supposedly the “face of boxing”, especially in the evolving landscape of television, where other companies may reconsider collaboration if PBC’s shortcomings persist.
To truly make a positive impact on boxing, the PBC must demonstrate a commitment to change. However, given its track record, skepticism remains about the potential resolution of ongoing issues, including stalled divisions and delayed expected fights in the coming years.
