Nothing that is successful
remains in autonomy as an idea; anything that “works” is without practically millions of
derivative products- some you may derisively call “knock-offs”. A lot of movies
we think are new are really re-imagined and repackaged for the current the generation
and the same can be said for music. Lady Ga Ga to 40 somethings like myself is
Madonna 2.0 and Usher is the lovechild of Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye, and
this was not an accident. We live in what Edward Barnays (the father of PR)
calls “the age of Mass Production of idea’s” and if you want to follow the
group think you’ll usually end up at a corporation. In our sport Top Rank and
Golden Boy along with HBO serve as the "great distributors of ideas" that tell us WHO the
stars are and believe it or not they know what they're doing. Golden Boy is based on the Top Rank model because Top Rank gave De La Hoya the singular modus operendi that made him a huge star; Feed the Hispanic market STARS THEY CAN LOVE. Boxing is like
any other entertainment business and with the
Mayweather/Pacquiao era coming to a close the vacuum must be filled with a
“star” in the homogenized tradition of Oscar De La hoya. Boxing must also answer to a market more
savvy, global and technologically plugged in than previous generations which is
why Amir Khans arrival at “moneyweight” (welterweight) is being rushed along. But he
isn't alone; he’s merely part of the Mass Distributors creating a Boy band
to usher in Boxings New World Order.
The Race to manufacture
Boxings next “Idol”
My favorite movie “The Idol
Maker” was based on the life of music Svengali Bob Marcuucci who gave us
Frankie Avalon and Fabian in the 1950’s. It was a peek into not only how it
worked then but how it still works; men like Bob Arum gave us Oscar De La Hoya
because he knew what gave us Ray Leonard. It wasn’t hard, Olympics-cute
kid-loves his mom-left hook. Maurice Starr in the 1980’s gave us New Edition
right off of the Jackson 5 cookie cutter right down to Ralph Tresvants
squealing high pitched vocals. And when the brotha’s from Roxburry asked for
their dough he crossed the tracks to “southie” and cranked out New Kids on the
Block. Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya are no fools; they know Mayweather was an
outlier in appeal and level of talent and that we’re more likely to see the
next Oscar than the next Floyd. So each tentacle of Boxings shadow Government
have thrown their considerable resources behind a group of young lads who can fight a
little and have that “safe” cuddly look that reminds fans of the Golden Boy.
And like most Boy Bands theres real talent there to either admire or resent due to the way you choose to believe they got to this point. Together they compose a formulaic
approach to Boxing; the emphasis is on making a star who happens to be a
champion not the other way around. They carry more similarities and calling
cards to actual Boy Bands than you think; they all fit into the models that you've seen in all the most compelling groups, just replace the screaming girls with the most lucrative and dedicated fan base in the sport.
Victor Ortiz “The Rebel”
To hear Oscar De La Hoya
talk about Victor Ortiz is to hear a lot of bad GM's who used to play a game overvalue
players who remind them of themselves. Imagine Mexican Boxing fans as the 14
year old girls who follow boy bands, passionate, dedicated and when they pick a
guy..look out. Ortiz brings that out of fans; he’s endearing and kind of humble
but clearly flawed-his supporters (like Bobby Brown fans) will argue in his
defense that if he could only do “this or that” and like most “Bad Boys” he
will-sometimes.He’s all action and excitement and sometimes its to his
detriment; but he will always be compelling must see TV. Like Bobby
Brown his fight vs. Andre Berto was his “My Perogative” moment; he grew up,
stood up for himself against his critics (and Berto) and told everybody to kiss
his ass. Shortly afterward he was granted "A list" status that he clearly could
not handle; after 3 rounds of missing punches vs. Floyd Mayweather he went through
every range of behavior listed under bi polar disorder. Against Josisito Lopez he broke
boxing convention for the THIRD time by opting out of a fight he was winning due
to a broken jaw. Like all Bad Boys he polarizes the base; some find him heartless and not all together "there" and others believe he's still in line to be the NEXT BIG THING. As of this writing we're supposed to be talking about his challenge of Boy band member Canelo Alvarez for the hearts and minds of the younger slice of the demographic and like Bobby Brown we're talking about something else.Most Bad Boys can do the right thing in spurts and have the talent to be the leader but if they could do that they wouldn't be as compelling would they?. Face it, you know your tuning in to watch him again because he's just as likely to retire (and become a pro surfer) as he is to win the undisputed junior middleweight crown and you wouldn't have it any other way. He wouldn't be the same guy if he got his stuff together, he's the kid in the Boy Band with the spiky Mohawk, the Prince who could have been King.
Canelo Alvarez "The Second Lead Singer Your not buying"
Watching Miguel Cotto do surprisingly well against Floyd Mayweather i couldn't help thinking "if he had Canelo Alvarez's combination punching he would have shocked the world". But we wouldn't buy the actual Canelo Alvarez beating a Mayweather; because like the second lead in a Boy Band theres something missing that wont allow me to buy in. Jermaine Jackson had a good enough voice and even played respectable bass but you couldn't buy in to him being a solo star despite the push from Motown. Alvarez is truncated in length (i swear he's 5'7 if he's an inch) for the division and a beat slow for my liking and i cant see him maturing into a threat at middleweight and wouldn't be surprised if he ages out Ricky Hatton style. Golden Boy is doing all they can to maximize the fact that the kid is a real draw but to what end? the Josisito Lopez choice of opponents leads me to believe they cant move him in the division with any confidence. Was Ortiz there to make him a bigger star or was it the other way around?. Like NKOTB's Jordan Knights solo success, the second lead is a brief bubble with nothing substantial holding it up. There's talent but not "cant miss" talent and i'm sure they know this at Golden Boy Promotions. Theres been a lot of back and forth between the two rival companies about just "who" is the leader of the band (Canelo or Chavez jr.) but those who believe Alvarez is "the guy" are like the fans who thought Ralph Tresvant was the equal of Bobby Brown, misguided. He's Jordon Knight outside of the confines of NKOTB and like Jermain Jackson he may be talented but only enough to make a cameo next to Michael. Bob Arum isn't buying it, and he's the Berry Gordy of the Hispanic Market, he believes September 15th will be the coronation of Boxings leader of the pack...Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Julio Cesar Chavez, "The Lead Singer"
Ever notice that alot of these groups though limited have a really talented lead singer who seems to have more career longevity. The leader is always pedigreed ( Justin Timberlake from the Disney machine, Michael Jackson from Planet Soul) and significantly more talented, the building blocks are there. When you saw Julio Cesar Chavez's baby face for the first time you had to think "just another mediocre boxing brat" but i noticed the infrastructure. He was brought along slowly and in the "Mexican Tradition" forfeited an amateur career that frankly makes a lot of American fighters entitled slap boxers. His father (moment of silence) the legendary "JCC Superstar" was always "there" but not there in that obnoxious way Hector Camacho Sr. was with his son. Along with being expertly moved and knowing just when to go solo ( vs. Martinez) Chavez is the on the precipice of making himself The Money Man in Boxing in the next 5 years. Sergio Martinez is lineal Middleweight Champion of the world, the man who beat the man and like any under appreciated Champ he's been foaming at the mouth to get his hands on this kid- but had to submit to Arum time. The Leader of the pack is a revelation once he matures; you cant really picture him being a man until he steps away from the pack and shows you he's for real. Everything about the Chavez vs. Martinez Promotion reeks of the kind of disrespect unseen since Holmes vs. Cooney and the Real Middleweight Champ is feeding off of it. So much so that the first thing out of his mouth during Max Kellermans Face off was a spitting "when are you going to do something for yourself and stop living off of your father?". Out of character for one of Boxings finest gentlemen since Alexis Arguello, what i paid attention to was the look in Chavez's eyes- he didn't look like a kid anymore, he actually looked a little unhinged. The exclusive body puncher had a look that suggested he cant wait to tear into the 37 year olds midsection-and I'm buying it. HBO is rolling out the star treatment tonight with the "2 Days" in much the same way they gave Mayweather a platform with 24/7 back in 2007. He may be resented, but like many lead singers he's been groomed for the venom he's getting from Martinez and like Michael Jackson's startling performance on Motown 25 he will step away from his band mates and announce his arrival.
Chavez By Late Stoppage.
Canelo Alvarez "The Second Lead Singer Your not buying"
Watching Miguel Cotto do surprisingly well against Floyd Mayweather i couldn't help thinking "if he had Canelo Alvarez's combination punching he would have shocked the world". But we wouldn't buy the actual Canelo Alvarez beating a Mayweather; because like the second lead in a Boy Band theres something missing that wont allow me to buy in. Jermaine Jackson had a good enough voice and even played respectable bass but you couldn't buy in to him being a solo star despite the push from Motown. Alvarez is truncated in length (i swear he's 5'7 if he's an inch) for the division and a beat slow for my liking and i cant see him maturing into a threat at middleweight and wouldn't be surprised if he ages out Ricky Hatton style. Golden Boy is doing all they can to maximize the fact that the kid is a real draw but to what end? the Josisito Lopez choice of opponents leads me to believe they cant move him in the division with any confidence. Was Ortiz there to make him a bigger star or was it the other way around?. Like NKOTB's Jordan Knights solo success, the second lead is a brief bubble with nothing substantial holding it up. There's talent but not "cant miss" talent and i'm sure they know this at Golden Boy Promotions. Theres been a lot of back and forth between the two rival companies about just "who" is the leader of the band (Canelo or Chavez jr.) but those who believe Alvarez is "the guy" are like the fans who thought Ralph Tresvant was the equal of Bobby Brown, misguided. He's Jordon Knight outside of the confines of NKOTB and like Jermain Jackson he may be talented but only enough to make a cameo next to Michael. Bob Arum isn't buying it, and he's the Berry Gordy of the Hispanic Market, he believes September 15th will be the coronation of Boxings leader of the pack...Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Julio Cesar Chavez, "The Lead Singer"
Ever notice that alot of these groups though limited have a really talented lead singer who seems to have more career longevity. The leader is always pedigreed ( Justin Timberlake from the Disney machine, Michael Jackson from Planet Soul) and significantly more talented, the building blocks are there. When you saw Julio Cesar Chavez's baby face for the first time you had to think "just another mediocre boxing brat" but i noticed the infrastructure. He was brought along slowly and in the "Mexican Tradition" forfeited an amateur career that frankly makes a lot of American fighters entitled slap boxers. His father (moment of silence) the legendary "JCC Superstar" was always "there" but not there in that obnoxious way Hector Camacho Sr. was with his son. Along with being expertly moved and knowing just when to go solo ( vs. Martinez) Chavez is the on the precipice of making himself The Money Man in Boxing in the next 5 years. Sergio Martinez is lineal Middleweight Champion of the world, the man who beat the man and like any under appreciated Champ he's been foaming at the mouth to get his hands on this kid- but had to submit to Arum time. The Leader of the pack is a revelation once he matures; you cant really picture him being a man until he steps away from the pack and shows you he's for real. Everything about the Chavez vs. Martinez Promotion reeks of the kind of disrespect unseen since Holmes vs. Cooney and the Real Middleweight Champ is feeding off of it. So much so that the first thing out of his mouth during Max Kellermans Face off was a spitting "when are you going to do something for yourself and stop living off of your father?". Out of character for one of Boxings finest gentlemen since Alexis Arguello, what i paid attention to was the look in Chavez's eyes- he didn't look like a kid anymore, he actually looked a little unhinged. The exclusive body puncher had a look that suggested he cant wait to tear into the 37 year olds midsection-and I'm buying it. HBO is rolling out the star treatment tonight with the "2 Days" in much the same way they gave Mayweather a platform with 24/7 back in 2007. He may be resented, but like many lead singers he's been groomed for the venom he's getting from Martinez and like Michael Jackson's startling performance on Motown 25 he will step away from his band mates and announce his arrival.
Chavez By Late Stoppage.
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