The Golden Acquisition of Ring - Part 1

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Charles Jay - Ring magazine, along with sister publications KO and World Boxing (not to mention Pro Wrestling Illustrated) have just been purchased by Oscar De La Hoya and his Golden Boy Companies through a subsidiary called Sports & Entertainment Publications, LLC. Almost immediately following the announcement of the sale, there was buzz throughout the boxing grapevine, both good and bad, along with a number of questions that must naturally be pondered.

Among them:

Does it constitute a groundbreaking convergence of marketing, media and promotion that will bring more beneficial attention to boxing, or a dangerous conflict of interest that will further bring down the reputation of a sport that doesn't need any more black eyes?

Should we celebrate along with the undisputed box office champion of boxing, or be suspicious that he is actually getting too powerful?

Is this a transaction that is entirely motivated by self-interest, for purposes of monopoly and manipulation, or is the intent to have an effect of improving the overall image of the industry, thus creating more value and helping everyone?

Is this even significant enough to be the focus of much discussion or concern?

This is some of the terrain we will attempt to traverse in this two-part commentary.

ON THE ONE HAND...........

I can understand exactly why De La Hoya would want to buy the publication, from a sentimental perspective. He says he grew up reading the magazine, anxiously anticipating its arrival each month. There are very few brand names that have the characteristics of recognizability and tradition, and Ring is one of them. The opportunity to revive something that is perceived in such a light is difficult for someone with sufficient financial wherewithal to pass up, and when those kinds of visions are dancing around in your head, possible conflicts of interest aren't the foremost thing on your mind. [details]

[Sin City]

The position of Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer is that, looking at the big picture, it wouldn't be worth it to fiddle around in a nefarious way with the Ring ratings. One can understand it, I suppose, when he says he doesn't want to jeopardize the name equity - and marketing potential - Ring may have by interfering with the ratings, or the editorial content of the magazine, for that matter. "If we do something wrong, we destroy the Ring value and the brand, and that means we made a pretty poor investment," he told Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.

Shaefer has an excellent point, the people who are speculating on The Ring turning into everything GBP should understand what Richard said. If they **** with the magazine they will lose money and that wouldn't be a smart investment.

[PRboxingfan]

The position of Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer is that, looking at the big picture, it wouldn't be worth it to fiddle around in a nefarious way with the Ring ratings. One can understand it, I suppose, when he says he doesn't want to jeopardize the name equity - and marketing potential - Ring may have by interfering with the ratings, or the editorial content of the magazine, for that matter. "If we do something wrong, we destroy the Ring value and the brand, and that means we made a pretty poor investment," he told Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.

Shaefer has an excellent point, the people who are speculating on The Ring turning into everything GBP should understand what Richard said. If they **** with the magazine they will lose money and that wouldn't be a smart investment.

Yup. If Ring Mag is seen as biased towards GBP fighters, they will lose all credibility they have in the sport and then it basically becomes a money-losing liability to the company instead of a money-making asset. Nobody buys a business with the intent of losing money so I believe that the magazine, while it will feature more GBPs ads and maybe a few extra mentions in an article here and there, will not be skewed.

[rellik13]

What sucks is there will always be a questionmark and left to be debatable. Still not a good thing.