2
PACESETTERS
Two rights holders aiming to alter the game
World Boxing Super Series
When newly founded promotion company
Comosa AG unveiled plans for the World
Boxing Super Series, it brought with it great
apprehension amongst stalwart boxing
enthusiasts. One reason behind this may be its
similar tournament format to the short lived
Super Six World Boxing Classic , that aimed to
bring the six best super middleweight boxers
in the world and decide the single greatest
boxer through one tournament. From past
experience, therefore, boxing unsurprisingly
seems like a difficult sport to create an
evolving/engaging format.
However, on first glance it looks promising
for the newly formed competition. With the
aim of capturing a younger and newer
audience, Comosa AG have established a
shorter tournament format (something that
Super Six World Boxing Classic failed in
doing, as it lasted over 2 years). This
instantly looks to engage and attract a
millennial fan base and could provide reliable
traction for the event. Looking to streamline
formats appears to be a trend that is being
reproduced throughout a number of varying
sports in order to keep the younger fans
entertained.
The tournament is into its quarter finals this
October with some big fights including both
Groves and Eubank still aiming to win the
Muhammed Ali trophy (and also not to forget
the $25m winning pot!)
Golf Sixes
If you think back to a couple of months ago
you may remember that we were looking
forward to the potential of this exciting new
event. And… now that it has finished it seems
only right that we applaud an event and idea
that aims towards evolution of a previously
ageing sport.
It seems so simple, and yet it has been a long
time coming. A new tournament format full of
innovation: two man teams from 16 nations
competing across a six-hole circuit, with each
hole encompassing a different theme;
including: Longest Drive, Shot Clock &
Nearest the Pin. Drawing inspiration from the
popular T20 cricketing format, the PGA Tour
have looked to evolve an ageing, lengthy
format, in doing so, hoping to excite a newer
and potentially younger fan base.
With the inclusion of pyrotechnics and music
greeting the players at the first hole, a leader
board displaying the longest drive, a shot
clock encouraging speed for putts (including a
fan countdown), as well as in-round
interviews at the final hole, the PGA
organisers have hit a hole in one and
revitalised the sport in one fell swoop.
One can hope that this has a positive impact
throughout the sport as well as influencing
other traditional sports to follow suit; as
previously mentioned with the boxing world
also aiming to innovate their own sport.