How WWE helped a big boxing fight get booked at MSG

At the first official press conference to hype the upcoming “Triple G” Gennady Golovkin-Daniel Jacobs boxing fight at Madison Square Garden, both the Garden and HBO thanked World Wrestling Entertainment for their flexibility in moving an event already scheduled on March 18.

According to MSG Executive Vice President of Marquee Events and Operations Joe Fisher, to make the fight happen, WWE needed to move a show they already had booked that night in the building.

“A lot of you don’t know this, but I really need to thank the WWE. Everybody says ‘why the WWE?’ Well, we had an event booked on March 18, with the WWE, and they are just tremendous partners. They realized the magnitude of this event. And the fact that we needed to have it here. It had to be at Madison Square Garden. So with their cooperation, and partnership, they were willing to move off the date, and made this date possible. So I really, really want to thank all the great people at WWE.” 

Later, Peter Nelson, EVP of HBO Sports, also showed his appreciation, adding, “I want to echo Joel’s moments about the WWE, and the spirit of partnership that they shared in moving an event so that this event could take place in its natural habitat.”

The fight was announced on December 17, and features two guys known for their power. Featuring Golovkin, one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters, the bout could become boxing’s Fight of the Year, as well as its best selling pay-per-view.