Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
One of the most powerful men in the boxing television business, Jay Larkin passed away in August last year at the age of 59 and here at WBN, we are marking some of his greatest achievements.
Larkin created Showtime, Championship Boxing and ShoBox as pay-per-view phenomenons from 1984-2005 working with the likes on Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis in their prime.
Born in Long Island, he rose from publicist to senior vice president and executive producer in a remarkable career that spanned over two decades in the boxing business.
In the 1980’s, Jay was involved in bringing Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard to the small screen and worked with the great Julio Cesar Chavez amongst a whole host of other big name boxing stars.
His greatest achievements though will forever be Tyson v Holyfield I and II, which on their nights were the biggest ever grossing boxing nights in history with the the second bout being the first to gross $100 million dollars in revenue, they also turned out to be two of the most exciting and controversial.
In 2002 though, Jay even surpassed those two contests as Mike Tyson took on world champion Lennox Lewis at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, resulting in a knockout performance by the champion that sealed his legacy.
The fight generated $106.9 million dollars in pay-per-view revenue, a record that stood for five years until beaten by the super-fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in 2007.
The former Showtime creator was also involved in the tragic events of the Nigel Benn v Gerald McClellan in which McClellan almost collapsed in round ten and was rush to hospital with blood clot and spent seven days in a coma.
McClellan lost his eyesight and hearing and only recovered a small portion of his ability to walk, needing a cane for assistance. It was a fight that Jay called his “most painful moment as a promoter.”
Larkin will also be remembered for being one of the first men to bring MMA to the small screen, although his efforts failed, he was a catalyst for others to follow and have now taken it to the heights we see today.
Jay passed away on the 9th of August 2010 after a three year battle with a brain tumour and will be forever remembered in astute boxing circles around the world for his contribution to our great sport.
Jay Larkin: WBN salutes you.
WBN Editor
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| Larkin: Boxing giant |
WBN remembers a true boxing catalyst
One of the most powerful men in the boxing television business, Jay Larkin passed away in August last year at the age of 59 and here at WBN, we are marking some of his greatest achievements.
Larkin created Showtime, Championship Boxing and ShoBox as pay-per-view phenomenons from 1984-2005 working with the likes on Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis in their prime.
Born in Long Island, he rose from publicist to senior vice president and executive producer in a remarkable career that spanned over two decades in the boxing business.
In the 1980’s, Jay was involved in bringing Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard to the small screen and worked with the great Julio Cesar Chavez amongst a whole host of other big name boxing stars.
His greatest achievements though will forever be Tyson v Holyfield I and II, which on their nights were the biggest ever grossing boxing nights in history with the the second bout being the first to gross $100 million dollars in revenue, they also turned out to be two of the most exciting and controversial.
In 2002 though, Jay even surpassed those two contests as Mike Tyson took on world champion Lennox Lewis at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, resulting in a knockout performance by the champion that sealed his legacy.
The fight generated $106.9 million dollars in pay-per-view revenue, a record that stood for five years until beaten by the super-fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in 2007.
The former Showtime creator was also involved in the tragic events of the Nigel Benn v Gerald McClellan in which McClellan almost collapsed in round ten and was rush to hospital with blood clot and spent seven days in a coma.
McClellan lost his eyesight and hearing and only recovered a small portion of his ability to walk, needing a cane for assistance. It was a fight that Jay called his “most painful moment as a promoter.”
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| Larkin with Tyson (pic by The Boston Globe) |
Larkin will also be remembered for being one of the first men to bring MMA to the small screen, although his efforts failed, he was a catalyst for others to follow and have now taken it to the heights we see today.
Jay passed away on the 9th of August 2010 after a three year battle with a brain tumour and will be forever remembered in astute boxing circles around the world for his contribution to our great sport.
Jay Larkin: WBN salutes you.