Blair Cobbs Wants Main Event Slot For Next Fight: I Think I Deserve More Credit!
Mar 16, 2022 • 7:23 AM ET
This Saturday, Blair ‘The Flair’ Cobbs was booked for his fourth consecutive appearance as an undercard fighter.
His only concern coming out of his clash with Alexis Rocha is that it will mark the final time he has to play a supporting role on someone else’s show.
“I’m on a head-on collision to main event status,” Cobbs insisted to BoxingScene.com. “After I win this fight in spectacular fashion, I should be the main event. I don't know why they made Vergil Ortiz the main event. Let Blair The Flair be his own entity.”
Ironically, Cobbs could get his wish though not by design.
Cobbs-Rocha was set down to serve as the chief support of a March 19 DAZN show topped by top welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18KOs), who was scheduled to face England’s Michael McKinson (21-0, 2KOs). However, Ortiz officially withdrew from the fight on Tuesday night with illness.
Golden Boy Promotions, who are staging the card, are searching for a replacement to face McKinson.
The event—which takes place at USC Galen Center in Los Angeles—comes nine months after Cobbs primed the crowd for at Don Haskins Center in El Paso ahead of a main event featuring Tijuana’s Jaime Munguia (39-0, 31KOs) last June in El Paso, Texas.
The last ring appearance before the pandemic for Cobbs came on the undercard of rising lightweight contender Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18KOs) on Valentine’s Day 2020. Three months prior came a preliminary slot preceding pound-for-pound Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s WBO light heavyweight title winning knockout of Sergey Kovalev.
This upcoming assignment leaves Cobbs (15-0-1, 10KOs) somewhat unsettled.
The charismatic welterweight from Philadelphia—who lives in Las Vegas and trains out of Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood—is confident that his fight with Rocha (18-1, 12KOs) will go down as far as the most memorable of the evening. It’s a bold statement, considering Ortiz is one of the sport’s hottest rising contenders and who has been a knockout every time out through 18 pro fights.
“He’s definitely known for a lot of excitement, but with fighters known for just falling out at first notice,” insists Cobbs. “Who is this guy he fighting? I don’t know! I shouldn’t have to be the main event just to fight Vergil Ortiz. Let me make some money and we can make that happen.
“I’ve already faced way more fighters who are actually there to fight. My resume isn’t handpicked and well-crafted just for everyone to get knocked the hell out. These fighters are out here truly believing that they can beat me. It’s my job to not only win, but to make it look exciting. It’s a tough road, I think I deserve more credit.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
