Gradovich Eyes Move To 122, Rules Out Walters Bout

By Yuri Tarantin

As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum said he was interested in making a battle of former world featherweight champions, with 29-year-old Evgeny Gradovich of Russia going up against  29-year-old Nicholas Walters of Jamaica on December 12 in an HBO televised fight.

However, according to Gradovich, this fight appears unlikely. Gradovich and his manager were rubbed the wrong way during the negotiations and now the Russian boxer is considering the possibility of dropping down to the super bantamweight limit of 122-pounds. 

Gradovich says it's tough to get the big fights at 126, as most of the fighters are with manager/adviser Al Haymon, and his promoter does practically no business with Haymon - who has champions Jesus Cuellar, Leo Santa Cruz, Gary Russell Jr., Lee Selby and several others top names at 126 pounds.  

"I wanted to meet with Walters in December," said Gradovich. "It might get me a big fight. It would be a spectacular fight for the audience. But then there were some strange requests on their part, and I, along with my manager Egis Klimas, decided there is no way we will move forward."

"My weight dropped slightly and, to be honest, I want to try to go down junior featherweight. I want to test myself out there. There are not that many fighters there with Al Haymon, with whom my promoter does  not have a successful relationship with."

Gradovich will return on October 24 in Omaha as part of the undercard to the main event between WBO light welterweight champion - 27-year-old Terence Crawford, who makes makes the first defense of his title against Canadian Derry Jean. For his part, Graodvich will face 34-year-old Brazilian Aldimar Silva Santos.

Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru.