Vergil Ortiz Jnr-Boots Ennis was always an attractive fight to make and this prolonged negotiation has arguably made us all want it more.
It is when these things drag on for years (see Floyd Mayweather Jnr-Manny Pacquiao and Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury) when it really tests the appetite of those following these things closely. But as things stand, this is about the right amount of public bartering and posturing to lead into a fight. And unlike the other contests mentioned, this would involve two elite fighters in their primes squaring off, and that is not a regular occurrence.
That said, it is happening in New York when Shakur Stevenson challenges Teofimo Lopez Jnr. That is a mouth-watering match, and one hopes it delivers on its vast potential. It’s sadly gone under the radar – arguably a further sign that top fighters need to box one another at their best to build their star power rather than depend on an 0 as part of their professional records.
What I don’t get, with Ortiz-Ennis, is why there is a money problem and why both fighters cannot be paid what they want.
We’ve seen and heard about crazy sums being dropped to make huge fights happen, and this is nowhere near as expensive a fight as some of the others staged with the clout of Saudi Arabian money, so why the hold up in making one of the biggest and best fights in the sport? Stylistically, I would say it’s a more appealing match up than Stevenson-Lopez, and it’s certainly a higher calibre fight than Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia.
Maybe it gets over the line. Maybe it doesn’t. But it’s curious why this one particular fight faces obstacles while others have been greenlit in record time.
Whatever the reasons behind it, there has never been a clearer indicator of hyper-inflation in the marketplace taking its toll on the overall landscape.
*
With the rumours that the bout between Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora could land on Sky Sports, it was interesting to hear that the giant UK broadcaster could be coming back into boxing. There has been speculation that they could land a pair of deals, with Zuffa Boxing and MVP, and Sky Sports is a UK juggernaut with plenty to offer both. They also have a ready-made boxing team of analysts and pundits waiting to carry on from where they left off when the promotional deal with Boxxer ended. Talk of an Easter Sunday MVP show featuring the likes of Ellie Scotney, Chantelle Cameron, Savannah Marshall and others is great to hear. But, along with the Zuffa deal and any talk of Wilder-Chisora, there are numerous obstacles to clear before anything could either move ahead or be announced.
**
It’s been a busy week. Perhaps the most “boxing” thing I saw was Ryan Garcia singing the praises of the WBC and even walking out three round-card girls holding up one letter each – W, B, and yes, C – overhead. He was clearly grateful to the sanctioning body as he’s found his way into the WBC title fight with welterweight king Mario Barrios next month. And why wouldn’t he be? He is 0-1 at welterweight. He was dropped and beaten in his last fight in May by WBA champ Rolly Romero and before that had been suspended for a year for taking PEDs. Can you imagine his CV landing on Mauricio Sulaiman’s desk? He’s 0-1 at the weight. Lost his last fight. Never won at 147lbs. Banned for PEDs in the fight before the loss.
“Get him in there.”
Possibly an even more “boxing” thing was Sulaiman then sharing the Garcia clip everywhere, thanking Garcia for thanking him.
Remind me why we’re in this mess again?
At least the WBC’s number one at welterweight is a logical fight for the winner. Oh, wait…
***
It’s hard to recall a commentator losing stock as much as Max Kellerman has in recent months, but he’s not the only man telling us things we don’t need to hear or we do not believe. I’ve often enjoyed commentators – even ones who have drawn criticism have added variety and a soundtrack of sorts. But nowadays, everything is “the best”, “the greatest”, “new”, “improved”, “better than ever…”. Nowadays, one of the first decisions to make is whether you want the commentary on or not. There’s clearly a mandate to force positivity down people’s throats but we know the truth and we know what we are watching. We also know what a prime Roy Jones looked like and, more importantly, what he didn’t look like.
****
It’s hard not to feel for Boxxer. They could have really done with Adam Azim boxing this weekend and looking the business following losses for “house” fighters Frazer Clarke and Callum Simpson in their first two BBC shows. But it wasn’t to be, Azim and his opponent Gustavo Lemos were both injured and the fight was shelved. Fortunately, and credit to Ben Shalom and the BBC, the show goes with Fran Hennessy in the main event. The other fighters do not lose their spots.
*****
What Camile Estephan is doing at Eye of the Tiger is easy to admire, but there’s no way Christian Mbilli – who I really rate – should have been awarded the WBC 168lbs title. He drew his past fight, with Lester Martinez, and many thought he lost. Surely a rematch for the vacant title was the logical move? Alas, as with much of the above, this is boxing. Logic be damned.
