By Jhonny Gonzalez
Recently, WBO/WBC bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel spoke about his decision to turn down the possibility on entering a bantamweight tournament being put together by Showtime. The tournament was going to be based on the Showtime's Super Six Boxing Classic focusing on the super middleweight division. Some of the names willing to enter were Abner Mares, Vic Darchinyan, Joseph Agbeko and Yohnny Perez.
Montiel is under the belief that he can make more money by staying away from the tournament. Two of the bigger possible opponents in his future, Nonito Donaire and Hozumi Hasegawa, also turned down the tournament offer from Showtime.
"I was told that I'm going to fight in September, and then have a very important fight in November or December and that might come against Nonito Donaire," Montiel told Sal Rodriguez. "It wasn't the names that didn't interest me in the tournament, it was the market, because I sincerely believe that I can do more by not being a part of it."
The September opponent is rumored to be former champion Cristian Mijares. Montiel said he didn't want to be contractually locked inside of the tournament for what might be a long time. He wanted to leave himself open for any possible challenge that might come along.
"The thing is this, not everyone who want my belts will be in the tournament, and then it makes it difficult for them to challenge me. I want the big fights and Nonito is with Top Rank, as am I, and there is a big possibility that fight will happen," Montiel concluded.
