This weekend, the biggest headline maker in boxing - was unexpectedly heavyweight Curtis Harper, who is viewed as nothing more than an "opponent" - and used for stay busy fights and to further build rising prospects.
On Friday night in Minneapolis, as part of a Premier Boxing Champions on Fox Sports 1 broadcast, he was scheduled to face rising heavyweight banger Efe Ajagba (5-0, 5 KOs).
But when Harper heard the first bell, he quickly left the ring and walked right to the back. The live crowd, and the FS1 viewers, were left shocked - as the referee issued a disqualification call on Harper (13-6).
Harper told a PBC reporter that he was trying to make a "statement" because he was unhappy with his purse.
Ajagba's promoter, Ringstar Sports CEO Richard Schaefer, is not buying his excuse and says Harper agreed to the money long before the contest took place.
“[Money is] the only reason [he took the fight]. He had agreed to the contract,” Schaefer said to the LA Times.
“There’s absolutely zero doubt that he saw Efe and probably sh*t his pants. Is he going to tell the reporter he was scared? No, he knew how much he was going to get paid. He had signed the contract. We had a fight, but then the guy … leaves. This was like the ‘Fear Factor.’ ”
Schaefer explained that Ajagba was very upset with the outcome, because he trained hard for the fight.
Because no punches were even thrown, his next fight is already being positioned for the upcoming PBC on FS1 card on September 30 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California - which is headlined by a welterweight bout between Victor Ortiz and John Molina.
“[He's a] devastating puncher who can box,” Schaefer said of his fighter. “He was pissed. He had trained. He wanted to fight. We’ll get him right back in there in the next few weeks.
“He was upset, but I told him this is maybe the best thing that can happen to you. This is legendary. People are scared of him. No one wants to fight him. This is how you break through. Efe Ajagba has arrived, and the heavyweight division has a new star. Who wouldn’t want to watch him fight now?”
