By Ben Jacobs
The early part of 2015 will be a busy period for promoter Gary Shaw. While he confirmed that discussions are taking place for a world heavyweight title challenge for his man, Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs) against Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 53 KOs), he did not want to elaborate to much on the situation but to say, “There are some discussions going on so I really don’t want to comment on anything. I represent Bryant Jennings, I believe that he is a great heavyweight and just like in football, one team can beat another at any time, so I believe Jennings on the right day can beat anyone.”
Shaw discussed recent fights for Thomas Dulorme and José Pedraza as well as some other topics in a BoxingScene telephone interview.
BoxingScene: What are your thoughts on Thomas Dulorme’s performance against Hank Lundy?
Gary Shaw: It was a very tough fight, Lundy is a very tough fighter. I always hope the right Lundy shows up for my fighter! But the wrong Lundy brought his game. He gave Dulorme a lot of problems through rounds 6,7,8,9 and 10. I thought it was a great learning experience for Dulorme and now he’s getting ready to take on much better opposition. He took a wicked body shot in the sixth round and it almost changed the fight. It set him back and he kind of almost didn’t recover. But he did enough to win the fight.
BoxingScene: Could his next fight be for a world title?
Gary Shaw: Well, I’m looking to get him in with one of the top 140lbs fighters. [Ruslan] Provodnikov, Mikey García if he moves up or any 147lbs fighters if they move down, Tim Bradley. Any of the top guys.
BoxingScene: How did José Pedraza look in his last fight down in Puerto Rico?
Gary Shaw: It was the best I’ve seen him look. It was a terrific fight and it showed that he’s ready to take on any of the top 130lbs fighters. They’ve been pumping up Verdejo but I would fight Verdejo in a heartbeat. I think he beats him handily, and I think that fight will eventually happen. Pedraza is now the mandatory for the IBF. The Cuban [Rances Barthelemy] might even move up so we’ll fight the next in line. I’ll get notice in February to start negotiations.
BoxingScene: Daniel Geale rebounded well from the Golovkin defeat, and with Andy Lee now winning a title, is that the sort of fight you’d look to make down the line?
Gary Shaw: I believe in Daniel Geale, he lost to Golovkin and there’s no embarrassment in that. At any rate, we’ll fight any of the top guys. He only wants to fight the best.
BoxingScene: As an interested observer in the heavyweight scene, do you have a prediction for next month’s Bermane Stiverne-Deontay Wilder fight?
Gary Shaw: Yes, I’d be surprised if Wilder beats him. I think Stiverne has been in much tougher fights, he’s been in deeper and I believe Stiverne wins, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he knocks Wilder out. He hasn’t been in with anybody, he hasn’t gone more than four rounds! You can’t go for the heavyweight world title with 30 fights or whatever with four round fights, I don’t think that’s a good learning curve. It has to be like a stepladder, you take one step at a time and then if they do good you move them up to the next level. If they stumble you keep them on that step or move them down one. What are you going to do when you get to the seventh round? You’re going to say, ‘Shit, man, I’ve still got 8,9,10,11 and 12 to fight. I’ve got more rounds than I’ve ever fought!’ If he wins, I’ll give Wilder all the credit in the world and I’d become a fan.
BoxingScene: On another subject, what are your thoughts on Pay Per View (PPV) given the reported lower numbers recently for Pacquiao and Mayweather fights? Do you think that’s down to the match ups or the price?
Gary Shaw: Let me tell you what happens in the United States. We get the SuperBowl for free. We get the World Series for free as well as the NBA and NHL Championships. Then we have some fights on TV and some of those are for free. Then as soon as we get a good fight we say PPV! I think the fans are getting tired of PPV fights that are not worthy of it. I think that’s what’s happening. I don’t think it’s a price problem, I think it’s a product problem. Years ago when you did a PPV fight, that was a special fight. Now when the networks run out of dates it goes on PPV.
BoxingScene: Is there any other news with your fighters at the moment?
Gary Shaw: I’ve got Darleys Pérez against Jonathan Maicelo for the WBA interim title, it’ll be a great fight, I don’t know who wins it but it’ll be interesting. Then on January 9 Roc Nation are putting on their first card and Tureano Johnson will be on it. He will be fighting Alex Theran for the WBC silver belt so it’s a real step up for him.
