When Bad News Is Good For ESPN2's FNF (Sort Of)

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Jake Donovan - Rare is the case that an ESPN2 Friday Night Fights card will dominate the headlines. It doesn’t hurt that it’s the only game in town this week, at least if your boxing intake is limited to what’s available on stateside television.

What should hurt this week’s edition is the sea of bad news – and press – it has received in recent days. Instead, it’s what has boxing fans talking the past couple of days.

Negative publicity is still publicity.

Somehow the show will still go on, which for the moment is still scheduled to take place at the Mahi Shrine in Miami, FL (Friday, ESPN2, 8:30PM ET). Hitting the scrap heap would be all of the promotional material that was printed up when the show was first announced, as changes have since been made not just to the main event and co-feature, but also the venue, city and state in which they were supposed to fight. [details]

[robjr]

so unfair to Ishe...

[KILLA RIGHT]

I don't feel bad for ishe at all if he was exciting they wouldn't have a problem with him. I rather see a fighter at 20-10 that goes balls out then a ok fighter that wont have any baring in the division. Good job espn

[OnePunch]

Just because a fighter "volunteers" their services as a last minute replacement, that doesnt mean the decision is totally up to the network. What ESPN believed, or didnt believe about Quintana's withdrawl is irrelevant. It is Perez' promoter's date, and it is THEIR CALL as to what names to submit as a replacement for Quintana. Obviously, Smith was not on their list.

[millcitymauler]

I think that many of the top tier matchmakers don't like Ishe's advisor Greg Leon of **********.com, who does tend to rub some people the wrong way. Smith might want to think about severing that relationship before he ngets permanently frozen out.

[ploof1399]

I was at the Ishe Smith/Sechew Powell fight. I had Ishe winning. A majority of the crowd in Powell's backyard had Smith winning as well. When the verdict came, the crowd booed. Sure Ishe Smith isn't extremely exciting. He is skillful, slick, and counter punches. He deserves a shot.

[2501]

Sorry to Smith, but I just don't like his style of fighting and most likely would have just sex up my girl than watch the main event.

[j69madrox]

I'd rather see anyone than Ishe Smith. He sucks. Props to ESPN 2 for turning him down.

[JakeNDaBox]

Just because a fighter "volunteers" their services as a last minute replacement, that doesnt mean the decision is totally up to the network. What ESPN believed, or didnt believe about Quintana's withdrawl is irrelevant. It is Perez' promoter's date, and it is THEIR CALL as to what names to submit as a replacement for Quintana. Obviously, Smith was not on their list.

Bull**** Terry! When Lou DiBella demands his fighters get air time, then dammit everyone needs to bow down and do as he says!!!!

But yeah, you make an excellent point, and even though I disagree with the philosophy, there isn't a promoter in the business who wouldn't do the same thing.

[JakeNDaBox]

I was at the Ishe Smith/Sechew Powell fight. I had Ishe winning. A majority of the crowd in Powell's backyard had Smith winning as well. When the verdict came, the crowd booed. Sure Ishe Smith isn't extremely exciting. He is skillful, slick, and counter punches. He deserves a shot.

I think the biggest issue with that fight wasn't so much who won (and I really don't disagree with anyone who had Shay winning by a point or two) but the ridiculously wide scoring in Sechew's favor. There was no way in hell that was a 7-3 fight. I expected it to be a split decision, one point either way. That the scores were that wide in a NYC arena for a NY fighter on his NY promoter's show was the real issue.