Mosley-Clottey, Berto-Hlatshwayo Double Takes a Hit

[MJ406]

i think berto's real problem is missing christmas for a fight dats not that big

well still he's a pro boxer and it's his job to fight, regardless of missing x-mas

but if he feels he's getting low balled, and doesn't fight

more power to him.

[Iceta]

In a way I'm pretty glad that Berto is not taking this fight because he doesn't deserve to be a unified title holder. Let alone having one title around his waist. And if what Dave Rado above said is true, then I can't really blame Berto for turning this fight down.

[GRUSTLER]

He hasn't been offered $750,000. The article says that HBO only offered $750,000 as full payment for Berto-Hlatshwayo, i.e. to be split between the two fighters. That's a pretty poor offer for two title holders.

But Berto has to take into consideration that Mosley/Clottey
would be on the card and they are more respected and seasoned
than Berto and Hlatshwayo. This would be a good opportunity
for Berto to step up. The problem with guys like Berto/Lopez
and young fighters in general is their believing the hype
instead of showing and proving why they should get the big
$. Berto hasn't fought anyone of any real threat besides
Collazo and some say he lost that fight.

[JAB5239]

rofl.....i guess thats why they guarantee dates to fighters who cant sell 2 tickets, like Paul Williams(or Berto....)

That has nothing to do with what they pay them at the moment. HBO has to build and market a fighter they think has potential drawing power before they start shelling out huge sums of money.

HBO are dumbasses....they buy anything Haymon pitches to them.....and Overpay almost everyone...

They can't be that ******. They're the biggest boxing conglomerate in the sport and probably make ten fold what they spend overall.

[GRUSTLER]

In a way I'm pretty glad that Berto is not taking this fight because he doesn't deserve to be a unified title holder. Let alone having one title around his waist. And if what Dave Rado above said is true, then I can't really blame Berto for turning this fight down.

This guy would be earning $375,000 to fight for a title? AND
not to mention his endorsements and media. I don't know about
you guys but to me $375,000 is still a lot of money. I mean
if he wants to hold out and try to get more $ then cool! But
how much does he expect to be paid? There are fighters/Boxers
that only get $25/$35,000 to fight. Berto is spoiled and unproven.

[Dave Rado]

But when you factor all the lackluster viewership Berto has generated and his less than appealing appearances than you should understand HBOs hesitance to put up 3+ mil. I mean I bet their suits are saying the same thing as most folks...Issac who?

When you combine what is a very low payday however you look at it, with being expected to give up his Christmas, I can understand why he's very unhappy. What other top 10 Welter would fight for only around $350k in a title unification fight on Boxing Day? OTOH, if he wins he'd get a much better payday vs. the Mosley-Clottey winner, I guess, so HBO should be able to persuade him to take it. But I can understand why he's upset.

[Iceta]

This guy would be earning $375,000 to fight for a title? AND
not to mention his endorsements and media. I don't know about
you guys but to me $375,000 is still a lot of money. I mean
if he wants to hold out and try to get more $ then cool! But
how much does he expect to be paid? There are fighters/Boxers
that only get $25/$35,000 to fight. Berto is spoiled and unproven.

I think Berto is a coddled hype job myself, but is anybody going to give him credit for taking Hlatshwayo out? This is a guy that got knocked out by Kendall Holt at 140. If anything, I would've bashed Berto hard for taking this fight. I would rather he not fight at all and sit out the rest of the year than waste my time.

[-Hyperion-]

They can't be that ******. They're the biggest boxing conglomerate in the sport and probably make ten fold what they spend overall.

lol...i think youre the guy who is always defending HBO...its a fact they dont know what to do with their money.....The big PPV's always bail out their ass, that and tradition is why they keep doing boxing......remember last year when they blew out millions on a 24/7 for Jones-Calzaghe that generated 250k PPV's??? .......there's been fights that have done way more with a simple countdown...just this year, theyve payed millions for financial disasters like Williams-Wright and Berto-Urango...........they shell out BAD money for fights showtime could probably do on Shobox or even ESPN2 when Haymon is involved.....

[Dave Rado]

I think Berto is a coddled hype job myself, but is anybody going to give him credit for taking Hlatshwayo out? This is a guy that got knocked out by Kendall Holt at 140. If anything, I would've bashed Berto hard for taking this fight. I would rather he not fight at all and sit out the rest of the year than waste my time.

How can he waste your time? No one will force you to watch the fight. I think title unifications are a good thing even if both title holders are useless - it reduces the clutter because there's one fewer useless title holder. If it stopped with that fight, I wouldn't think much of it, but if the winner is contracted to fight the Mosley-Clottey winner, that seems good to me. And I'm not convinced Berto is useless in any case. He seems to have talent plus a lot of flaws, and the question is whether he can iron out the flaws and realise his talent. I think it's too early to pass judgement on him.

[El Angel]

I don't know how much Berto thinks he draws, but he he needs to take this and prepare to make the fight with Mosley. He needs to take a pay cut and man up.