Comments Thread For: Prograis To Sign With Hearn's Matchroom Boxing, Was Also Pursued By Arum's Top Rank

[ShoulderRoll]

Jose “La Gallina” Ramirez ducked Prograis twice already. F*ckTop Rank, let’s see what Regis can do with Matchroom.

[Roj]

I just hope Matchroom keeps Prograis active. TR may have the better 140lb stable, but none of them can be trusted. Barboza just had a title eliminator on the table and rejected it. Ramirez has been avoiding Prograis, Teofimo is a mental midget with a big mouth, and Taylor is injury-prone and may not be at 140 for much longer.

Well said!

[Roj]

The 140lbers won't be able to emulate that success because they don't have the social media presence. Garcia/Davis were pandering to a casual audience that was already tapped in to them. That's what made it PPV worthy. Plus, the "middle men" were still present: Floyd, Ellerbe, Oscar, B-Hop were a part of the promotion.

Garcia/Davis were able to break the political barriers because everyone involved was able to make an unusual amount of money. The 140lbers don't have the same earning power, and fights will never happen if they're all waiting for 7 figure purses. Greed and politics are ruining 140lb like every other division: Romero getting an undeserved title shot, Gary A. Russell thinking he's too good to fight Puello, TR recycling Pedraza and Commey over and over, Taylor/Catterall falling apart, Ramirez avoiding Prograis, Barboza rejecting purse bid terms against Paro, etc.

Good post

[kiaba360]

Hearn stated in a recent interview that nothing has been confirmed yet. Prograis needs to do as much as he can before he settles down with any promotion. Use free agency to his advantage.

[Bronx2245]

Matchroom won a purse bid for Paro vs. Barboza, but supposedly it wasn't enough money. Ramirez and Barboza have the same manager iirc, so IDK if they'll fight each other.

People seem to be very negative on Prograis' decision, but are only looking at TR's name value. TR's 140lb stable appears very unstable.

I'm one of them. I understand getting paid, but don't say "I want the best," when you had a chance to fight "The Best!" I used to blame them, but now Prograis will get that same energy!

[kiaba360]

I'm one of them. I understand getting paid, but don't say "I want the best," when you had a chance to fight "The Best!" I used to blame them, but now Prograis will get that same energy!

Who's the best at 140lb?

[Ry92]

Matchroom must've offered him a nice signing bonus then again maybe he figured to take the contract that benefited his promotion more. Also with his age he probably figured it would be easy to land a Ryan Garcia fight in 2 yrs biggest payday outside 147.

[billeau2]

The 140lbers won't be able to emulate that success because they don't have the social media presence. Garcia/Davis were pandering to a casual audience that was already tapped in to them. That's what made it PPV worthy. Plus, the "middle men" were still present: Floyd, Ellerbe, Oscar, B-Hop were a part of the promotion.

Garcia/Davis were able to break the political barriers because everyone involved was able to make an unusual amount of money. The 140lbers don't have the same earning power, and fights will never happen if they're all waiting for 7 figure purses. Greed and politics are ruining 140lb like every other division: Romero getting an undeserved title shot, Gary A. Russell thinking he's too good to fight Puello, TR recycling Pedraza and Commey over and over, Taylor/Catterall falling apart, Ramirez avoiding Prograis, Barboza rejecting purse bid terms against Paro, etc.

The Bolded: And what is stopping them from getting such a presence? If you look at the Paul Brothers, they are about as normal and idiotic as a typical High school kid who played sports and thinks they are tough. Perhaps my wife said it best: "those are the type of guys a girl does not talk to." In the early days of martial arts, many teachers did self promotion. Count Dante, who was actually a well trained martial artist, sold absurdities in comic books, both him and Mas Oyama claimed they would strike a bull and walked the bull down state street in Chicago. It was BS but it created a presence. Prograis can do it if Tank Davis can do it. Casuals are desperate to be entertained.

I agree with you that perhaps the purses would not be great at first, but if you had a larger cut of the purse and created a narrative, like false hate, or some prestaged "fight" that caused bad blood, like the Wrasslers do, casuals would come flocking. Besides, like Davis, prograise, as a Creole kid in Naw Orleans (pronounced so in the quarter) has a potential mega audience in the city... I know that these cities, like Oakland to Ward, might not pay off at first, but with a little more development, taking a Q from other successful social media presenters, this is a legit avenue.

[kiaba360]

The Bolded: And what is stopping them from getting such a presence? If you look at the Paul Brothers, they are about as normal and idiotic as a typical High school kid who played sports and thinks they are tough. Perhaps my wife said it best: "those are the type of guys a girl does not talk to." In the early days of martial arts, many teachers did self promotion. Count Dante, who was actually a well trained martial artist, sold absurdities in comic books, both him and Mas Oyama claimed they would strike a bull and walked the bull down state street in Chicago. It was BS but it created a presence. Prograis can do it if Tank Davis can do it. Casuals are desperate to be entertained.

I agree with you that perhaps the purses would not be great at first, but if you had a larger cut of the purse and created a narrative, like false hate, or some prestaged "fight" that caused bad blood, like the Wrasslers do, casuals would come flocking. Besides, like Davis, prograise, as a Creole kid in Naw Orleans (pronounced so in the quarter) has a potential mega audience in the city... I know that these cities, like Oakland to Ward, might not pay off at first, but with a little more development, taking a Q from other successful social media presenters, this is a legit avenue.

I agree with the overall sentiment that fighters have to become more comfortable with the art of self-promotion, and some fighters have the brash extroverted personality for it. For example, 22-year old contender James Salerno tried to goad Michael Spinks by taking out a quarter-page advertisment in the Philadelphia Enquirer with the title "Champ or Chicken?". I think boxers have it easier now to create buzz and spin narratives, but it'll take time and consistency.

140 is filled with fighters that have a propensity for trash-talk, but what good is it if the fights still don't get signed?

[Bronx2245]

Who's the best at 140lb?

Taylor. Until he loses he's still the man! TR is loaded: Taylor, Teofimo, Ramirez, and soon Haney! My favorite @ 140 is Subriel Matias! PBC has a nice stable @ 140: Matias, Ergashev, Gary Antuanne Russell, Puello, and Lipinets!