Comments Thread For: Brian Norman Jr. bet on himself - but was it the right decision?

[kiaba360]

Norman beat a better and more proven fighter in Santillan than Boots ever has. Period. Maybe he felt like Hearn could pay more in order to give Boots a shot at a second title, and he knows the fight against Boots is the toughest fight at WW at the moment. Boots is not a star. He is apparently SRR in the gym, but when he stepped up to Karen and Villa he looked ok but got hit a lot, and the ghost of Avaneysan hit him a lot.

At this point I'd rather see Boots vs Staninois, Norman vs Barrios, or some variation of that, and the winners fight for undisputed. Boots and Norman look to both be better than the other beltholders, if Hearn was smart he would build some buzz around that kind of idea and the unification could be a major fight night.

But it's Hearn. He's a used car salesman.

I fully agree that Norman has the best single win of all the titlists, but Norman is not a star either. That win vs. Santillan was the co-main in Santillan's hometown, and B-Side Norman supposedly got paid $100k-200k. Norman's current value comes from holding a title, not from any proven metric of $$$ or interest generated from his own name. A title does not guarantee a fighter a 7-figure purse. Objectively, I understand Norman wanting to get a couple of defenses before he tries for a unification. However, I disagree with how his team have framed the situation. They could've handled this situation diplomatically, which would force Hearn to stay quiet. I'm sure fights fall through all the time, but Team Norman clearly decided that they were going to utilize this situation to artificially boost interest for Norman's next fight vs. Cuevas because no one genuinely cares about it. Once again, Norman will be fighting in the co-main slot in someone else's hometown...and he's probably not getting paid 7 figures to do it. Cuevas is actually a step back for him because Santillan was more credible than Cuevas.

Norman is only 23. By the end of his career he won't be missing that 1.7m. after taxes and camp he was probably only taking home 700k anyway.
Norman can protect the belt and wait Boots out.
Boots wont be at 147 in a year anyways.
Im pretty sure he will be able to get fights with stanionis and barrios

How can you be sure of that? What happens if Norman loses to one of his stay-busy opponents or he gets severely injured? What happens if Stanionis/Barrios decide to play "side of the street" politics and they freeze Norman out? What if PBC doesn't want to pay Norman's asking price, or Top Rank doesn't want to pay Stani or Barrios' asking price? These issues are common occurrences in boxing. Nothing is guaranteed. Norman will find that out.

[Corelone]

Would PBC/Haymon even offer Norman $1 million for the Barrios or Stanionis fight? I'd be curious to know the answer to this.

Are Barrios or Stanionis getting 3 million? Its prize fighting not one guy gets the lions share no matter what fighting. That is designed to make a guy feel inferior, worth less. Eddy meddling.

[Corelone]

Two email champions, nobody bringing anything more. To me, fair is put it all on the table. 70-30 winner loser split not, my guy just gets more. That is demoralizing.

[Boricua181]

Don't know what pipe Algieri has been hitting but you aren't "betting on yourself" by avoiding a fight that not only is your highest payday but could make you a unified titlist and solidify your status as a champion.

To fight on an undercard for peanuts the reality is betting on yourself would be taking the chance, beating his ass and moving on to bigger and better things (and the paydays that follow).

Norman should've taken the Boots fight, for the 1.7 million, unification, and instant recognition as the best fighter at 147, if he was able to defeat Boots.
He chose not to do that, and in so doing it makes him look like he's ducking Boots.
Even worse than that he's going to look like a fool if he gets beat by somebody else. and never gets the opportunity to make 1.7 million again in his career.
You have to dare to be great, and this was his big chance to do that up to this point in his career. Norman didn't bet on himself, he ****ted on himself!

[hitmanjosh]

Norman beat a better and more proven fighter in Santillan than Boots ever has. Period. Maybe he felt like Hearn could pay more in order to give Boots a shot at a second title, and he knows the fight against Boots is the toughest fight at WW at the moment. Boots is not a star. He is apparently SRR in the gym, but when he stepped up to Karen and Villa he looked ok but got hit a lot, and the ghost of Avaneysan hit him a lot.

At this point I'd rather see Boots vs Staninois, Norman vs Barrios, or some variation of that, and the winners fight for undisputed. Boots and Norman look to both be better than the other beltholders, if Hearn was smart he would build some buzz around that kind of idea and the unification could be a major fight night.

But it's Hearn. He's a used car salesman.

Your boxing knowledge is like a junk car salesman so you may want to consider going back to school, then say if Hearn were smart he'd follow your suggestion, and how much did you gross over the last 5 years?

[Bronx2245]

I don't think Norman was really in the position to take the fight anyway! He needed Arum's blessing, and he didn't get it! Cuevas came in the picture way to fast for me not to believe that was the plan all along!

[Boricua181]

“He has not had a chance to win a world title in the ring, . . . "

Neither has Ennis.

This fight would've helped legitimize their claim to the championship belt. It would've also made the winner a unified champion of 2 belt's in the 147 pound division.
They would've also earned the most money to date in their boxing career's, I just don't understand why Norman turned this fight down it makes no sense at all.
It was quite simply stated the most important fight that they could've made, and Norman blew it.

[Boricua181]

I don't think Norman was really in the position to take the fight anyway! He needed Arum's blessing, and he didn't get it! Cuevas came in the picture way to fast for me not to believe that was the plan all along!

That was very su****ious the way they found a replacement so fast, now that you mention it.

[kiaba360]

I don't think Norman was really in the position to take the fight anyway! He needed Arum's blessing, and he didn't get it! Cuevas came in the picture way to fast for me not to believe that was the plan all along!

Top Rank probably had Cuevas lined up shortly after Teofimo decided not to face Norman, it just wasn't announced yet. The whole Ennis/Norman has been a clout chase for Norman to enhance his marquee value. Now you got fans claiming Norman got lowballed and that Norman is worth his $2.2M asking price. Top Rank is the beneficiary of the drama.

[Boricua181]

“He has not had a chance to win a world title in the ring, . . . "

Neither has Ennis.

That's why Norman should've taken the fight against Boots to add legitimacy to his championship belt.
Because if Norman can't beat Boots then he really isn't the 147 pound champion, and the same goes for Boots if he can't beat Norman.