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By Jake Donovan - So how much more do we need to overlook in attempting to embrace Saul Alvarez’ HBO Boxing After Dark debut this weekend?
Arguably the most popular Mexican fighter in the sport today, the 20-year old manchild is slated for his first live HBO headliner this weekend, when he faces Matthew Hatton on Saturday evening in Anaheim, California.
Yet after all that has brushed aside in order to focus solely on what takes place in the ring, the latest stunt pulled by the event’s handlers has left a sour taste in the collective mouths of many in the boxing industry.
A strong push by Golden Boy Promotions to make this a title fight came to fruition last week, with the announcement coming during an international conference call no less. Despite the fight being contracted at a catchweight of 150 lb., Golden Boy managed to get the WBC to agree to put their vacant junior middleweight title at stake.
The latest news surrounding the fight is that it will now take place at the division’s full limit of 154 lb. Apparently the WBC couldn’t bear the criticism of staging consecutive vacant title fights at a catchweight limit, as was the case when Manny Pacquiao won the crown after dominating Antonio Margarito over 12 rounds last November, before vacating earlier this year.
Such a stance by the sanctioning body is a double-edged sword. It’s the right call on their part, as title fights should take place at the full divisional limit. Fighters should have the option to weigh at or below that mark rather than being forced to come in at a made-up weight.
However, to change the weight this late in the promotion only underlines the joke surrounding the belt being at stake in the first place, not to mention that the suggestion that the deck is now completely stacked against the visiting Hatton, who was already at a disadvantage in competing above the welterweight limit. [Click Here To Read More]
Arguably the most popular Mexican fighter in the sport today, the 20-year old manchild is slated for his first live HBO headliner this weekend, when he faces Matthew Hatton on Saturday evening in Anaheim, California.
Yet after all that has brushed aside in order to focus solely on what takes place in the ring, the latest stunt pulled by the event’s handlers has left a sour taste in the collective mouths of many in the boxing industry.
A strong push by Golden Boy Promotions to make this a title fight came to fruition last week, with the announcement coming during an international conference call no less. Despite the fight being contracted at a catchweight of 150 lb., Golden Boy managed to get the WBC to agree to put their vacant junior middleweight title at stake.
The latest news surrounding the fight is that it will now take place at the division’s full limit of 154 lb. Apparently the WBC couldn’t bear the criticism of staging consecutive vacant title fights at a catchweight limit, as was the case when Manny Pacquiao won the crown after dominating Antonio Margarito over 12 rounds last November, before vacating earlier this year.
Such a stance by the sanctioning body is a double-edged sword. It’s the right call on their part, as title fights should take place at the full divisional limit. Fighters should have the option to weigh at or below that mark rather than being forced to come in at a made-up weight.
However, to change the weight this late in the promotion only underlines the joke surrounding the belt being at stake in the first place, not to mention that the suggestion that the deck is now completely stacked against the visiting Hatton, who was already at a disadvantage in competing above the welterweight limit. [Click Here To Read More]
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