Walters contract with Top Rank is up? Signing with Haymon?

[Clegg]

What fight was Vanes referring to? I remember people finding the scoring for the Ouma fight su****ious.

I remember there being talk of Walters facing Uchiyama next, who was putting that out if all parties expected they'd be parting ways?

[Eff Pandas]

It is true they can both survive and the sport be better for it. It is so easy to say yet so hard to get there because both sides have to realize they have a problem (or issue, concern whatever you want to call it) almost at the same time because taking that first step is making it seem like one side is winning. If one side is about to win or thinks they are about to win they have no incentive to deal.

It is still a long ways off though in my opinion from resolution unless something dramatic goes down outside the control of either side.

Agreed. This is a long game being played.

[BattleAxePurist]

I think Walters gots to go the PBC/Haymon route. All he has with HBO is Loma. PBC is loaded @ 126 (Santa Cruz, Mares, Russell & Selby). More good fights with PBC/Haymon to make & probably less chance of getting robbed based on this last fight & how good he'd have to beat Loma (one of TR's top guys moving forward) to get a decision. And like its been mentioned he does have a connection with one of Haymon's main promoters so it seems like a easy move that has probably been getting lined up PBC started.

Nice pickup by PBC if this comes to be a reality. If I was Art of War-ing PBC's road to taking over boxing I think swiping HBO guys & leaning on their limited bankroll via getting Stevenson (vs Kovalev) & other PBC/Haymon fighters over on HBO for non-option fights that limits HBO's ability to pay their contracted fighters (getting them looking at other options like PBC or throwing them on PPV before their time ala GGG) & build names.

Then there is the added benefit of having "the champion" if the PBC guy beats the HBO guy in the eyes of boxing fans which should help get people watching PBC fights in the future. And even if the HBO guys beats the PBC guy the HBO guy is going to have fewer & fewer options to continue his upward trajectory cuz of PBC's leaning. Win quick or win slow. Just a matter of time.

Walters isn't a 126 lber , why are you trying to force him into anorexia to make fights

There's just as many options w/TR/GB at 130 - 135 where he could just as easily be in another year

[BattleAxePurist]

What fight was Vanes referring to? I remember people finding the scoring for the Ouma fight su****ious.

I remember there being talk of Walters facing Uchiyama next, who was putting that out if all parties expected they'd be parting ways?

Arum said there was a deal that the winner was going to face him

[about.thousands]

What fight was Vanes referring to? I remember people finding the scoring for the Ouma fight su****ious.

I remember there being talk of Walters facing Uchiyama next, who was putting that out if all parties expected they'd be parting ways?

The Lara fight. He also said Arum came in his dressing room before the fight and changed his strategy.

[Clegg]

Interesting observation.

I was also surprised at the HBO crew making reverences to Sosa being a 'TV friendly' fighter who they wouldn't mind seeing again, even though he was, IMO, being obviously outclassed.

The Vanes stuff I can believe, and I'm sure he's not the only one, it's just that most boxers aren't going to want to speak out about one of their wins being paid for. But with this kind of thing, come on now. Arum may be a crook but he isn't a fool. If he fixed the fight there's no way he went around blabbing about it to a bunch of reporters and HBO commentators beforehand.

[The Gambler1981]

The Vanes stuff I can believe, and I'm sure he's not the only one, it's just that most boxers aren't going to want to speak out about one of their wins being paid for. But with this kind of thing, come on now. Arum may be a crook but he isn't a fool. If he fixed the fight there's no way he went around blabbing about it to a bunch of reporters and HBO commentators beforehand.

Yea Arum is an OG, he isn't going to say a damn thing to incriminate himself. Arum love him or hate him know what to say and when to say it as well as the things you never say. Arum sometimes pushes the line in that regard but he would never in terms of him and wrong doing unless he was already caught up.

In fact Arum would probably be a guy to buy a judge then act all outraged about the cards being messed up, that is the sort of cagey guy he is.

[Eff Pandas]

Walters isn't a 126 lber , why are you trying to force him into anorexia to make fights

Far be it from me to stop a mfer from eating lol. I just think 126 is where its at for him. He needs to hire a nutritionist or something maybe. Honestly it seems like he just got outta line one time with the weight. Previous to his title loss on the scales he was coming in light (.5-1lb) in his title fights. I don't think its a forgone conclusion he could get back to 126 or just do a ~128 catchweight vs those guys since catchweight fights are all the rage these days.

There's just as many options w/TR/GB at 130 - 135 where he could just as easily be in another year

Eh, idk about all this. Mainly I think 130 isn't very exciting for Walters across the board whoever he's with. I mean there are competitive fights, but there are no big fights (Walters vs Loma, vs Mares, vs Santa Cruz, vs Russell, vs Selby). If Walters just wants trophies for his trophy room than fair enough 130 it is, if wants money for his bank account he needs to be watching his portion sizes & drinking more water.

[The Gambler1981]

I would like Walters-Fortuna but that isn't a huge huge fight. Walters-Cherry or Walters-Pedraza are solid. Or could do a little 4 way and have like Fortuna-Cherry and Walters-Pedraza with the winner in a pretty important fight.

So I think 130 would be alright for Walters if he went to PBC, if he sticks with Top Rank he is traveling to Japan to fight Uchiyama which is a good fight also.

[Eff Pandas]

Interesting observation.

I was also surprised at the HBO crew making reverences to Sosa being a 'TV friendly' fighter who they wouldn't mind seeing again, even though he was, IMO, being obviously outclassed.

HBO commentators are experts at this. They've been doing it for decades. I bet they got a short hand down amongst the commentators & the guys up on high making the bigger decisions on the business side with what things are trying to be lined up behind the scenes in the future & how to angle words during the telecast to throw it out in the air.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall to see the inner workings of how HBO works. They've done a masterful job of building, hyping & shaping a narrative around HBO fighters.