Top Rank/ESPN To Announce Big New Deal

[Motorcity Cobra]

LOL Dirrell and Vanes aint **** though, no loss on Haymons part those guys have zero fans and no drawing power.

But they were able to leave no problem, right? Another fighter just left too but I can't remember his name. I don't care if you're a 21-12 Top Rank guy, you ain't leaving without a fight.

[Mitchell Kane]

Stevenson is still lineal champion and, if we're being honest here, Ward-Stevenson is the only fight where the outcome is in doubt for Ward at 175lbs (Stevenson having that Montreal money coming with him can't hurt either).

Beterbiev is still with GYM, and there's no real certainty that Gvozdyk is even ready for a guy like Barrera at this point anyway.

Ward-Stevenson is a fight that will draw Canadian PPV, interest from Sky Sports, and sizable interest from MGM Resorts; do you honestly think that Ward is swapping that out for Ward-Barrera 2, Ward-Beterbiev, or Ward-Gvozdyk on ESPN?

Stevenson won that title knocking a guy Ward had already knocked out his previous fight.

That win, and Stevenson's career, have become extremely stale since.

Stevenson does bring some money to the table....which is significant especially since Ward is still with Roc Nation

It's also imporatnt if Top Rank doesn't have the funding they used to.

But if Top Rank can bring money to the table....then I could certainly see Ward go in another direction.

[GMAN SUPREME]

bob arum showing al gaymon how its done.

[rickJen]

Will this temp Haymon fighters to join Top Rank?
We don't hear news about Ward joining Haymon.
But we see news about him joining TR.

[Scipio2009]

Valdez's career, or at least his star power, has certainly had some arrested development due to Top Rank's inability to get him on HBO more.

It's true of a number of Top Rank fighters, but while it's not a great situation, there really aren't a lot of great situations in the division.

Gary Russell Jr. fights like once a year.

Mares hasn't fought this year, and has only fought once since the LSC fight two years ago.

LSC hasn't fought since January....and the Mares rematch didn't get done because of money and supposdly Espinoza doesn't have any interst in televising separate tune-ups.

Given all that, Top Rank should at least be able to keep Valdez active on ESPN and develop his following a bit on a bigger platform than he's sometimes been limited to. Given that he's only 26, they can take their time buildling him up.

Against who though?

Gary Russell Jr doesn't fight once a year for lack of opportunity; he's had some injuries that he's dealt with and, to be frank, he and his father do things differently.

Mares had a bit of injuries and life to square away, but he can do that because he's already got money, giving him time for big game hunting.

Santa Cruz has his two belts, but even he's focused in on getting the big money fights.

A quick look at BoxRec shows you that 7 of the 9 top featherweights are tied in with the Haymon/Hearn orbit, and the only other guy is Josh Warrington who's likely never leaving the UK.

JoJo Diaz is the #10 fighter at featherweight, but even that's not likely to happen with the Arum/Oscar frenemies situation.

Kiko Martinez and Joseph Agbeko are still around, and have names, but I'm not sure how long ESPN would stand for stuff like that.

[Scipio2009]

Stevenson won that title knocking a guy Ward had already knocked out his previous fight.

That win, and Stevenson's career, have become extremely stale since.

Stevenson does bring some money to the table....which is significant especially since Ward is still with Roc Nation

It's also imporatnt if Top Rank doesn't have the funding they used to.

But if Top Rank can bring money to the table....then I could certainly see Ward go in another direction.

I just don't foresee a point, ever, where Top Rank would be in position to deliver for Andre Ward a fight that'd be bigger than what he and his camp can get by sitting down with Stevenson and his camp and hammering out a deal.

[Scipio2009]

Will this temp Haymon fighters to join Top Rank?
We don't hear news about Ward joining Haymon.
But we see news about him joining TR.

Ward is already with James Prince, has his AW company, and is already in a good partnership relationship with RocNation. Outside of not having a current longterm TV contract, Andre Ward is just fine.

[hectari]

But they were able to leave no problem, right? Another fighter just left too but I can't remember his name. I don't care if you're a 21-12 Top Rank guy, you ain't leaving without a fight.

Is Al Haymon an Adviser, Manager or Promoter?

[Motorcity Cobra]

Is Al Haymon an Adviser, Manager or Promoter?

According to the courts he's a manager/advisor.

[jqSide]

Top Rank is going to sign a lot more stars once PBC can't pay their fighters like they promised. Thurman and Garcia only made about 2 mill a piece after getting a mill for a lot of fights. The money isn't there anymore. These guys are sitting around and barely fighting now. I guarantee you that a big name from PBC will jump shark very soon.

Also Golden Boy and Rod Nation will do work with Bob but they won't do work with Al, so you have guys like WARD, Lemiuex, Cotto, and others who are there to make fights. Though I expect HBO to still have their hand in the game for certain fights.

Who might that be? I don't see it, except for 2nd, 3rd tier fighters like Peterson, Felix Diaz, Collazo, fighters who are desperate for fights, but can't get one.