is it realistic...

[Boris Johnson!]

to ask that promoters always have a back-up fighter on the undercard to step into the main event if there's an injury/drug test failure?

we saw how when charlo needed a late replacement, korobov was already on the card and stepped in, gave us a really good fight. PBC/Hearn/Arum have deep enough stables yet are often left grabbing a surprise choice, is this because they prefer the main event fighter to avoid risk once tickets are sold anyway or just bad planning?

Pac-Thurman has Ugas, Lipinets, Figueroa on the undercard which looks smart to me as they'll be ready to step into the main event in case of injury even at one week notice, but a lot of promoters don't do it that way

[Redd Foxx]

The last big one I can think of is MMA. Ken Shamrock bailing on Kimbo Slice. The org was the one putting on the show and Seth Petrezelli was approved to fight by the state commission so it was a go. I doubt the boxing orgs would be so open to late replacements. Almost zero chance of it happening in a title fight 1 hour before showtime.

[Eff Pandas]

I think its completely realistic. They do this in the UFC all the time.

I don't know if its always viable doe. For example with a PPV fight you are gonna drastically damage your revenue by going from Thurman vs Pacquiao to Thurman vs Ugas for example.

Obviously it hurts the gate to, but generally I think less people ask for refunds once they buy tickets. Then again you probably do hurt your walk in gate so idk, but I still think its doable more often then its taken advantage of.

[Longhaul]

The last big one I can think of is MMA. Ken Shamrock bailing on Kimbo Slice. The org was the one putting on the show and Seth Petrezelli was approved to fight by the state commission so it was a go. I doubt the boxing orgs would be so open to late replacements. Almost zero chance of it happening in a title fight 1 hour before showtime.

Did he bail or did the commission not let him fight because of a cut .I can’t remember for sure.

[Redd Foxx]

Did he bail or did the commission not let him fight because of a cut .I can’t remember for sure.

A "cut" was the reason given and what they had us believing for a few years but it later came out, via insiders, that Ken tried holding them up for more money at the last minute. When they wouldn't budge he refused to go on, citing a "cut" he incurred while warming up back stage.

[Longhaul]

A "cut" was the reason given and what they had us believing for a few years but it later came out, via insiders, that Ken tried holding them up for more money at the last minute. When they wouldn't budge he refused to go on, citing a "cut" he incurred while warming up back stage.

That sounds like some crap Shamrock would pull.

[Toffee]

Hearn has had backups ready before, just as he did with Takam. Takam was told to go into camp while they were still fighting Pulev.

I'd guess the problem this time is finding someone to play substitute. They needed a decent fighter and they haven't exactly been lining up to fight Joshua, never mind complete a camp to come in at short notice.