Comments Thread For: Xander Zayas, High School Senior, Wins Pro Debut - KO in One

[richardt]

Shakur Stevenson fought Jessie Cris Rosales earlier this year and Rosales is headlining the next ShoBox card. Tyler McCreary from Top Rank also fought Rosales and is now stepping up against Frampton in his 18th fight. Top Rank prospects don't need ShoBox's microscopic audience to become contenders.

Young prospects dont need ShoBox AS LONG as they are not fighting no hopers and yes, there were countless FS1 boxing cards weekly for ages filed with TR and Golden Boy prospects fighting no-hopes. It got old, fast. Meanwhile, there were tons of ShoBox cards with 12-0 fighters facing 15-0 fighters at the same time that TR and Goldenboy were pitting their 12-0 fighters against 6-3 gravy train setups. We will see if TR and Goldenboy changes their modus operandi or if it will be the same old same old with few exceptions. No one on the ***ing planet wants to see a 12-0 fighter face a 6-3 fighter who lost his last 2 fights by KO or worse. And then the writers have the nerve to call a setup opponent with ridiculous superlatives like "Always comes to fight" or Winner of his last fight" or worse yet, "the upset minded". And other crap to make a no-hope fighter sound like there is hope for a fighter in an obvious blatant mismatch. That story has played itself out countless times over the years with TR and Goldenboy prospects.

[Bob Haymon]

At a time when countless 6-0 to 15-0 prospects were fighting on ShoBox against each other, Arum was having countless prospects instead fighting 12-6-1 setup type fighters. It's been an epidemic that I witnessed for years.

Shakur Stevenson fought Jessie Cris Rosales earlier this year and Rosales is headlining the next ShoBox card. Tyler McCreary from Top Rank also fought Rosales and is now stepping up against Frampton in his 18th fight. Top Rank prospects don't need ShoBox's microscopic audience to become contenders.

[richardt]

Lots of Top Rank fighters have fought on ShoBox but their budget is so small compared to other platforms that it's mostly just a showcase for fighters from second tier promoters, that's why you've never seen Spence or Wilder on ShoBox either. You only see guys like Haney, Prograis, and Ennis. None of those guys was with a big promoter at the time who could get them on FS1, ESPN, or DAZN.

At a time when countless 6-0 to 15-0 prospects were fighting on ShoBox against each other, Arum was having countless prospects instead fighting 12-6-1 setup type fighters. It's been an epidemic that I witnessed for years.

[richardt]

Like Shakur fighting for a world title in his 12th pro fight or like Loma in his 2nd pro fight or like Teofimo in his 15th pro fight?


Maybe he should take the Deontay wilder route of stepping up ????

Those are exceptions, not rules. Diego De La Hoya and a number of other TR fighters were breast fed from the kiddie pool for ages before stepping up.

[Bob Haymon]

That was in Mexico and no TV. Arum never lets his prospects of any age fight on ShowBox where many fighters became future contenders and world champions. Or on other cards vs other prospects. Not interested in non-stop farce setups.

Lots of Top Rank fighters have fought on ShoBox but their budget is so small compared to other platforms that it's mostly just a showcase for fighters from second tier promoters, that's why you've never seen Spence or Wilder on ShoBox either. You only see guys like Haney, Prograis, and Ennis. None of those guys was with a big promoter at the time who could get them on FS1, ESPN, or DAZN.

[killakali]

You're exaggeration doesnt work. They will protect him like a fragile egg. They tried the same thing with Diego De La Hoya and that came back to bite him in the ass. Prospects should be facing other prospects like they have for over a decade on ShoBox but I guarantee you they wont put him in like thousand of prospects have on ShoBox. They dont want any of that smoke. He'll be protected like a fragile kitten playing in the kiddie pool.

Like Shakur fighting for a world title in his 12th pro fight or like Loma in his 2nd pro fight or like Teofimo in his 15th pro fight?


Maybe he should take the Deontay wilder route of stepping up ????

[richardt]

While i agree with you, he is 16 years old and he is a senior in high school. I think he’ll get soft looks until he is at least 18 or 19 then maybe some worthy prospects but i would think it is risky to put a 16-17 yr old kid in there with any kind’ve prospect with experience.

Also, Canelo started pro when he was 15 and fought no hopers for 21 months before he eventually started to step up.

That was in Mexico and no TV. Arum never lets his prospects of any age fight on ShowBox where many fighters became future contenders and world champions. Or on other cards vs other prospects. Not interested in non-stop farce setups.

[richardt]

Why do see him being more protected than other prospects? Seems too early to say how they'll develop him

Thats how Bob Arum operates. Dont expect to see him on ShoBox fighting other prospects. Arum doesnt let any of his prospects fight on ShoBox because that means facing another fighter who isn't a gravy train setup.

[PulpFriction]

You're exaggeration doesnt work. They will protect him like a fragile egg. They tried the same thing with Diego De La Hoya and that came back to bite him in the ass. Prospects should be facing other prospects like they have for over a decade on ShoBox but I guarantee you they wont put him in like thousand of prospects have on ShoBox. They dont want any of that smoke. He'll be protected like a fragile kitten playing in the kiddie pool.

While i agree with you, he is 16 years old and he is a senior in high school. I think he’ll get soft looks until he is at least 18 or 19 then maybe some worthy prospects but i would think it is risky to put a 16-17 yr old kid in there with any kind’ve prospect with experience.

Also, Canelo started pro when he was 15 and fought no hopers for 21 months before he eventually started to step up.

[Clegg]

You're exaggeration doesnt work. They will protect him like a fragile egg. They tried the same thing with Diego De La Hoya and that came back to bite him in the ass. Prospects should be facing other prospects like they have for over a decade on ShoBox but I guarantee you they wont put him in like thousand of prospects have on ShoBox. They dont want any of that smoke. He'll be protected like a fragile kitten playing in the kiddie pool.

Why do see him being more protected than other prospects? Seems too early to say how they'll develop him