Welcome to another Thursday edition of Magno's Bulging Mail Sack, the only boxing mail bag column that shoots money shots of gooey, salty truth into the eyes and ear holes of boxing's bad guys and purveyors of fistic ignorance. This week we have questions/comments regarding Canelo's lawsuit against everyone and the likelihood of a Deontay Wilder comeback.
Litigious Canelo
What's Up Paul? I knew when you heard the news of Canelo's lawsuit it was like a box of puppies? You've been going hard at DAZN for a while and since the pandemic you've cranked it up even more. Now this situation proves your point even further...
The way the DAZN situation was playing out with Canelo, it always seemed as if they were headed towards litigation. I thought it would be GBP taking DAZN to court. I thought Oscar would be in Canelo's corner fighting for what Canelo wanted. Instead, Canelo is taking GBP and DAZN to court. The way GBP, DAZN, and Matchroom have been using Canelo as a medallion was unfair. Luring fighters over to DAZN and promising them the Canelo fight. Then, in turn, putting pressure on Canelo to fight the new signings. Way too many people are piggy-backing on Canelo's success.
I would expect other fighters to leave or file lawsuits. If they asked Canelo to take a pay cut, I'm sure they'll be asking everyone else to take a pay cut as well. Why would anyone take a paycut with DAZN? They only signed with DAZN for the outrageous purses they were offering. DAZN doesn't offer upward mobility or branding that'll enhance a fighter's career. Besides, all major boxing outlets have already restarted their boxing programming. Whereas DAZN fighters are still waiting for a fight date.
For all the lip service that Al Haymon (PBC) and Bob Arum (Top Rank) receive, it seems like they'll survive Covid19 and be the only major players in American boxing. However, Matchroom and GBP are practically through. They'll still be around, but they won't be attracting top notch fighters. What do you think will be the outcome of Canelo's lawsuit? What happens with DAZN and their other fighters moving forward?
-- Nail Rahman
Hey Nail.
Your "box of puppies" line was a legit LOL for me. Kudos!
This stuff just goes to prove my assertion all along that the suits at DAZN are absolutely clueless about boxing, the business of boxing, and just, plain devoid of common sense. To use the vernacular, they played themselves like bitches and, in the end, find themselves treated like bitches.
How in the fucking world are you going to throw $365 million at a prizefighter without firmly establishing your control over the product you'll be receiving? How the fuck can you make that kind of deal without even hashing things out with the actual fighter, himself?
Everyone in the damn world is aware of the Canelo/GBP dynamic and how Canelo absolutely and completely calls the shots in that relationship. Well, I guess everyone knew that EXCEPT the DAZN brain trust. These geniuses dealt with the middleman, apparently took the middleman's word on what they could deliver, and didn't even bother to secure any real quality control for their investment. If they dealt directly with Oscar De La Hoya-- and this "I can promise you a Golovkin fight" stuff SCREAMS "Goldie's work"-- they are even bigger numbskulls than I previously thought.
Canelo has a right to cry foul and is right to hold both Golden Boy and DAZN accountable. He's been living up to the terms of the contract he signed and, as you said, both GBP and DAZN have been using his presence to enrich their own bottom line. By all accounts, he was also willing to negotiate a paycut for himself, until it became clear that counter offers from DAZN were doused in ill will.
I see DAZN filing a counter suit against Alvarez and a lawsuit against Golden Boy as well. To be fair, they're not wrong to feel cheated, but they brought all of this on themselves. As such, they may have no legal ground to stand on, unless they can prove that Golden Boy firmly promised them a Golovkin fight they knew they couldn't deliver.
For Golden Boy, a loss to Alvarez and DAZN in court would probably mean the end of them.
As for what this means to boxing? Well, if Canelo is able to free himself from both Golden Boy and DAZN, he'll get a load of money that dwarves what he got from DAZN. He is, after all, the only true PPV draw left in the game. There's a good chance, IMO, that Canelo may just decide to stay independent, promote his own shows, and hook up with someone who can help with logistics like Floyd Mayweather did with Golden Boy back in the day. If he does that, expect Al Haymon and PBC, who won't require him to commit to a promotional contract like Top Rank/ESPN will probably insist on, to maybe work with him on a fight-by-fight basis. Haymon/PBC would be wise to use him as an asset who can help lift their brand and bring added exposure to their fighters while selling him on the fact that he can stay independent and keep all of his own money, also like Mayweather. I mean, it only stands to reason. If Canelo can generate $100 million-plus per fight, why would he "only" settle for a $35 million guarantee?
There are a lot of possible outcomes to all of this, including a good chance that this stuff gets settled out of court and Canelo stays with DAZN under a restructured deal of sorts. This will become a much more likely possibility if/when DAZN stops chewing paint chips and realizes how untenable their position is and how desperately they need Alvarez.
Can Deontay Get His Groove Back?
Hey Magno.
Can Deontay Wilder make a comeback? He was beaten up for real by Fury and I don't see too many cases where a guy who's whupped that convincingly and that totally can come back and beat the guy who whupped him. It's not a good sign that the man has become a shadow, either. Could he be preparing himself, sharpening his skills in private for the rematch or is he licking his wounds with a bunch of yes men around him, inflating his ego? This doesn't look good.
-- Hojo from Chicago
Hey Hojo.
You're right. Things don't look good for the possibility of Wilder turning things around in a third bout with Fury. Historically, the fighter who loses the first bout tends to lose the rematch more convincingly. In the case of Fury-Wilder, many felt that Fury deserved the win in their first encounter and then everybody saw Fury absolutely demolish Wilder in the rematch. The historical expectation is that Fury should destroy Wilder even more quickly and comprehensively this third time around.
I have no clue what Wilder is doing behind closed doors right now. However, I'd seriously doubt that he's going on a Bernard Hopkins/Floyd Mayweather crash course of skill drills to tighten up his nuance game. In a worst case scenario-- which may very well be playing out right now-- Wilder is licking his wounds, as you said, probably surrounded by yes men who are indulging rampant excuse-making and conspiracy theories.
If that is the case, Wilder would be better off not even bothering with another crack at Fury.
The thing with Wilder, though, is that even when he's really off, really bad, he still carries around that big eraser. He has the kind of one-punch power that can repeatedly bail him out of trouble and turn the tide of any fight. He'll always be dangerous.
But, yeah, I don't think things will go well for Deontay unless Fury has been slacking and/or severely lacking in focus.
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