Thursdays, in this corner of the Universo Pugilistico, are all about my sack-- my bulging, bulbous, aching sack-- and the gooey, salty truth contained within. So...sit back, close your eyes, pull back your hair, and get ready for another money shot of wisdom. This week we have comments/questions regarding Arum’s Kinahan hypocrisy, master plans in boxing, and my take on the Gervonta Davis coverage.
Top Rank Kinahan Hypocrisy
Yo, what's up Paul. I wanted you to shed some light on the BS with Bob Arum and Top Rank claiming they won't do business with Probellum because of the "supposed" ties to Kinahan, but yet their top fighter in Fury has all kinds of ties to him publicly and they haven't severed ties with him. Political excuses, holding up a great fight with Prograis vs Ramirez. Thoughts!!!
– FlintowntoAz
Hey FlintowntoAZ.
What? Someone in the boxing business being a hypocrite? Get out of here!
Seriously, though, Like almost everything in boxing, it’s about money. If there was some real money involved in having Ramirez take on Prograis, it wouldn’t matter if Probellum had blood ties with Satan, himself. Arum can make money with Fury and there’s no money in feeding Ramirez to Prograis. It’s as simple as that.
Although there may be some fear out there in dealing with anyone even remotely tied to Kinahan, it’s not really standing in the way of any fights being made. Boxing has work-arounds to everything and if the money is right, any fight can and will be made.
Bigger Picture in Boxing?
Hello Paul,
Thanks for all your insights and knowledge. I especially liked your latest piece about Gervonta Davis. Makes the humble point that needs to be heard.
I also appreciate your perspective on why some fights don't get made and why some fighters don't take fights. But how many millions of dollars is enough? And is that really that important to some fighters? Most of us do put our pants on, one leg at a time. Or is it sometimes part of 'a bigger plan'?
For example, I don't think Crawford vs Spence didn't happen because of the money issue. I believe the timing wasn't right, for boxing. Boxing promotion is a fine art. Building a competitive long lasting weight division takes time. All need to participate and either be eliminated or progress until only two are left. That's what makes boxing exciting. This 147 division saga is far from coming down to the final. And rightfully so, as these fighters have been brought up and promoted finely and slowly. And what about Stanionis or Avenasayan, who have fought their elimination bouts and gotten their interim belts. Weren't they promised a crack at the title? or god willing, Boots Ennis？We don't owe Keith Thurman or Vergil Ortiz to play a part in this elimination, best man wins? Because once Spence beats Crawford, there will be a rematch. and hopefully a trilogy and we are talking 3 years later until these other fighters get their chance that they have been promised.
So they gave Crawford his record high, walk in the park payoff so that Spence can also take on someone else. Because once a division has a champion and just people who challenge for it, then it becomes a little stale. Divisions should be like the play-offs to find a real champion and an exciting championship. Your thoughts?
Thanks.
--Brian
Hey Brian.
Thanks for the kind words.
As much as I’d like to think that there was some sort of order and divine plan to boxing’s workings, I think most everything in the sport boils down to just basic money issues. Basically, everybody’s trying to make as much as they can while taking on as little risk as possible. In the case of Spence-Crawford, I think fans, media, and the fighters themselves have overestimated how much revenue the fight could generate and, so, everything just sort of fell apart when reality butted heads with expectations. Reality is cockblocking a lot of big fights these days as everyone is coming to terms with the fact that it’s harder and harder for organizers to turn a profit. It certainly doesn’t help that newcomers are hopping into the market, dishing out ridiculously high purses, willing to work deeply in the red in order to get their foot in the door.
Ego also plays a part for many. Nobody wants to admit to being the “B-Side” by taking a smaller payout.
And, given that the payouts for lesser risks is still good, there’s no urgency to swallow pride and meet halfway to make the bigger fights (which wouldn’t be all that much more lucrative, anyway).
It’s just bad business all around. I honestly don’t think there’s a bigger plan. It’s probably more a case of churning out as much money as possible while doing their damnedest to work around what’s best for the sport.
Love Letter from a Dimwit
You’re such a fucking piece of shit. Disgraceful anyone lets you actually write about boxing but fighthype is for hood rats so that pretty much explains it. If I ever see you at a fight I’m gonna slap the shit out of you on sight.
– Jacob Thomas
Hey Jacob.
Ain’t you special? “Special” as in “Special Ed,” of course.
As for “slapping the shit out of me on sight?” Yeah, that would end badly for you. I know you have no idea of my background and what kind of life I lead, but just assume that I’m infinitely more of a bad-ass than some online bedwetter who writes mean-girl hate letters to boxing writers.
Got a question (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? The best of the best gets included in the weekly mailbag segment right here at FightHype. Send your stuff here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.