By Anthony Loy: How many times have we heard it? Or better yet “doesn’t make financial sense”. Boxing is plagued by quotes like this but sadly a large percentage does hold up under scrutiny.
It was announced last week that Kell Brook turned down a fight with Tim Bradley; this news was met by anger and ridicule in some sections but not by me because when you break it down its perfectly logical.
Kell is one fight away from being a mandatory challenger for the IBF belt currently held by Devon Alexander, assuming he wins against Hector Saldivia he then has a good chance of getting a world title fight in his home city if Matchroom flex their financial muscle. There will be no clauses; there will be no options on him. If he was to accept the Bradley offer he would no doubt achieve a career high purse but one lower than what he would ultimately receive if he becomes IBF champ and has way more bargaining power.
Further to this would you fancy Brook’s chances of a decision if fan favourite Manny Pacquiao couldn’t get one?
Another fantasy fight which seems to have captured the imagination is Martinez vs. Golovkin. Why on earth would Martinez fight Golovkin? Sergio is 37 years old and clearly after big fights which come with big paydays, he is stalking star names like Mayweather and Cotto which would be genuine super fights, even the staunchest defender of Golovkin can surely see he brings nothing to the table, the guy doesn’t have a huge fan base and his best win is against one dimensional plodder Grzegorz Proksa.
There will however be times when boxers say things that are outright cringe worthy, Amir Khan’s assertion that Joan Guzman isn’t a “credible” opponent elicited laughter from most who heard it, Khan later went on to announce a fight against unbeaten prospect Carlos Molina. Bearing in mind Khan has lost his last two fights one has to either admire his unshakeable confidence or worry for his outright delusion.
Money is usually the overriding factor in matchmaking, what the average fan wants comes a distant second, I am used to it now, to borrow a Steve Bunce quote it has to make “cash common sense”.
Where do you land on this, was Brook right to turn down a guaranteed world title shot?
Do you accept that Martinez/Golovkin shouldn’t happen yet?
Is Amir Khan already losing his faculties?