By Paul Strauss– Ask big George Foreman about needed payments with some promoters when a potential big fight was on the line. He might be willing to share stories about how many times it became necessary. Remember the story about James “Cinderella Man”. Braddock passing up on making what should have been a mandatory title defense against Max Schmeling in order to face one of Max’s victims, the great Joe Louis? The legendary story has the shrewd Braddock allegedly making one of the most lucrative deals in boxing lure. Supposedly, Braddock got a sizable chunk of the Brown Bomber’s future purses. When Joe walloped the tar out of Braddock, and walked away with the most sought after title in sports, it’s doubtful he held any hard feelings. Braddock’s ongoing percentage of Joe’s purses helped sooth his bruises as well.
The boxing world was also grateful that any chance was removed of the heavyweight championship going overseas to the crazy little paper-hanger running Germany. Quite possibly, the coveted title and biggest prize in the sporting world might not have come back for a long time, as Hitler would make use of it to espouse his claims of a super race.
We obviously don’t have any such situation today in the Super Six mix, but it’s possible the two aforementioned fighters might be willing to part with a little of the green stuff if it would help convince Jermain to step aside. How much? Who knows? Of course before they would entertain such a move, they would have to be assured that with his absence they would be the chosen one……..the designated alternate.
Is it ludicrous to even mention such a possibility? Would it be illegal? Is it unethical? Maybe, but isn’t it reasonable for Taylor to consider his position and the scheduled upcoming title fight he has against Andre Ward as being worth something beyond the purse? Even if he honestly doesn’t feel like he can win, isn’t it wise to at least give the impression that he will fight anyway? Ask Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton about the value of such a position.
After getting stopped in three of his last four fights, Taylor also has to be considering his physical well-being. It’s also a certainty that he and his people understand the reality of the situation in that more than just them would want their palms crossed with something for it to work. In fact the idea itself is fraught with deception. There’s a queasy feeling involved with it. The sanctioning bodies would protest vehemently, and infuse a tincture of outrage, unless “the designated alternate” got to them early and made an ally out of them. Then they could join a chorus of those already chiming in that Pavlik or Green should have been part of the Super Six in the first place.
Let’s make up a sobriquet (nickname for you palookas) for this process and call it the “The Super Six Mix Fix” and agree that it wouldn’t come cheap. There would be no gratuitous exchange. No, and it’s a safe bet it wouldn’t be a one time deal (payment) either. It would have something like the Braddock deal branded into it.
Pavlik already has a title and is in a good position to make some sizable money defending his title. He might wisely just sit back and wait for the eventual winner and then challenge him. But, history has proven that some times things happen and one can be left out sitting on the cold concrete to develop symbolic hemorrhoids…….i.e. injury, upset, or a staph infection that won’t go away.
Green though is another story. He has had his ups and downs, mainly due to medical issues (neurotic interest in looking at his feet?). Also, in his last fight, he looked a little less than the destroyer he usually is in the ring. Regardless, he remains a feared big puncher, and many in the top spots of the middleweight, super-middle and even light heavies aren’t all that eager to step into the ring with him. He has that Arthur Abraham type lights out power, and the physical size and technique to go with it. So, if he chooses to just sit back and wait, he might be waiting for a long time and really need the Preparation H.
Hence, if anyone was contemplating a little deal making behind the scenes, it might be someone such as Allan Green and his people. This article is in no way suggesting that such a thing is actually occurring. As previously mentioned, all kinds of people in different areas of the game might have a legal or regulatory objection or two about such an endeavor.
However, it is interesting to consider isn’t it? Am I altogether alone in this? If you were Green, his manager or promoter would you think it wise? Give it a minute or two of thought. Who knows, the deal makers are probably way ahead of us, and have already thought about it and dismissed it. Or, have they?
If not, and it comes to pass, remember as Walter Winchell used to say, “Today’s gossip is tomorrow’s headline.”