Danny Garcia to Face Robert Guerrero in January
PBC aren’t the only promotional outfit guilty of putting on forehead-slapping headliners, but this one absolutely stinks of painstakingly careful match-making. In fact, it reeks. I’m sorry – and I hate to go on a rant this early in an article – but Danny Garcia deserves a lot of criticism for facing another limp opponent.
Taking on a fading Paulie Malignaggi in April was sort of forgivable, but is it absolutely necessary for the unbeaten Garcia to now face fringe contender, Robert Guerrero? The words ‘low risk-high reward’ come to mind. But it makes dollars if it makes sense…I guess.
The fight (?) is set to unfold at the Staples Center, LA, and will air on Fox.
Derry Mathews Gets Title Shot Against Terry Flanagan
There isn’t much to get excited about here either, but at least Derry Matthew’s is a wild-card type with fight-ending power. Mathews has been chasing a world title shot for some time now, and Flanagan, who recently crushed Diego Magdaleno in 2 rounds, shouldn’t have too many problems.
Flanagan has already seized victory over his scheduled February 13th opponent, outpointing Mathews in 2012’s Prizefighter tournament. Perhaps I’m being a tad harsh on Mathews, who did, after all, knock out Anthony Crolla in 2012, and earn a Draw in 2013? As always, I’d be happy to be proved wrong in February.
Klitschko vs Fury Undercard Released
Tyson Fury’s younger cousin Hughie will be performing on Saturday night’s Dusseldorf card. The 6’ 6” contender is set to take on Adnan Redzovic, another opponent plucked from obscurity. The names on his record are just as obscure as the 38-year-old himself, minus upstart Arnold Gjergjaj who knocked out Redzovic in 9 rounds.
Here’s the Klitschko vs Fury lineup:
Robert Tlatlik (16-0, 10 KO) vs Uhr Said Rahimi (9-2-0, 8 KO) – 10 rounds, Junior Welterweight
Hughie Fury (16-0, 8 KO) vs Adnan Redzovic (16-1, 5 KO) – 10 rounds, Heavyweight
Samy Musa (8-0, 7 KO) vs Jay Spencer (10-9, 7 KO) – 6 rounds, Super Middleweight
Patrick Korte (2-0, 2 KO) vs Moises Distino (1-0, 1 KO) – 4 rounds, Lightweight
Pay Per View Creator Mark Taffet to Leave HBO
The 52-year-old senior vice president, credited with launching the Pay Per View model, has handed in his letter of resignation. During his 32 years at HBO Sports, Taffet helped raise the profile and purses of boxing’s lighter fighters (in a time of Heavyweight dominance), and so for that reason, fighters like Floyd Mayweather should be eternally grateful.
Taffet, who was also involved in marketing and programming, worked on just under 200 PPV events, which generated over 65 million buys ($3.6 million in revenue). His resignation will be effective on December 31st.
“My intention is to work with the fighters, promoters and entities that will be most directly involved in the formation of the next great era of boxing,” Taffet told ESPN, speaking of future ambitions. “That also includes sites, sponsors and foreign broadcasters, all the key players necessary.”
Give us your views on today’s boxing news. Is Garcia vs Guerrero set to be one of 2016’s most dreadful mismatches? Can Derry Mathews upset Terry Flanagan? Fire away in the comments.
