Who?s to blame when an essential, fan-fulfilling showdown isn?t happening? If you?re like most fans and members of the media, who you blame depends on who you supported before said mega-fight got road blocked.
If you?re fair, though, great fights often get stopped cold by the business of boxing?because, if deals are done just right, it makes more sense these days to NOT fight, just as long as public opinion paints you as the one pursuing the big fight.
So, during a slow news cycle, here?s a look at some of boxing?s top road-blocked fights and who deserves the blame for them not happening.
Sergey Kovalev vs. Adonis Stevenson
The light heavyweight mega-fight was reportedly all but a done deal until Stevenson jumped ship to Showtime under the guidance of Al Haymon.
Since then, there has been a lot of posturing from Stevenson about wanting the bout, but not a lot of forward progress as Kovalev has set about firmly establishing his position as THE light heavyweight champ despite Stevenson?s claim to the lineal title.
Who?s to Blame: You have to point the finger squarely at Stevenson here, although it should be known that Kovalev and promoter Kathy Duva nixed a proposed purse bid to help make the fight by the WBC last year, citing network conflicts. Who knows if Stevenson would?ve followed through with the WBC purse bid demand, but we?ll never find out because Team Kovalev walked away from the table this last time.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Terence Crawford
Promoter Bob Arum reportedly wanted this bout to be Manny?s last on April 9 and it makes sense how Crawford, as one of the top rising stars in the sport, should get a chance at Pacquiao in a high-profile passing of the torch bout.
Word is, however, that Pacquiao and his team balked at this pairing (and, presumably, at the idea of possibly passing the torch). Instead, they decided on a more familiar risk in Timothy Bradley, muttering some nonsense about wanting a more action-friendly opponent.
Who?s to Blame: Blame Pacquiao, but don?t be too harsh. Who comes off nearly a year-long layoff to take on a young lion like Terence Crawford? And who would do it if the bout, indeed, was going to be the last of one?s Hall of Fame career?
Gennady Golovkin vs. Saul Alvarez
First, the fight we REALLY should be talking about here is Golovkin vs. Andre Ward. But Golovkin and his people were quick to kill that possibility forever with flat-out refusals and a catchweight demand that, ironically, is a deal killer now that Saul Alvarez may want it applied to Golovkin.
Now we have Golovkin vs. Canelo instead of Ward?a more winnable fight for ?Triple G?, but one that may be harder to actually sign. (Yes, there is, supposedly, an agreement in place to fight later this year, but seeing will be believing with a fight where both sides seem so far apart on all terms)
Public perception leans towards painting Golovkin as the hunter and Alvarez as the scared prey, but is that a fair assessment?
In Alvarez?s last six fights, he has faced the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world (Mayweather), the lineal middleweight champ (Cotto), two well-avoided southpaw stylists (Lara, Trout), and two power-punching beasts (Kirkland, Angulo). Throw in a 2012 Paul Williams clash that never materialized due to Williams? tragic motorcycle accident, and we see a fighter here who has established a history of running TOWARDS challenges rather than away from them. At one time, the Mexican star was a protected child commodity, but you simply can?t say that anymore.
So, what?s holding up Golovkin-Canelo if it isn?t Canelo cowardice?
Who?s to Blame: In this case, blame the business or, perhaps more correctly, the business created around turning Golovkin a star before his time.
Canelo has taken the challenges, risked the defeats, and has built a star-level following that normally goes along with calling shots during the negotiating process. Golovkin walks into this pairing, demanding equal footing, fluffed up by a lot of mid-level wins and a raging HBO hype machine, but without any sort of real bargaining power.
In short, Alvarez should have earned the right to call the shots at the negotiating table, but is now being asked to play B-side (or co-A-side) to someone who is clearly the actual B-side. He and/or his people are balking at that?and rightfully so.
Amir Khan vs. Kell Brook
This all-Brit pairing is a no-brainer. It should?ve happened last year. Not only would it fill any stadium in the UK, but it would push the winner to true next-level stardom.
Who?s to Blame: Let?s not beat around the bush here. Amir Khan is downright delusional and has wasted over two years of prime career time waiting for a sack of cash to be dumped on his lap via big ticket event against either Mayweather or Pacquiao.
Khan has the raw ability to be a superstar, but in terms of record and performance, he ranks somewhere between Luis Collazo and Danny Garcia. Even his own perceived drawing power is waning, most likely from the fact that he only fought once last year and just three times since April of 2013.
Brook needs this fight to build himself up to the next level and Khan, whether he cares to admit it or not, now needs the fight as well to win back some level of boxing ?street cred.?
Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Leo Santa Cruz/Carl Frampton/Vasyl Lomachenko/Scott Quigg
It doesn?t take a genius to figure out why Rigondeaux can?t seem to land a ?big? fight. Just look at what happened the one time the powers that be DID risk tossing a star up against him?The talented Cuban downright stripped the heart and soul from Nonito Donaire, making a fighter hyped by the media into pound-for-pound stardom look like a three-fight novice.
Who?s to Blame: One COULD blame Rigondeaux for being too good and, ultimately, too much risk for too little reward, but that would be a pretty crappy indictment on the overall level of the game today. The fact is, however, that nobody wants to face Rigondeaux and they?re not trying too hard to hide the reason? Fear of an ugly, humiliating defeat.
