Earlier in the week, the World Boxing Council made it official – Mexican boxing star Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez would be fighting for their junior middleweight championship against British cannon fodder Matthew ?Brother of Ricky? Hatton.
[Click here to read my initial thoughts on Alvarez’s future championship bid.]
The concept of Alvarez, he of slow feet, hands, and questionable chin, challenging for the WBC?s world championship is not ridiculous in itself. The fighter hailing from the Aztec city of Jalisco, is ranked number one by the sanctioning body.
The true scandal in this battle for a vacant title, is the fact that Matthew Hatton is not ranked within the top 40 of the WBC?s 154 pound class.
It has long been noted that the WBC bends its regulations as it wishes, only concerned with their ?non-profit? organization?s bottomline. By making a bout of this sort for their world championship, the WBC has announced to the world they are in the business of Saul Alvarez.
Hatton leaped over fighters such as Paul Williams, Kermit Cintron, Alfredo Angulo, and Antonio Margarito for the opportunity to fight for the WBC world title. We cannot even consider Hatton as the most viable opponent from Great Britain, as country man Ryan Rhodes is ranked number four
?Cinnamon Sticks? Alvarez should defeat Hatton and become the WBC?s champion on March 5. For that fight, the WBC will charge a sanctioning fee and as Alvarez?s promoter Golden Boy continues to manufacture their paper champ behind the marketing muscle of HBO, fees will continue to roll in.
How much will the WBC make off of Alvarez? Read the following excerpt straight from their rules and regulations:
?Boxers? Bout Fee. Three percent (3.0%) of all gross amounts received by the boxers as compensation for a bout, as stated in the Bout Agreement and any other agreement, including but not limited to compensation derived from Pay-Per-View, Cable or satellite transmission, Television Broadcast, or Internet distribution, including amounts calculated and paid following the Bout.?
To make it simple, three percent of everything Alvarez makes while wearing the WBC?s belt, and for the record, Alvarez will be charged $2,000 to buy his built – the WBC won?t even provide that free of charge.
Alvarez will be a paper champ, if crowned next month, but the saddest part of this dynamic is that the young fighter will be paying for this meaningless recognition.
When Alvarez makes $1,000,000 dollars for a fight, he will be forking over $30,000 dollars to the WBC.
Does Alvarez, writers, and fans really need the WBC and their green belt to make judgements on a fighter?s merit?
The entire system stinks, and the fighters are being pick pocketed by the WBC and its head crook Jose Sulaiman.
