aquariusone
03-19-2012, 02:38 PM
http://i.lv3.hbo.com/assets/images/homepage/2011/march/sports/030911-martinez-dzinzinruk-martinez-right-punch-1024.jpg
Here is what took place after post-fight interview between LARRY MERCHANT and LOU DIBELLA:
By Ron Borgas, Boston Herald:
When Merchant suggested after Martinez’ victory he move up to 168 pounds to challenge another HBO favorite, super middleweight champion Lucian Bute, DiBella went off.
“It’s (expletive) that HBO suggests he move up to fight Bute or (Andre) Ward,’’ DiBella bellowed at ringside at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden. “My guy isn’t even a real middleweight. He was eating steak and a baked potato the day of the weigh-in and still was only 157.
“He’s really a 154-pounder and they want him to move up instead of insisting Chavez do what he should have done already and face him? Sergio’s knocking out everyone at middleweight and he’s not even a middleweight. His only disadvantage is that he’s not a true middleweight. So he’s got to spot guys weight until he gets knocked out? He’s not going to do that.”
While DiBella said he could find another promotional spot for Macklin, the situation is more complicated for Martinez, who seems too small and too good for his own good. DiBella reflected this by issuing another challenge that grew more tantalizing the more he spoke.
“Until proven otherwise, Floyd Mayweather is the best fighter in the world and we’d fight him at 154 pounds,” DiBella said. “We’d fight him at 152. We’d fight him at 150 to get the opportunity and give him 80 percent of the money!
“Would that be detrimental to Sergio? Of course it would be detrimental, but he’s going to have to do something detrimental to get paid. We will handicap ourselves to fight great fighters.”
DiBella was not so willing to put 26-year-old Edwin Rodriguez at equal risk, however. He also promotes the Worcester super middleweight, who won a lopsided decision over Donovan George on Saturday, a victory likely to improve his No. 3 IBF ranking, but DiBella expressed no interest in putting him in with Bute either, but for different reasons. Rodriguez’ issue is lack of experience, not size.
“I’m not going to take a young fighter and throw him to the wolves,” DiBella said. “He’s not on a level with Bute or Ward yet, but I’d put him in with anyone on the next level. I’d put him in with (former light heavyweight champion and super middleweight contender Jean) Pascal or (ex-super middleweight champion Carl) Froch if he loses to Bute in May. Edwin is a future champion.”
So according to DiBella he has a future Hall of Famer and a future champion and he doesn’t want to put either in with Bute. You can’t blame him, or HBO, for that.
AQUA'S TAKE: This is the reason why boxing has lost a lot of its lustre. As Rudee would say: "It is all about MONEY; not about PRIDE." Di Bella and Arum are cut from the same pie. Decades ago, true champions fought each other to prove they are the best. Today, FORGET IT!
Here is what took place after post-fight interview between LARRY MERCHANT and LOU DIBELLA:
By Ron Borgas, Boston Herald:
When Merchant suggested after Martinez’ victory he move up to 168 pounds to challenge another HBO favorite, super middleweight champion Lucian Bute, DiBella went off.
“It’s (expletive) that HBO suggests he move up to fight Bute or (Andre) Ward,’’ DiBella bellowed at ringside at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden. “My guy isn’t even a real middleweight. He was eating steak and a baked potato the day of the weigh-in and still was only 157.
“He’s really a 154-pounder and they want him to move up instead of insisting Chavez do what he should have done already and face him? Sergio’s knocking out everyone at middleweight and he’s not even a middleweight. His only disadvantage is that he’s not a true middleweight. So he’s got to spot guys weight until he gets knocked out? He’s not going to do that.”
While DiBella said he could find another promotional spot for Macklin, the situation is more complicated for Martinez, who seems too small and too good for his own good. DiBella reflected this by issuing another challenge that grew more tantalizing the more he spoke.
“Until proven otherwise, Floyd Mayweather is the best fighter in the world and we’d fight him at 154 pounds,” DiBella said. “We’d fight him at 152. We’d fight him at 150 to get the opportunity and give him 80 percent of the money!
“Would that be detrimental to Sergio? Of course it would be detrimental, but he’s going to have to do something detrimental to get paid. We will handicap ourselves to fight great fighters.”
DiBella was not so willing to put 26-year-old Edwin Rodriguez at equal risk, however. He also promotes the Worcester super middleweight, who won a lopsided decision over Donovan George on Saturday, a victory likely to improve his No. 3 IBF ranking, but DiBella expressed no interest in putting him in with Bute either, but for different reasons. Rodriguez’ issue is lack of experience, not size.
“I’m not going to take a young fighter and throw him to the wolves,” DiBella said. “He’s not on a level with Bute or Ward yet, but I’d put him in with anyone on the next level. I’d put him in with (former light heavyweight champion and super middleweight contender Jean) Pascal or (ex-super middleweight champion Carl) Froch if he loses to Bute in May. Edwin is a future champion.”
So according to DiBella he has a future Hall of Famer and a future champion and he doesn’t want to put either in with Bute. You can’t blame him, or HBO, for that.
AQUA'S TAKE: This is the reason why boxing has lost a lot of its lustre. As Rudee would say: "It is all about MONEY; not about PRIDE." Di Bella and Arum are cut from the same pie. Decades ago, true champions fought each other to prove they are the best. Today, FORGET IT!