Thanks for the explanation guys. Sometimes I hate how boxing is run. Pirog is fucking legit, he should be getting showcase fights right now. Hut Hut went completely OTT placing him as top5 P4P, but clearly the guy can fight. If certain politics weren't involved, Pirog flattening Jacobs should have made somewhat akin to Manny flattening Ledwaba. Pirog should be hot property now, and should be getting showcased and a shot at Martinez. Presumably he only speaks Russian, but he is white and aggressive, so surely marketable enough right?
Danny Jacobs wasn't nearly as good as Ledwaba however. That dude was an average prospect who'd been built up on fighting men way smaller than he was....and as consequence, got a shock when someone his own size and skill punched him in he face.
Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun rarely ever get big crowds. They are out in the middle of fucking nowhere (in East Coast terms anyways). People will drive 150 miles to play a slot machine but not to watch a fight. I believe they pay site fees, and promoters can put events in their buildings, collect the site fees and TV money...........and not have to bother actually promoting the fights.
Yeah, but not everybody gets their pants wet, because Pirog beat some unproven American prospect. Jacobs had no clue how to react against somebody, who actually hits back. The closest he came was Ishe Smith and he almost lost that fight.
agREED I agree and have no doubt that's why the fights were/are there. "However" this makes Dibella no different than Gary Shaw who has been blasted for doing the exact same thing.
And DiBella has received criticism for not actually promoting through the years. It's a little easier to whip on Shaw because it's his own doing, whereas DiBella and Goossen are far too often forgiven for being at the mercy of Al Haymon. But it's not like anyone has ever claimed Lou is going to pass Top Rank, Golden Boy or even what's left of Don King anytime soon
Cmon...Lou had those Broadway Boxing shows with Damon Dash to fall back on. With that said, he's had an opportunity to build a couple guys but has been satisfied with riding along as the B-Side promoter. With Berto and Martinez you'd think he'd take a chance to really build a major attraction. berto moreso due to his age. Have to strike while Martinez is hot...he could get old overnight.
El and Tam, don't get me wrong, I don't think much of Jacobs. He seems OK but yeah, looked utterly out of his depth against a fairly skilled attacking fighter like Pirog. My point is just that Jacobs WAS highly touted, right or wrong, and therefore Pirog should really be afforded the same hype as Jacobs was, and given a showcase fight etc, or a title shot. That's really my point. As far as Ledwaba comparisons, to be honest I didn't think much of Ledwaba either. He was obviously better and more proven than Jacobs though, and it was impressive the way Pacquiao demolished him as a complete unknown. But even though I really underrated Pacquiao back then, that fight wasn't particularly surprising.
I agree that he's been content as a B-side promoter. That's why I said he's far too often forgiven and that too much blame is placed on Haymon. Lou's not a promoter in the true sense of the word. His company was funded by HBO as part of his exit deal and he rarely if ever makes a move without someone/something else along for the ride (network money, Damon Dash, Al Haymon, etc.). Goossen's in the same boat, though once upon a time he actually did promote - in fact put on more shows than any other notable promoter, regardless of TV dates being available. But that changed after Mayweather fucked him over.
I think Vinny Paz used to pack Foxwoods out, but thats the only "name" I can associate with regular packed houses out there. Where did Joey Getsmashed fight?
Exact same thing is happening with Wlad Klitschko and Haye. Klitschko already beat the WBA champ but Haye has the belt thanks to chicanery and, it seems, has wangled 50% of a pot he barely deserves 20% of. Point being that this shit doesn't just happen to Martinez alone. What Martinez should do is just take the fight with Pirog. If he doesn't then its for two reasons: 1. He isn't mad about fighting a fresh and relatively experienced southpaw, 2. He feels he only has a certain number of fights left and wants them to be marquee pay-days. Again, I think the biggest pot out there for him is in the shape of a fight with a Super-Sixer, of one hue or the other.
I'm pretty sure if it was offered, Martinez/DiBella would eventually come around. But the reason why it's a non-starter for now is that Pellulo has no intentions of being realistic with what his guy is worth. I hate the concept of letting a fight marinate (for example, didn't work for Bradley/Alexander, as it was never going to be a $4 million attraction), but that's one that would require a lot of hype in order to justify the anticipated cost.
Gamache used to sell out a lot up in the Coastal Maine area, from what I remember Johnny Bos telling me. I don't recall him being a CT Casino attraction.
Pirog should be a relatively house-hold name- he forced a one-punch {yet oddly premature} stoppage of a touted, name, heavily-backed fighter, on a major card, and on TV. The reality is that he will be looked at, despite their differences, as being "just another Dzindzuruk". {tall, southpaw, European} I don't see any point in letting it build either, because if people don't anticipate it now they won't be anticipating it later. I would love to see Froch vs Martinez.
actually i doubt many americans saw pirog destroy jacobs since it was underneath a ppv that few purchased.
I guess the plan for Martinez is HBO in July and PPV in November. http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=37027