Boxing

[Chazza]

I think Degale might have a chance against Froch.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I think Degale might have a chance against Froch.

Maybe if age takes a bit more away from Froch, but even now I would fancy a motivated Froch to stop DeGale.



Me I just want to see Ward sort his out of ring issues out, sign to fight Froch again, and then for Froch's mouthing off to ensure that a fully fit and highly motivated Ward turned up on fight night.


Then after Ward sorted Froch out, I would want to see GGG move up so that he and Ward get it on in what would be a classic pairing in my eyes.



I just want Ward back in the ring because his career is being wasted, and a guy of his ability should be the man at super middle rather than a guy who has only had two fights since 2012.

[Tee]

I think Degale might have a chance against Froch.

So do I. He has come on a lot since that loss to Groves and he would certainly pose some serious questions to Froch.

[Daniel 7]

Maybe if age takes a bit more away from Froch, but even now I would fancy a motivated Froch to stop DeGale.



Me I just want to see Ward sort his out of ring issues out, sign to fight Froch again, and then for Froch's mouthing off to ensure that a fully fit and highly motivated Ward turned up on fight night.


Then after Ward sorted Froch out, I would want to see GGG move up so that he and Ward get it on in what would be a classic pairing in my eyes.



I just want Ward back in the ring because his career is being wasted, and a guy of his ability should be the man at super middle rather than a guy who has only had two fights since 2012.

What are the Ward issues away from the ring? He's proper good - like you're saying its a real shame that he's so inactive. He should be the one pushing forward the pound for pound title.

[RichC]

Hasn't he just signed with Jay Z ?

[Doc_Piptorious]

What are the Ward issues away from the ring? He's proper good - like you're saying its a real shame that he's so inactive. He should be the one pushing forward the pound for pound title.

It is a mess of contractual stuff, that was mostly involving Dan Goossen and Ward, and that got even worse when Goossen died some months back as others that Goossen had managed to get named on contracts involving Ward are all looking for their slice of the pie.

[Chazza]

Hasn't he just signed with Jay Z ?

Yep

[ame]https://twitter.com/andreward/status/553586078603837440[/ame]

[Doc_Piptorious]

Hasn't he just signed with Jay Z ?

Yeah he has signed with ROC Nation but there are still outstanding issues with his previous contracts


From what I gather it was meant to be done and dusted but someone who had been named by Goossen is meant to be contesting Ward signing to ROC so there may be need for either more legal stuff or another pay off.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Is looking like Billy Joe Saunders will not be getting the first crack at Andy Lee's WBO middleweight title.


Peter Quillin in New York looks likely.

[spud_gun]

Apparently Canelo vs James Kirkland on May 2nd is very close to being signed.

Mayweather vs Cotto II on the same date is also close.

Canelo vs Kirkland would be a pretty decent fight.

Mayweather vs Cotto II can just **** off. Mayweather playing it safe and Cotto chasing the big, big money.

[Chris]

If Floyd avoids Pac now it's one of the biggest ducks in history, simple as that. I try not to read too much in to press speculation but it would be classic him to fight Cotto again, the guy he called "shot" when Pac beat him!

Canelo v Kirkland will be fun.

[Zapater]

On the evidence of recent fights Cotto would probably be a harder fight than Manny.

[marcus50bucks]

On the evidence of recent fights Cotto would probably be a harder fight than Manny.

It would be at 160 too which would make it interesting. We'll find out one way or another who Floyd is fighting at the Super Bowl next week imo

[Chris]

On the evidence of recent fights Cotto would probably be a harder fight than Manny.

He's my favourite ever fighter but nah, he's not really done anything since last losing to Floyd, schooled by Trout, beat a scrub in Rodriguez and the Martinez win looks great on paper but the reality is he should have been in a hospital bed not in a fight! Pac beating Bradley is better than anything Miguel has done for a while.

[marcus50bucks]

Showtime exec: Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao contracts not crafted yet

By LANCE PUGMIRE
contact the reporter

A deal apparently is in the eyes of the beholder.

By the standards of Manny Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, a long-awaited super-fight between Pacquiao and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. is but a signature away.

“We’re all done,” Arum told Fight Hub TV and others while in Colorado this week. “We’ve signed everything, agreed on all the terms. As far as we know, we’ve been told by the highest authority that Mayweather’s people have agreed, that the networks have agreed.

“But like they say, you can’t do a play about Hamlet without Hamlet, and Hamlet -- meaning Mayweather -- has not signed on.”

Not so fast, and not at all accurate, counters Showtime Executive Vice President Stephen Espinoza, who is negotiating alongside his superiors and HBO executives to craft a joint-broadcasting deal for what’s expected to be the most lucrative pay-per-view bout in history.

Showtime has two fights remaining in its agreement with Mayweather. Pacquiao fights for HBO.

“Arum has been saying a lot of inaccuracies,” Espinzoa told the Los Angeles Times in a telephone interview Saturday.

“Here’s where we are: There is no contract awaiting Floyd’s signature, and Bob Arum knows that. Floyd has represented to [CBS/Showtime Chairman] Leslie Moonves, to [his manager] Al Haymon and to me personally that he wants to make the fight, and we are making very good progress. But there are no contracts. There are open issues between Showtime and HBO that are being resolved.

“No one is waiting on Floyd, and for Bob Arum to say otherwise is a misrepresentation of the facts.

“Discussions are ongoing. We’ve made significant progress. And Floyd has given us clear directions to make the fight.”

In a conversation with The Times earlier this week, Arum said that while attorneys are ready to draft contracts, it would likely take into this coming week before anything can be presented to the fighters to sign.

With issues like splitting profits, the fight replay, handling on-air talent and other details as part of the challenge of handling a joint broadcast arrangement between rival premium networks that hasn’t been done since 2002 (Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson), Espinoza declined to reveal what deal points remain unfinished.

Pacquiao told The Times earlier this week that he wants an agreement struck by the end of January. On Friday, he visited in London with England’s Amir Khan to discuss what is clearly a backup option.

If the deal is close by Jan. 31, it’s believed Pacquiao will wait.

The fighters have already agreed on the purse split, a drug-testing plan, a May 2 date and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as the venue.

“We’re about halfway there,” Espinoza said of the television prong. “How long it takes to get to the finish line is anyone’s guess and I wouldn’t want to speculate.

“But we are making progress. We’re confident it’s going in the right direction.”

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-mayweather-pacquiao-boxing-showtime-arum-20150124-story.html