Schaeffer: We offered Burns a lot of money

[whiskey]

Dan Rafael column (ESPN)

After the March 16 Ricky Burns-Miguel Vazquez lightweight unification fight was pushed off on Monday, Golden Boy Promotions' CEO Richard Schaefer said he revisited trying to make a unification fight between Adrien Broner and Scotland's Burns for June 15 in Las Vegas.

After Burns-Vazquez was postponed until April 20, still in London, Schaefer said he was in touch with Burns promoter allegedly about instead doing the Broner fight, which the sides had already tried to negotiate in February.

According to Schaefer, Warren said he was interested but that Burns' manager, Alex Morrison, wasn't. Schaefer said that was "unfortunate, because Ricky is going to lose to Vasquez for a fraction of the money he can make fighting Broner."

Schaefer wouldn't put a number on how much he offered for Burns but said, "I offered Frank a lot of money for Burns to come over. It's a very big number. I said to Frank, 'Why don't you come over here [to the U.S.]? At least Ricky is going to make double or triple what he can make in this fight with Vazquez.' Frank said, 'I'm on board, but the manager doesn't want to fight Broner.' He said there's nothing he can do."

With no Burns fight for Broner, Schaefer said there's a possibility the lightweight titlist will jump up two weight classes to challenge welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi on June 22 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Malignaggi's hometown).

"Paulie told me he is interested, and HBO likes the fight," Schaefer said. "People will like that fight. Paulie did tell me he would take it. He's not sure Broner would take it. I put it to [Broner manager] Al Haymon to talk to Adrien. I think it would be a very interesting fight."

[jessi]

Im with burns manager Morrison, Broner can wait ! Morrison is looking out for burns, and broner fighting paulie is a one sided beating !

[dondada]

Burns should jump at the chance.

[Tomasino]

Burns should jump at the chance.

Defo. It will be interesting to read Morrisons response. Seems like Burns Broner will never happen if up to Burns camp.

[whiskey]

Does anyone think this is a fight that Sky PPV would love to put on ?

They're hot on Broner and the full team of Adam Smith, Nelson and all the backroom staff were in attendance for the Rees fight at ringside.

Perhaps Morrison actually is interested, just not under the current circumstances / arrangements.

[dondada]

Burns should jump at the chance.

Defo. It will be interesting to read Morrisons response. Seems like Burns Broner will never happen if up to Burns camp.

Indeed mate. I expect Morrison to give his side very soon. Why did Ricky get involved in boxing? Almost every sensible answer I can think of, especially given the context, leads me to think he should get on to Herr Schaefer pronto. Unless he's getting a guaranteed fortune to fight Vazquez.

[whiskey]

Who would buy that PPV? Neither Broner are Burns are well known names, certainly not big enough to carry a PPV.

Broner is a massive name Stateside and his profile has doubled here since the Rees fight.

And with the Sky machine behind it, even the casuals would be on board.

They'd shift a lot of sales in Scotland, thats a fact.

[zero]

Dan Rafael column (ESPN)

After the March 16 Ricky Burns-Miguel Vazquez lightweight unification fight was pushed off on Monday, Golden Boy Promotions' CEO Richard Schaefer said he revisited trying to make a unification fight between Adrien Broner and Scotland's Burns for June 15 in Las Vegas.

After Burns-Vazquez was postponed until April 20, still in London, Schaefer said he was in touch with Burns promoter allegedly about instead doing the Broner fight, which the sides had already tried to negotiate in February.

According to Schaefer, Warren said he was interested but that Burns' manager, Alex Morrison, wasn't. Schaefer said that was "unfortunate, because Ricky is going to lose to Vasquez for a fraction of the money he can make fighting Broner."

Schaefer wouldn't put a number on how much he offered for Burns but said, "I offered Frank a lot of money for Burns to come over. It's a very big number. I said to Frank, 'Why don't you come over here [to the U.S.]? At least Ricky is going to make double or triple what he can make in this fight with Vazquez.' Frank said, 'I'm on board, but the manager doesn't want to fight Broner.' He said there's nothing he can do."

With no Burns fight for Broner, Schaefer said there's a possibility the lightweight titlist will jump up two weight classes to challenge welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi on June 22 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Malignaggi's hometown).

"Paulie told me he is interested, and HBO likes the fight," Schaefer said. "People will like that fight. Paulie did tell me he would take it. He's not sure Broner would take it. I put it to [Broner manager] Al Haymon to talk to Adrien. I think it would be a very interesting fight."

Pompous prick!

Broner should fight Vazquez then.

[Trojans44]

I continue to think that Burns not fighting Broner is completely unjustifiable. This stuff about Borner can wait is absolute nonsense, Broner isnt going to wait on anyone. There is a limited window for this fight and Burns is turning down the biggest opportunity of his life. No other fight can make him this much money and long terms a loss is unlikely to severely impair his earning potential compared with what he gets now. Burns is peaking and its now or never. All he has to lose is a crappy WBO strap.

[dondada]

I continue to think that Burns not fighting Broner is completely unjustifiable. This stuff about Borner can wait is absolute nonsense, Broner isnt going to wait on anyone. There is a limited window for this fight and Burns is turning down the biggest opportunity of his life. No other fight can make him this much money and long terms a loss is unlikely to severely impair his earning potential compared with what he gets now. Burns is peaking and its now or never. All he has to lose is a crappy WBO strap.

x2

[Andrew]

God I hope Broner doesn't skip Light Welter !!!!!!!!!!!

[JimJim2009]

I continue to think that Burns not fighting Broner is completely unjustifiable. This stuff about Borner can wait is absolute nonsense, Broner isnt going to wait on anyone. There is a limited window for this fight and Burns is turning down the biggest opportunity of his life. No other fight can make him this much money and long terms a loss is unlikely to severely impair his earning potential compared with what he gets now. Burns is peaking and its now or never. All he has to lose is a crappy WBO strap.

x2

x3

[Tomasino]

Burns should jump at the chance.

Defo. It will be interesting to read Morrisons response. Seems like Burns Broner will never happen if up to Burns camp.

Indeed mate. I expect Morrison to give his side very soon. Why did Ricky get involved in boxing? Almost every sensible answer I can think of, especially given the context, leads me to think he should get on to Herr Schaefer pronto. Unless he's getting a guaranteed fortune to fight Vazquez.

I kind of expected Burns to leave Bunny after that statement from Shaeffer. He had no option really...other than fight bloody Broner!!

I honestly believe Ricky would fight Broner at the drop of a hat but we shall soon see if its going to happen. By leaving Warren, surely the only decent option is to accept Broners challenge. They won't have Bunny to blame any more.

[SamWise72]

I continue to think that Burns not fighting Broner is completely unjustifiable. This stuff about Borner can wait is absolute nonsense, Broner isnt going to wait on anyone. There is a limited window for this fight and Burns is turning down the biggest opportunity of his life. No other fight can make him this much money and long terms a loss is unlikely to severely impair his earning potential compared with what he gets now. Burns is peaking and its now or never. All he has to lose is a crappy WBO strap.

Amen.

[TopGun]

Billy Nelson, come on where are you??? You need to update us.

[black panther]

I continue to think that Burns not fighting Broner is completely unjustifiable. This stuff about Borner can wait is absolute nonsense, Broner isnt going to wait on anyone. There is a limited window for this fight and Burns is turning down the biggest opportunity of his life. No other fight can make him this much money and long terms a loss is unlikely to severely impair his earning potential compared with what he gets now. Burns is peaking and its now or never. All he has to lose is a crappy WBO strap.

x2

x3

x 1000000000000

[whiskey]

[JimJim2009]

The head of HBO wants to make the fight.
Burn's (former) promoter wanted the fight.
Broner is publicly calling for Burns to fight him.
Boxing fans want to see the fight.
Burns vs Broner would be a massive fight.

So if the problem isn't that Burn's immediate people (Morrison, Nelson) don't want the fight, it must be that Ricky himself doesn't want the fight. He wanders around calling himself a world champ but he won't face the best opposition out there.

If that's not the case, then what possible reason is there for the fight not happening NEXT ?

[dondada]

The head of HBO wants to make the fight.
Burn's (former) promoter wanted the fight.
Broner is publicly calling for Burns to fight him.
Boxing fans want to see the fight.
Burns vs Broner would be a massive fight.

So if the problem isn't that Burn's immediate people (Morrison, Nelson) don't want the fight, it must be that Ricky himself doesn't want the fight. He wanders around calling himself a world champ but he won't face the best opposition out there.

If that's not the case, then what possible reason is there for the fight not happening NEXT ?

I strongly suspect that one of your initial statements is inaccurate.

I'd be absolutely astonished if Burns didn't want the biggest fight and biggest purse of his life Stateside.

[JimJim2009]

I'd be absolutely astonished if Burns didn't want the biggest fight and biggest purse of his life Stateside.[/quote]

I genuinely hope that is the case, and (if so) that Ricky tells Morrison to grow a pair, and get on the fooking phone to HBO to accept the fight before they match Broner with somebody else.

[Finn]

Its absolutely crazy to turn this fight down, even if burns loses Broner will go up a weight or two and Burns could probably then dominate the division. The potential reward for beating broner is huge fights, money and world wide kudos; the worst case scenario if he loses he then fights vasquez anyway after 1 or two more fights.

[Londonirish]

[black panther]

Another thing to consider is what if Burns loses/ had lost to Vasquez? It's not easy fight by any stretch of the imagination and it wouldn't be a shock had Burns lost. So surely it would make sense to fight Broner and make more money in taking a tough fight.

[lefty]

I continue to think that Burns not fighting Broner is completely unjustifiable. This stuff about Borner can wait is absolute nonsense, Broner isnt going to wait on anyone. There is a limited window for this fight and Burns is turning down the biggest opportunity of his life. No other fight can make him this much money and long terms a loss is unlikely to severely impair his earning potential compared with what he gets now. Burns is peaking and its now or never. All he has to lose is a crappy WBO strap.

I agree, I dont think he personally has a lot to lose fighting Broner because most people expect him to lose the fight and also if he does lose he'll be losing to a guy that a lot of people think is the next superstar in boxing! He'll get paid a good amount for the fight and he can fight without pressure in a way because he's the underdog. Thats my opinion on it anyway for what it's worth.

[Finn]

Its absolutely crazy to turn this fight down, even if burns loses Broner will go up a weight or two and Burns could probably then dominate the division. The potential reward for beating broner is huge fights, money and world wide kudos; the worst case scenario if he loses he then fights vasquez anyway after 1 or two more fights.

What huge fights? Broner is the biggest fight available.

Im sure burns would be able to command some pretty big fights if he beats broner. He would be the a unified champion, Rios and vasquez would still be out there and burns i would assume would be getting a much better share of the purse if he was in such a position.