Matchroom bumper shows.......
Posted: 19 Oct 2012, 15:31
I've been a bit critical of the Matchroom/Sky PR stuff that has promised us to be compensated for the loss of the number of domestic shows with the overall quality and product. I'll leave Prizefighter to one side here as I think it would be unfair to look for much improvement due to the restrictions of the format and many of the better boxers in it realising the style needed to maximise success in it.
I've been a wee bit unimpressed with what has been produced up until now. The Barker card down in London was obviously hit hard with Darren's injury and although I realise many disagree with me on this I never saw Edison Miranda as a creditable opponent for Bellew, which is pretty much how it turned out. An excellent matchup to sell but not really a risky or competitive fight. Similar was Purdy's opponent who while unknown turned out to look at least one weight class smaller and wasn't of a level to push Purdy. Ocheing was kept active and Evangelou/Conners were very well matched but this didn't pan out as a stacked card.
They were unlucky later in the month as well when Selby withdrew from his excellent matchup with Lindsay at very late notice. Frampton turned out to have an easy night but he was fighting a good level opponent, who although on the slide was of sound pedigree and fighting at his career weight. Frampton's win, or at least the manner of it, had as much too do with him being better than I thought he was than Molitor being more done than I realised. McCloskey and Perez was poor but it was probably as good an opponent as could be expected for Duddy given his recent slide. It would have been fine as third on the bill but not a great chief support.
Now we've got Brook and Saldavia. It's a good fight in my eyes and a sensible option for Matchroom to take especially given Brook's last performance. McDonnell was originally in an excellent cheif support but again due to injury issues he's now got a naturally smaller guy who has a hanbit of getting stopped. Anderson/Reid is a decent scrap but they are only ranked 7 and 8 in the Uk on boxrec and Reid is 41.
I think things will pick up for Matchroom. If Brook wins there's a good chance that he, Bellew and Frampton will be in major fights next up. Froch is due Bute again and Rees will keep doing a solid job as cheif support. I worry though that Barker may well be close to being knackered, McCloskey looks like he's close to done and in all honesty Purdy isn't exactly cheif support class on the type of bills that have been hinted at being provided. Ochieng, Kane and Ryder may all be in the title mix soon I suppose.
My (long winded) point is have Sky and Matchroom promised too much. They've been unlucky with injury's (espec in McDonnell's and Lindsay's excellent fights) but the standard of the cards just have not been 'stacked' in my opinion. I don't feel that the reduction in shows is being replaced by good enough bills.
I hope it works out for all concerned but I can't help feeling that Sky have been so short sighted in just going down the route of one sole promoter for their domestic stuff. The game needs to pick up in the new year
I've been a wee bit unimpressed with what has been produced up until now. The Barker card down in London was obviously hit hard with Darren's injury and although I realise many disagree with me on this I never saw Edison Miranda as a creditable opponent for Bellew, which is pretty much how it turned out. An excellent matchup to sell but not really a risky or competitive fight. Similar was Purdy's opponent who while unknown turned out to look at least one weight class smaller and wasn't of a level to push Purdy. Ocheing was kept active and Evangelou/Conners were very well matched but this didn't pan out as a stacked card.
They were unlucky later in the month as well when Selby withdrew from his excellent matchup with Lindsay at very late notice. Frampton turned out to have an easy night but he was fighting a good level opponent, who although on the slide was of sound pedigree and fighting at his career weight. Frampton's win, or at least the manner of it, had as much too do with him being better than I thought he was than Molitor being more done than I realised. McCloskey and Perez was poor but it was probably as good an opponent as could be expected for Duddy given his recent slide. It would have been fine as third on the bill but not a great chief support.
Now we've got Brook and Saldavia. It's a good fight in my eyes and a sensible option for Matchroom to take especially given Brook's last performance. McDonnell was originally in an excellent cheif support but again due to injury issues he's now got a naturally smaller guy who has a hanbit of getting stopped. Anderson/Reid is a decent scrap but they are only ranked 7 and 8 in the Uk on boxrec and Reid is 41.
I think things will pick up for Matchroom. If Brook wins there's a good chance that he, Bellew and Frampton will be in major fights next up. Froch is due Bute again and Rees will keep doing a solid job as cheif support. I worry though that Barker may well be close to being knackered, McCloskey looks like he's close to done and in all honesty Purdy isn't exactly cheif support class on the type of bills that have been hinted at being provided. Ochieng, Kane and Ryder may all be in the title mix soon I suppose.
My (long winded) point is have Sky and Matchroom promised too much. They've been unlucky with injury's (espec in McDonnell's and Lindsay's excellent fights) but the standard of the cards just have not been 'stacked' in my opinion. I don't feel that the reduction in shows is being replaced by good enough bills.
I hope it works out for all concerned but I can't help feeling that Sky have been so short sighted in just going down the route of one sole promoter for their domestic stuff. The game needs to pick up in the new year
