Just because it is GGG-Canelo 2 fight week doesn’t mean there is no other news. We have a big signing for ESPN+, Manny Pacquiao news, another PBC deal, and more.
- Warren+ – Through its excellent relationship with Bob Arum and Top Rank, ESPN has secured the exclusive American television rights to British promoter Frank Warren’s cards for its fledgling streaming service ESPN+. Warren is the UK’s second biggest promoter behind powerhouse Eddie Hearn with a stable featuring the likes of Tyson Fury, Billy Joe Saunders, Carl Frampton, Josh Warrington, Zolani Tete, and many more. This is excellent news overall as Warren’s cards have rarely been legally available stateside. I do worry about his ability to continue working with PBC, however. Hopefully, for example, Wilder-Fury is still fine and Carl Frampton will continue to be able to fight the PBC stable of featherweights despite what looks like conflicting TV deals. The first show on ESPN+ under the deal will be on October 6th. Junior welterweights Jack Catterall and Ohara Davies headline.
- Pacquiao v Arum – They’ve already kissed and made up, but Manny Pacquiao was briefly publicly feuding with his former long time promoter Top Rank. He claimed openly on social media that he had not been paid his cut of what the American promotional company had earned through their US TV rights. ESPN’s Dan Rafael quickly reported that Top Rank had reached out and the two sides were working towards a resolution. It has become increasingly difficult to believe Rafael as he has become a Top Rank mouthpiece, but this was accurate apparently. Pacquiao has removed his threatening post and replaced it with an explanation of miscommunication and a show of gratitude for all the success he and Top Rank had together. Adorable.
- Juarez-Ward – The IBF strikes again. Generally the one sanctioning body that always strictly follows its rules, they on one hand sometimes seem like the only non-corrupt sanctioning body. Then they order a nonsense mandatory like this one and you’re reminded they do this weekly at this point. While this one is not one of their beyond terrible orders, Thomas Patrick Ward in particular has not done much to deserve it. I have him as the last man in my super bantamweight top twenty five. Cesar Juarez is a better choice as he is in my top ten at least, but even he was destroyed by Isaac Dogboe in his last title opportunity. If this eliminator happens as ordered, the winner will get new Australian titleholder TJ Doheny.
- PBC East – In an interesting bit of news, PBC has signed a third deal in about a week after securing lucrative contracts with Showtime and FOX. This time the arrangement was not with a broadcasting outlet, however, but instead with an arena. The Barclays Center in Brooklyn has become the official home for PBC on the east coast. Basically what this actually means is that PBC now owes Barclays eight fights a year and cannot run at any other arenas in the New York region. Barclays can host other boxing shows if it wants though. No terms were disclosed, but I’d definitely be curious to see them for such a unique deal if the numbers were to surface.
