This boxing world of ours, filled with politics, stalled negotiations, and sloppy fake news needs a bull-load of gooey, salty truth shot inside its ear hole-- and I’m just the toro to do it. So, step back and watch me wash away the boxing ignorance. This week, we have comments/questions regarding the recent Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia obstacle course developments.
WTF to Make of the Tank/Ryan/Oscar Mess
Hi Paul.
I hope you and your family are well and safe.
I’m way past frustrated with the way these Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia negotiations are playing out. One day we hear that the fight is official. Then it’s almost done, but we shouldn’t worry because everybody’s on the same page. Then, Oscar [De La Hoya] comes along and broadsides everybody, saying there’s no contract and that he’s putting a deadline on getting the contract to him. Then, everything’s good again, contract’s in hand and just some minor details needs to be ironed out. Then, out of the blue, the fight’s in peril again because they’ve reached some insurmountable impasse, according to Oscar. But Stephen Espinoza [Showtime Sports head] then says that Oscar’s issue is complete news to him because he’s not heard a word from Golden Boy about any issues regarding the rematch clause. WTF is going on???? I don’t agree with your take from yesterday’s article that we should scrap the fight entirely, but I definitely see where you’re coming from. I don’t even have a question for you, I just want to vent about how frustrated I am.
Keep up the good work.
– Victor from Cape Coral
Hey Victor.
I hear you. One thing we know for certain is that this is no way to run a negotiations process between professionals. I really don’t know what to make of this either. The only thing I can think of is that Oscar is going into business for himself, going rogue, and working independent of what Golden Boy may be doing behind the scenes-- and that nobody at Golden Boy has the authority or the gumption to tell Oscar to chill the fuck out. But like I wrote in Tuesday’s piece, this latest grandstanding, take-it-to-the-public ploy from Oscar has put Golden Boy in such a tough spot that they’re either going to have to concede on everything to move on or dig in and prepare for a prolonged negotiations war. Calling this a “ploy” from Oscar is being kind, though. I’m inclined to believe that this latest stuff is more about Oscar trying to make himself look shrewd and on-the-ball than a strategic move to force a more favorable deal. Whatever, though, I just want it to end. I don’t REALLY want to ditch Tank-Garcia, but maybe we could hold some feet over flames by threatening to move on if this shit doesn’t get ironed out.
Scrap it.
Hey Mags.
I’m with you. Let the divas be divas and let’s move on. Tank don’t need Ryan and Ryan for sure don’t need Golden Boy. Leave Oscar the diva sitting in his fishnets with his fake abs. Neeeeexxxxt!
– DC Roy
Hey Roy.
I don’t want to be here in a year or two still talking about whether Gervonta and Ryan are going to fight, like Spence-Crawford 2.0. If the bullshit and public grandstanding are going to continue, it’s best to just move on and for each side to work with more compatible business partners. The punishment for this kind of behavior should be to NOT get a chance to fuck up future negotiations for big fights. As you said, let the divas be divas.
Taking Sides in Tank-Garcia Hangup
You know as well as I do that Al Haymon and PBC are always putting these clauses into contracts that end up killing fights. They are known to be difficult to deal with. What Oscar is asking for is totally reasonable. If Ryan beats Tank, he gets to be the A-side and his people get to call the shots in the rematch. That’s how it’s always been.
– Juan Moreno from Cali
Hey Juan.
That’s how it’s always been-- unless it’s not, which is quite often. Oscar, himself, did not concede A-side status in contractually-bound rematches. This is not like an actual regicide where the killer of the king directly assumes the throne. There are a lot of things to consider, and one of the biggest ones is DAZN’s lack of reach and market control in the US. Why would Davis (or Garcia for that matter) put such a big, important, and crucial fight in the hands of a company that would, most likely, underperform in getting it to the masses?
Really, though, Oscar’s issue is so vague that its hard to argue for or against. When De La Hoya told ESPN’s Mike Coppinger: "It's only fair if Ryan wins, then our side controls everything as the A-side," why didn't Coppinger bother to ask what that even means? Coppinger would Tweet the explanation of: “the issue surrounds the promoter and network of the rematch if Tank loses,” but if everything remains the same for the rematch, Golden Boy is already in the mix and DAZN will continue to have their own broadcast rights to the bout. So, what, specifically is the hangup? You’d think Coppinger, sitting on that fat stack of ESPN money, would bother himself to clarify such things. If I’m missing something, please do let me know.
As for Haymon/PBC being difficult and “always putting these clauses into contracts that end up killing fights”...How exactly do we know that? Keep in mind that EVERYTHING you know about any negotiations comes from info leaked to media by someone with a vested interest in painting themselves in the best possible light. We really don’t know anything about what happens behind closed board room doors. So, unless you have direct, personal knowledge of what goes down, there’s no way we can talk about who’s to blame for what.
I mean, seriously, why do people even try to take sides in stuff they, literally, know nothing about? Crazy. As for me, I’m not taking sides. I don’t care “who’s to blame.” I just want everyone to walk away, period, if they can’t make shit happen.
Got a question (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? The best of the best gets included in the weekly mailbag segment right here at FightHype. Send your stuff here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.