Showtime bantamweight tournament promoters have “all agreed” on offer
Showtime, the premium television brand that reaches over 15 million subscribers in the United States, has enjoyed so much success with its Super Six World Boxing Classic saga it will head a second bantamweight tournament. The tournament will include four fighters and the “fights will happen,” representatives for the fighters told ESPN.com.
One match will consist of titlist Yonnhy Perez (20-0, 14 Kos) facing off against ex-titlist Joseph Agbeko (27-2, 22 KOs). The match is a second meeting, on accord of their entertaining bout last year. On the other side, Abner Mares will take on junior bantamweight champ Vic Darchinyan, who will be moving up to the division. Both fights will open the tournament on the same card on either Nov. 6th or Dec. 18th, said Gary Shaw, who promotes Darchinyan and co-promotes Perez.
Winners of the bouts would meet in early 2011, with losers also scheduled to compete for a third-place ranking.
"I still need to meet with [Showtime's] Ken Hershman, but the fights will happen," Shaw said. "This is a true fight fan's card."
While the venue of the bouts hasn’t been determined yet, Shaw said that it “feels like a West Coast card." He added that he didn’t expect any problems in closing the deal.
"I think we've all agreed. I will sign my name on behalf of Perez and Vic. Showtime is giving these little guys a chance of a lifetime. HBO isn't in the 118-pound division. If they don't sign, where are they going?"
When contacted Agbeko’s manager Vinny Scolpino said he was waiting for the paperwork, but acknowledged his intention to participate. Frank Espinoza, who manages Mares and Perez, said his fighters are anxious about competing.
"We're in," Espinoz promised. "It's a no-brainer. I think it's a great opportunity, especially for the lower weight divisions. I'm all for it. I like what Showtime is coming up with and we're looking forward to it. The bantamweight division is hot. It would have been nice to have [unified titlist] Fernando Montiel and Nonito Donaire in, but the matchups we have are all good matchups."
Initially Showtime wanted to involve six contestants, but Top Rank rejected an appeal to involve Montiel and Donaire.
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