Mauricio Herrera signs with Golden Boy Promotions, calls out Provodnikov for rematch

Per his Twitter account.

Unfortunately for him, those could well be mutually incompatible goals.

Provodnikov, despite what some may think, is still not under the banner of Top Rank. He fought twice on HBO in 2013 on Top Rank cards, but is still promoted by Art Pelullo who in the past has worked in tandem with many other promoters large and small including both GBP (most recently the Matthysse vs. Dallas Jr. card a year ago) and Top Rank without ever 'picking sides'. Even so, Pelullo is enjoying his taste of the big HBO pie and has come right out and said that Provodnikov will be remaining exclusively on the network for the near future - which all but nixes him being matched with any Golden Boy talents...like the newly acquired Herrera, the first man to ever defeat him and the only man to date to have done so decisively...something you would think Provodnikov might like to avenge. (then again, Provodnikov has stated that he cares little for his own pride and legacy or for money and that his #1 priority is entertaining fans...not to call Herrera boring or anything, but there are much fan-friendlier choices out there for Provodnikov if he is sincere about that...)

If a rematch if what Herrera wants, you might ask why he is seeking out a man he beat and not looking to avenge his own three losses to raise his station. Well, even if Provodnikov were not currently a hotter name than any of the men that beat Herrera - it still can't happen under his new contract for some very good reasons. Mike Anchondo is retired, and both Karim Mayfield and Mike Alvarado work for...you guessed it, Top Rank. :!:

So why sign with Golden Boy and shut himself off from the possibility of lucrative near-future return dates with Provodnikov, Alvarado, or Mayfield? Well, really, jumping to major league was a move he needed to make if he didn't want to fade away quietly. His longtime promoter Ken Thompson - even smaller fry than Pelullo, usually the B-side in the many shows they've co-promoted - had taken him as far as possible and had seemingly begun to run short on ideas. Coming off several months' inactivity following a skid of two losses from 2012, Herrera gained some nice quick momentum beating Ji Hoon Kim on national television to snap the streak last May...and then proceeded to do nothing with that momentum. He fought once in the rest of 2013, off TV, with a small journeyman. (all due respect to Huerta, a tough as nails veteran who once got robbed of a decision over Kid Diamond, quite well regarded back then - but he is a natural lightweight and while only 35 in ring years is more like 65...)

While attaching himself to Golden Boy was undoubtedly an upward move and should increase his revenues somewhat, it may be that he still hits a ceiling as far as what kind of engagements can be secured for him. They don't have many light welterweights in-house. Outside the elites like Garcia and Matthysse, both totally unrealistic, there remain only faded names like Anthony Peterson, Steve Forbes and Nate Campbell, who probably do as little for Herrera as he would for a Garcia/Matthysse/Khan. Johan Perez is probably the best option as far as roster mates.

Tight spot, especially being newly under contract. It may take a GBP collaboration with someone like a Lou DiBella or a smaller-fry promoter to open some doors for him if he can beat their mid-grade talents and stay consistently televised.

 

Yes but with Art's new 'special relationship' with HBO (basically latching onto the first network to show prolonged interest in one of his guys, milking it for short term security at the risk of burning some other bridges...) it amounts to the same situation. Provodnikov may as well be with TR being shackled to HBO, it makes him no less able to dance with Golden Boy partners.

I think Herrera must have known that going big time (at least via this route) meant giving up on his dream of going 2-0 on Ruslan and siphoning off some of the buzz he built up recently.

 

I was paraphrasing Herrera in his social media taunts directed at Provodnikov (until recently, they've obviously gone quiet now that boxing politics make a rekindling of their rivalry improbable at best)

Personally, I had Provodnikov edging Herrera 115-113 but could see a draw or even that exact score for Herrera as he came on very strong in the last few rounds and may have already had a a couple banked here and there. So I didn't think it was a robbery, but the wider cards with him taking 8 rounds to 4 were questionable.

 

No, there are rumors swirling this morning. Where did you see it "confirmed"?