What did it say? That Cash isn't fighting Bentley? Not really. I know Bentley is a much tougher fight but fighting for a European Title instead isn't a legitimate duck.
Yes, it is a duck. Even Eddie admitted that Bentley was the fight the public wanted to see and he bid for the fight himself. The Euro belt doesn’t serve any real purpose in today’s boxing market. Back in the day it got you a high ranking with the WBC, but realistically Eddie is not going to even try to take him down that route as it will be waste of time with Charlo as Champion. He is either going to go the WBO route, which he is currently in control of as Andrade has the belt and will probably get the win against Williams or possibly one of the messy WBA belt. Neither situation needs Cash to win the euro belt against a 41 year old, non punching nobody.
Seen people on twitter saying Cash would be getting more for the Euro fight. I just cannot see how that is true.
Apparently it is true as Hearn is pushing the purse up as he has a UK broadcaster and a global broadcaster showing the fight. I would no doubt prefer to see the Bentley fight but essentially gauranteeing you win the European belt and by all accounts a top 5 IBF ranking afterwards with a weak division above him it is understandable. For reference this is the IBF top 8; 1. NOT RATED 2. NOT RATED 3. Patrick Wojcicki 4. Jaime Munguia 5. Esquiva Falcao 6. Patrice Volny 7. Denis Radovan 8. Matteo Signani Expect Cash to fight Signani then Wojcicki or Volny before essentially being in a final eliminator with Munguia or if hes gone another route which by all accounts is a GGG voluntary fight that leaves Cash being called as mandatory for GGG's IBF belt. Makes perfect sense from his point of view.
There is basically zero commercial value in Cash v The 41 year old, Italian sausage Euro champion. Nobody wants to see this fight, A fight with Bentley would be highly anticipated and would draw very good figures which is why Eddie bid for it. If Eddie pays Cash more for this euro fight, it’s not reflective of its value - it’s because he would not be prepared to allow his Man to fight on BT, giving them a big fight.
The main and most important reason for Felix to fight David Bentley is that he needs that fight! He needs a test, a tough fight where he will be pushed, a fight he will learn from, not a pointless 2-3 round demolition of some middle aged Italian, which will be forgotten the moment the final bell goes. I rate Felix, but he needs the right fights at the right time to progress him on to world level, Bentley is a perfect fight for him, I'm confident he will win and having had a test will be better prepared for a world title fight when it does come- which won't be too far off. All credit to him if he has indeed chosen this fight over the meaningless Euro belt.
