Conor Benn signs for Zuffa

That's fair enough, you've got a job to protect and you've been very generous with giving us a heads up when some big news is about to break. Just out of interest though, do you see anything drastic happening over the next few weeks or more likely months? Just wondering when I should start ordering popcorn

 

The West v Iran War must be having an impact on plans for Riyadh Season Boxing.

Noticed plenty of football matches postponed.

 

Thanks.

I don't know exactly but I would guess it won't be overnight.

Many promoters are on the verge of panicking and they feel like Zuffa Boxing is taking their livelihood away from them.

 

Sounds pretty accurate when you consider what Dana White had to say at his last press conference.
It always struck me that Frank Warren would be in a better position to withstand the incoming Zuffa tornado than Matchroom. Over the past few years, Queensbury have really grown their roots very deeply into the domestic scene and in my opinion, choose fighters based more on their boxing ability than who can sell tickets, the "5 v 5" card is a good example of this. I don't think anyone quite has the eye for grassroots, 'up and comin' domestic fighters like Frank and his sons. Matchroom tend to put most of their efforts into the 'ticket sellers' and in recent years took their eye off the domestic scene and focused more internationally, this puts them right in the cross hairs of Zuffa. Frank also seems to be able to reinvent himself time after time and would be putting on shows after a nuclear holocaust.

 

Is the Prograis fight the one fight deal that Benn signed with Zuffa? Is he a free agent at the final bell or is this one in addition?

 

If that’s the one-fight Zuffa deal and he’s genuinely a free agent at the final bell, then if Benn does the Prograis payday and just waltzes back to Matchroom after, it’s arguably the biggest heist in boxing since Buster Douglas getting $24m, only to turn up for the Holyfield fight looking like he’d spent six months partying with Martin Bakole.

That said, I can’t see Dana and Turki letting Benn pull their pants down and rinse them like that… but then again, it is boxing.

 

Me neither. I just can't reconcile his appearance on the undercard with the money that Zuffa are reported to be paying him. They must have some kind of follow up already planned. Prograis in many ways is a perfect fit for what I thought they'd be after:

except Rougarou never really drew the following he deserved at his peak. He looks much more like the kind of name that could be used to inflate Benn's reputation in advance of another fight against someone far more likely to draw interest. I just can't see the logic in paying 7 figures just to get Benn to that point when the same money could draw someone decent with a longer shelf life.

No doubt all will become clear, but glad I'm not the only one not following the business case for this...!

 

Thanks.

In my current position, I primarily sit in a office and send young people out to various sporting events all around the world.

I spend about 2 hours of my working time talking to all different kind of contacts within the boxing world. About 90 percent of what I'm told is usually true.

It's not just Zuffa Boxing that poses a serious threat to the established promoters. I've heard that IVB Boxing has loads of money and they want to mix it with the big boys !

Interesting times lie ahead

 

Yeah that’s exactly it. I can’t see Zuffa paying Benn big money to set up what’s basically a showcase on a one-shot deal. There has to be a follow-up already planned, or options in place, because otherwise the business case is non-existent.

I’m a huge Regis fan as well. He did remarkable clawing his way back after being cast aside post-Taylor, but the Catterall fight showed he’s not a 12-round fighter anymore, and JoJo Diaz was pinging him early which doesn’t bode well when Diaz was the one moving up to 140. Now Regis is meeting Benn at 150… it wouldn’t shock me if he gets blasted out, even though I’m hoping he lands that right hand and turns back the clock.

And Benn’s going to be massive on the night. Wouldn’t be surprised if we see the same version we got against Vargas/Algieri/Van Heerden, just bullying a smaller man with the weight advantage. Also, if Eddie genuinely thought it was one fight and Benn was coming straight back into the Matchroom fold, he wouldn’t have reacted like he did – he’d have been his usual smug self about it.

 

The addition Benn to the Tottenham card appears to have generated about 3 extra ticket sales.

If you look on ticketmastet the sales for this are awful.

All well and good people swinging their cocks about but this is due to be a big flop.

Even with huge budgets at some points the numbers need to balance

 

I have probably worked with you in the past !

Zuffa need to disrupt the sport as HE has done recently in order to look and feel like the real deal.

Personally from everything I've heard and been involved in so far I'm not so sure this will even be around in say 7-10 years time, I could be wrong but we've seen many different entities come and go in boxing, with relative never ending deep pockets and in my opinion this will be no different.

It'll change boxing in the immediate future but ultimately the money paid to boxers will drop significantly with this model and the days of paying the likes of CB $15m for one fight to make waves will be long gone.

 

Zuffa sounds like a new nickname for a fanny fart.

 

There is one thing that many people underestimate. I thought H.E. was a one trick pony and would be out of professional boxing in no time and throw his love and money at something else BUT he has a real interest in taking control of all major boxing events in the future. We are probably talking about at least 8 - 10 years. Which promoter has the financial resources to take on H.E. / Zuffa Boxing ?

 

Ben Shalom