I guarantee you that Joe Calzaghe is a bigger name among casual fans than Jesse Brinkley. IIRC, the ratings on season 2 of the Contender were horrible anyway. Other than Steve Forbes, how many guys from Season 2 have been approved as opponents on Showtime or HBO? They're all ESPN-level fighters, and if they're shooting for ESPN, then they might as well take the guy who looks better on his resume.
My choice would be one of the young guns, if their handlers would go for it. Miranda is damaged goods. He's already lost 3 times to two middleweights. Bika is a guy who makes me think like a manager rather than a fan. He looks like he was chiseled out of a piece of granite, he has an ugly awkward style, he's double tough, and he is a VERY dirt fighter. Bute already beat him once. No reason for a 2nd fight. Ward or Dirrell would be the best choice, if they are ready to take an ass whoopin'.
Brinkley was Season 1 if it matters but anyway.......point is if he fights Brinkley it's a **** fight regardless if Showtime takes it or not. I'd rather he fight Larsen on off tv.
Ward actually called out Bute. He said he was ready for a title fight! Obviously, the fighter wouldn't say that without the OK from his management. Showtime would be interested, of course, but Interbox think, rightly, that he's not done **** to prove that he's even top 10 material, nevermind contender material... ...not sure what Bute would gain from beating up a green, unproven (top) prospect...I for one would be against it...Bute shouldn't be fighting prospects at this stage...
You're wrong there, they do it all the time. That's why the promoters have to backtrack. His manager and trainer might be saying he's ready for it, but someone actually has to make the fight.
My bad. I realized that a little after posting that it would have made sense for him to be on season 2. Unless Interbox can pull some ****** business, Bute can't fight Larsen because he's not in the top 15. IBF is much more stringent about granting exemptions about that than the other ABCs, because the IBF lost a lawsuit not too long ago regarding this.
Well...he called out Bute. He didn't call out Taylor, for example. Why? Taylor is better known, a bigger fight, more proven, a better fighter p4p, etc., he's American, and, like Bute, he's a Showtime fighter...so...why did he not (also) call out Taylor, say? ...that to me suggests that it was planned for him to call out Bute...that it was part of the hyping up strategy laid out by his team/promoter, with Showtime's blessing, of course. (Showtime have Green planned for Taylor after Froch, if he wins).
Actually I think he did call out Taylor.I think he mentioned him after Bute.That's how Iremember that article,I could be wrong as I went ''Oh shut up and fight a live one you hypejob''.