From the Scene: Here is what Russian two-time (2007 and 2008) Promoter of the Year (in accordance with the Professional Boxing Federation of Russia) has to say. Im currently in thorough negotiations with the WBO headquarters about Dmitrys future opponent. The problem here is that the American fighter and Im speaking about really tough challenger who has won his previous fight, and that was a big fight indeed is unranked by the World Boxing Organization. Nevertheless, I hope that we shall be given an approval for him in coming days. A majority of other fighters, which are ranked by the WBO, are either not eligible such as Kelly Pavlik or David Lemieux and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (who are tied with the WBC at the time) or arent strong enough to give Pirog fits as this Brazilian fighter (John Anderson Carvahlo) or, say, Dionisio Miranda, who was defeated by Roman Karmazin the last year. We are short in time posters should be prepared as fast as possible so I hope our negotiations with the WBO will be fruitful. __________ What American at MW is unranked by the WBO (count Guerrero/McEwen out), is coming off a win in a 'big fight' (count Lorenzo out) and is available in the next couple of months? Peter Manfredo Jr. Edouard gave him hell until the late rounds, not sure you can call this a big fight per say. It's too bad Lemieux is stuck in the WBC mess, just as GGG is stuck in the WBA championship fiasco. Pirog-Golovkin or Pirog-Lemieux would be gravy.
Eduoard was a done potato after the knockdown, but it was a kind of big (Remember Calzaghe calling Manfredo's beatdown of journeyman Scott Pemberton "a big win" to jusify that fight?) and very visible win for Manfredo. I buy Manfredo is title fight bound again. He deserves it after the mess his deadbeat tennants gave him. It is a true shame those financial woes are making him have to clean up between shows at the Dunkin Donuts Center. A fight with Pirog in Russia should fix that. Just hoping they'll televise stateside.
Lee isn't ready for Pirog, just as Lemieux isn't ready for Martinez. If you're saying there are chances Lee gets fed to Pirog in order to get Pirog HBO exposure which would build up a unification clash with Martinez, then... yeah, I guess. But Pirog said his next fight was gonna be in Russia, that doesn't allow for a Lee fight in March. I bet Lee's jaw would drop down a ****in foot if you told him Duddy was replaced by Pirog. It's not like Lee is expecting a huge step-up fight here.
Haha that's true. He wanted Pirog so badly to lose vs. Jacobs and when the end came I'm pretty sure he put Lee on a flight to Alaska or something (not very smart as you can see Russia from there). Too bad because it'd be a nice showdown and the thought of Lee getting an HBO fight but Pirog not is sickening.
Not sure it's Manfredo. He told DiBella he could not get ready in time to take Duddy's spot in the Lee fight, which happens a day after Pirog's scheduled bout and would actually give him American exposure.
...source? I can't find that piece of info online. If Titov wasn't talking about Manfredo Jr, I have no clue on who it could be.
Fawk. Who the hell won a 'big fight' in the last year, and is a WBO-unranked tough American contender at MW?!? Marcus Upshaw, who's got nothing on the go and who won an SD over St-Juste last April, their #4 ranked SMW who's also an NABO titlist. Anyone else? BTW I hope St-Juste fights Stieglitz in Germany as part of a voluntary title defence, and gets a couple KDs with some TKO potential in the late rounds. :bbb