According to Mr Rafael, Showtime made some enquiries into making a Super 6 at Bantamweight involving Fernando Montiel, Yohnny Perez, Joseph Agbeko, Abner Mares, Vic Darchinyan and Nonito Donaire. But big shock Top Rank and Fernando Montiel specifically had no interest. They also made enquiries about Hozumi Hasegawa who was also not interested (not a big shock) so sadly this looks like we wont' see it which you can't blame them because it would be missing the two biggest stars at the weight. Even if it doesn't happen still a very interesting idea and gotta say I love Showtime's attitude to wanting to see the best at the weight classes fight eachother. Here is the link if you are interested it makes for interesting reading http://espn.go.com/sports/boxing/blog/_/name/rafael_dan/id/5434447/showtime-weighing-bantamweight-tourney#myespn?prosaction=newpost&status=ok&status=ok
Fair does to Showtime, they must be gluttons for punishment to want to organize another Super 6!!! Pretty niche weight class as well, they'll struggle to sell that in America.
I dunno it covers loads of demographics (Latino, African, Filipino) and simply put it is the best fighting the best and they are all very talented proven fighters it might not do as well as the Super Middle's but I can't see why it wouldn't do to badly. I'm pissed off actually Top Rank are screwing Boxing right now this is a great idea and surely they cannot have anything else better planned or better payed for Donaire or Montiel and without at least one of those guys the whole tournament loses it's effect.
Would be great for the hardcores. If Montiel and Donaire say no they should ask Moreno and/or Cermeno (who are rematching each other anyway)
Montiel kind of puts a hole in the Latin market I guess. Still, as Ishy says, a pretty hardcore project as boxing ideas go.
I know but it's a great division right now and it is such a shame that we won't be seeing this in the format laid out on the plus side it won't lock down loads of fighters for a long period.
You could also throw out there names like Michael Domingo, the winner of Avalos-Martin, William Gonzalez, AJ Banal, (if Box Rec is to be believed) the winner of Esquivel-Munyai. There are loads of good fighters at 118 but without the no.1 in the division or the top p4p fighter it will always be the best of the rest mixing it around to see who is no 2/3 at 118 it isn't quite the same thing. Not surprising this won't happen it's not like Top Rank to have any interest in actually proving who is king at a weight just who is king of the world at Top Rank.
I read elsewhere that Showtime have settled on Agbeko-Perez II and Darchinyan-Mares with the winners meeting. I would be happy with that :thumbsup
That is nice. Top Rank seem keen on Montiel-Donaire, winner of that should fight the winner of the little Showtime tourney. And then in an ideal world Hasegawa fights the winner of Moreno-Cermeno II
Yeah that's what the article suggested will happen now which I don't mind still some decent match-ups. But I can guarantee that the winner of Donaire-Montiel (which I also love as a fight) will move up 122 or will fight Morel and then move up. Top Rank just hate doing 50/50 fights with other promoters in fact the last time I can remember them doing one was Margarito-Mosley.
It's a shame they can't get a good tournament going in that weight class, but its definitely better not to do anything that would leave a couple of the guys outside. They all seem fairly decent at facing each other in matches anyway, so it's not the end of the world.
to be fair, Donaire, Darchiyan and Montiel generate more money than the others, so if they wanted to get it done they should be getting more for group stage match ups. if donaire and montiel dont wanna be involed, get moreno and cermeno involved as they also have an argument for being the number 1 BW.
so there going for a 4 man tournement at Bantamweight which wont have any of the top 4 at the weight???