I think it's pretty safe to say Andrade is not keen on fighting Williams because a) he wants a big money fight against a name opponent and b) he rightly or wrongly views this fight as an annoying waste of time rather than ducking Williams per say because he think he will lose to him. Liam Williams is good, and has improved a lot the past couple of years but he would for me still be a clear underdog in this fight and I would not expect him to win regardless of where this ends up being held. That being said Andrade would be crazy to vacate. What cards does he hold with no belt? I don't think he will vacate as his belt is his only route to a big fight.
I didn't see this fight happening when it was ordered but nobody seems to be pulling out so far. If it happens I think it'll be in America and on DAZN. Warren has said as much that he won't be winning the purse bid with them being on the wrong side of the 80/20 split. I think Andrade wins a fairly comfortable points win. I could see Williams having some successful moments but I just think Andrade will out box and out fox Williams over 12. I'd rather see Andrade vacate and move up if it results in us getting Williams vs Munguia instead. Don't know where that would leave Andrade though. Who does he fight at 168? Nobody wants to fight him. Hard for anybody to look good against Andrade and he can make you look bad. He isn't a particularly big name or a big draw and wouldn't have a world title to challenge for anymore, which is possibly why we will see Andrade vs Williams. Andrade and his management will know how much his value as an opponent will drop without having a world title.
I agree -- Andrade need the belt and I think he beats williams but is pushed hard Williams is much improved at middle and looks a force but needs a big test now
Andrade is on the terrible end of risk/reward for any other top fighter around him. He doesn't bring in the additional revenue to warrant the additional risk. I agree that by dropping a belt he would lose what leverage he has. No idea his age but I don't think he's a spring chicken anymore, either.
I agree with this but the other thing that also plays a role is politics. Hearn offered charlo 7m for that fight which is money he will never see outside of a Canelo fight. No reason for charlo not to take it outside of PBC protecting their champs in-house. I think unless BJS beats Canelo that fight will be on the back burner. If I was Hearn I would get the Williams fight out of the way as all of andrades power is by holding onto the belt. I would then get the Eubank Jr or Murata fight in the US with a GGG unification in December
I do believe he would have to get that fight on DAZN. He’s got a $125m a year budget up work from divided by 16 shows that’s close to $8m a show. He paid Mikey García $7m for Vargas. So he has shown he has the funds. Vargas apparently took $1.5m wouldn’t put it past Andrade taking similar to get the fight to try to launch him
True. And in fairness as a commodity over there can’t really blame him. He’s got a job to drive numbers and not many in the US do that.
Haha. True but given he’s got enough in his coffers to get Canelo to take three fights with him. My guess is he has possibly the larger budget in boxing. but working from a standing start and a smaller US reputation.
Im not sure. DAZN just saved a fortune with Canelo i would imagine its a seperate deal like AJ. No chamce hearn is given 125m no matter what. Look how much they pit their foot down over who canelo fights. The 125m would be max approved pending quality of fights id imagine.
Amd going back to that a Charlo vs Andrade fight in a climate where the best don’t really fight the best is a quality fight. It would be a approved
Who knows they wouldnt approve Canelo against champs for the money. They wanted Canelo against Oscar, the nutters. My point is Hearn doesnt have this wealth of funds YET. If he did he would have made a far bigger dent in boxing. This sport is all about the money.
