Buatsi vs Azeez is off...

If I said those things, I’d get called Frank Smith and Matchroom employee. They sold a lot more than 2000, just under 5000 apparently.

Hearn did say the fight wasn’t happening a couple of weeks ago.

At least you can watch England vs South Africa peacefully.

 

I’m hearing a lot LESS than 2,000 tickets were sold.

 

Wow shocking if true. It seemed like they were constantly messing with what tickets were sold and what were available on Ticketmaster.

Jack Catterall has sold about 2000 himself for this weekend.

 

I was about to buy tickets. Phew.

 

Good friend of mine was offered buy one get one free ringside seats around 3 weeks ago. Boxxer looking for funding asap as the pockets are emptying. They would be wise to reset. Offered purses way and above what was required to fighters that dont draw.

Best thing is to put solid money in Whitaker, Azim and Dubois. Make interesting but stacked fights and pray Sky let the lack of PPVS slide for 18 months.

 

Surely a promoter cannot just cancel an event without fighter's consent.

The fighters get there purse regardless of how many tickets are sold. No reason for Buatsi or Azeez to get Shalom out a hole.

 

SOLD being the word. The actual sales were struggling badly. The card had 4/5 fights on it with no local ticket sellers.

They were giving tickets away but didnt sell even enough to cover venue costs. They knew it would make a loss but not to break even at venue level you are on struggle street.

 

Need Adam Smith back.

I worry about Shalom when his coming up with ideas like making Okolie the face of sky boxing.

Even the Whittaker deal was insane. £100k a fight for 10 fights. They better hope he resigns and doesn't go elsewhere afternoon that or that's £1 million down the drain.

 

That's annoying, lad.

 

But surely even if that was the case the fighters can tell the promoter that it isn't there problem and the fight is going ahead.

If it is as bleak as all that I don't even see this fight being rescheduled.

Maybe they'll have to put Okolie v Billam-Smith and Buatsi v Azeez on the same show.

 

Already gone down the drain. They had to go with who they could reasonably get and thought taking Okolie, CBS and Riakpohre was a good target and option. But the money offered was mindboggling. For perspective he was offered the biggest non PPV purse in Sky Sports history at that point. From what I have heard.

 

Leaks even more money as the Sky rights fees do not cover this and its not a PPV. So they are on struggle city. Okolie my guess has been offered even more money for a fight like Chisora.

As for azeez him and Ben are very tight. He was on the lower end of the purse and its been rumoured for weeks. Do a favour we give you cash monies, you still get the fight but on delay and we contract you to a set minimum if you lose the fight. if Azeez loses which is likely its double bubble.

 

Sums up a stinker of a year for UK based boxing across all broadcasters/promoters.

Sad days when all we have to look forward to at the weekend is Jack Catterrall, who makes a glass eye weep, fighting an old man.

Matchroom really need to up their game in the UK along with all other promoters.

 

You know what is happening with Ben Whittaker mate? He hasn’t fought since May 27 and I presume the plan was for him to fight Ricky Summers in Wolverhampton on November 18. Things have gone quiet there.

Shalom will be hoping Wardley beats Adeleye so he can make Wardley vs Fraser Clarke next year.

Billam-Smith vs Masternak and Avaneysan vs Mckinson plus Lee Cutler for the English Title on December 16 from what I’ve heard.

I guess that means Okolie has been paid money by Boxxer to either step-aside and fight Billam-Smith next year in the summer outdoors at the Vitality Stadium, or he’s moving up to heavyweight.

Too many promoters is the problem. Before you had Matchroom and Queensberry with Sky and BT. Now you have 3 big promoters on 3 big platforms. I think Matchroom may have put on more UK (and Ireland) shows than Boxxer and Queensberry combined.

 

For the money they've spent there's been 0 momentum built. A lot of average cards, a lot of cancellations and a lot of poor PR with stopping fighters entering purse bids. As a fighter on the outside you wouldn't go there for anything but a payday.

Shalom really needs to step it up or Sky will pull the plug sharpish.