By Gerardo Granados: The answer is so blatantly obvious that the question doesn’t really need asking. Next November 14 the WBC featherweight titlist Gary Russel W26(15)-L1-D0 will fight against Oscar Escandon W24(16)-L4-D0. But what could be special about this bout, is it the match up of the year so far or is it that this one can definitely be the fight of the year? In reality this is only the first title defense for Russel and will be the first shot for a major title for Escandon.
If Prize fighters take all the risks when they climb into the ring then something should be done to at least protect them when they are out of it. This match up defies the logic process of a genuine competition among equals and that might be what makes the fight so special.
Maybe not all the readers remember that the winner of the 2014 Boxingnews24 Robbery of the Year was awarded to the Tyson Cave vs Oscar Escandon bout that took place last December. In which regardless that Cave fully dominated the fight outworking, out boxing and out landing Escandon the scores were awfully wrong 117-111, 115-113 for Escandon and only one 115-113 for Cave which also was wrongfully close. That night Cave lost the interim WBA super bantam belt.
It seem that now a days the losers will get the better fights and that the hard working contenders are left aside with the lame excuse of being low reward high risk for the so called organization champion and just a few hungry lions are lucky enough to at least get a step aside agreement to be avoided.
This situation can’t be new but not because it has happen in the past it should be given a pass to allow this issue to endlessly continue.
Not only have the deserving contenders had to make sacrifices and to work real hard to climb thru the wicked rankings, to be subjected to unbelievably absurd fight scorings but also have to withstand seeing the losers get the best fights.
Days ago a rumor started saying that Lucas Matthysse would be considered as possible opponent for Manny Pacquiao last fight if Congressman Pacquiao wins a seat as a Senator. Of course that Pacquiao fans will argue he has earned the right to fight whoever he wants for his farewell fight just as Floyd Mayweather Jr did.
After being robbed Tyson Cave W27(10)-L3-D0 still is working to get a shot at a major title and has won 3 fights in a row. He is scheduled to fight next November 28 against Jesus Rios W31(25)-L8-D0 at the Darthmouth Sportsplex, Nova Scotia, Canada.
After being favored by the atrocious decision Escandon lost his next fight at the super bantam division and now gets a shot at the WBC feather strap stepping over true featherweight contenders. I don’t see Escandon having enough merits to jump over legit feather ranked contenders because on his last four bouts Escandon lost to Nehomar Cermeño by SD12/12 (the interim WBA super bantam belt on the line); then defeated Juan Aristule by KO6/10; got the gift decision against Cave robbing him of the WBA interim super bantam strap; and on his last lost his interim belt against Moises Flores by SD12/12.
With the exception of a few like Teddy Atlas not many boxing analyst from major TV Networks will say it like it is, but isn’t it time for someone to stand up for the deserving contenders who are being overlooked and also for all those boxers who had have to wait an eternity before the WBA and WBC finally vacate the light middle strap so that they can fight for them? Are prize fighters simply defenseless against the greedy Promoters and the Corporate like Pro Boxing?
I think that this fight is special and also isn’t the only one so far this year. But what about the reader, is this fight special for you?
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