So what is
going on with the proposed bout between Alfredo Angulo and Vanes Martirosyan
that was to take place on an HBO card from Mexico on November the 5th?
Well, it seems that Martirosyan is waffling.
"He's
a big talker; he calls everybody out and then when somebody bites- and in this
particular case, Alfredo Angulo- he suddenly has become very quiet. We've been
chasing him," said Richard Schaefer [GBP], whose company might stage this card in
Cancun, Mexico. "I talked with Bob Arum [who promotes Martirosyan] about
it over lunch a few weeks ago and we exchanged some emails last week with Todd
[DuBoef] and [GBP matchmaker] Eric Gomez has been talking with Carl Moretti and
we were supposed to hear today and we haven't heard anything. It has gotten
very, very quiet on the Martirosyan fight."
There was
also talk of Sergiy Dzinziruk (who was promised a return on the network for
facing Sergio Martinez back in March) facing Erislandy Lara on this card but it
looks like Dzinziruk, who still is the WBO 154-pound beltholder, has a
scheduled mandatory defense on September 30th versus Lukas Konecny. This
may have been problematic. Schaefer stated clearly, "That's not going
happen. So I don't think Lara's going to be on the card."
Honestly,
if you gave me a bout between Angulo and James Kirkland, I wouldn't complain.
As for Amir
Khan, who holds the WBA and IBF belts at junior welterweight, he will be
returning most likely on December 10th to HBO. "We're looking
to see if we can do the [IBF] mandatory, which is Lamont Peterson," said
Schaefer, who says that venues in Las Vegas and Atlantic City are being
discussed as well as in So Cal. "I know Staples Center is booked,
unfortunately, and so is the Nokia Theater and so is the Honda Center but we're
going to see if maybe if there's an opportunity in Los Angeles or somewhere in
Southern California."
There could
be competing shows that night as Showtime could be doing a card featuring WBA
lightweight titlist Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios. His return to the network was not
contingent on the Cotto-Margarito rematch landing at Showtime.
"They're separate deals," DuBoef pointed out. "One's not with
the other. Obviously, Brandon Rios has a position with Showtime and we are
currently discussing some stuff with them."
Rios’ last
two outings against Miguel Acosta and Urbano Antillon were broadcast by
Showtime.
