There isn't much going on in boxing right now. Seriously, have you looked at the August schedule? (It's pretty bleak) But I did find it interesting the back-and-forthing that took place last week between Xander Zayas and Vergil Ortiz in the wake of Zayas winning the vacant WBO junior middleweight title on July 26.
Generally, these two are very respectful but they got sideways as they started to joust on X/Twitter over their credentials within the division.
The gist is pretty simple: Zayas at age 22, became a world champion. While Ortiz believes that he is the one that has actually fought the tougher opposition throughout his career. The fact is, both are technically correct in what they stated. But there should be added context to all this.
Yes, Zayas is now the owner of the WBO belt. But let's be honest, he didn't exactly face Mike McCallum to win that title. Nothing against 'Chino' Garcia, but neither he or Zayas were rated in the Ring Magazine top 10 at 154 coming into this bout. While on the flip side, Ortiz has defeated the likes of Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk -- who are ranked number four and six by Ring -- in his most recent bouts. But at age 27, he's had more time to face marquee names.
To put things into perspective, the recently updated Ring Ratings list Ortiz second in the division (behind Terence Crawford who really shouldn't be considered a junior middleweight at this point) and Zayas enters at number eight. Currently their title is vacant.
Y'know, there's a very easy and simple way to settle all this. Which of course, is to actually get in the ring with one another and throw punches in each others direction. But this being the modern day boxing business, none of this is easy and simple.
Here's the reality, I have no doubt that both boxers would like to square off but those in charge of these careers may not. Zayas just won the title, his handlers may want to give him a few obligatory soft title defenses and really lean on his Puerto Rican heritage to build him up as an attraction in Madison Square Garden, and maybe back on the island. He is a valuable commodity at the moment, and he will be sold as part of the package that Top Rank brings to their next broadcast partner.
As for Ortiz, his career has been developed on DAZN, and it would simply not be feasible for Golden Boy Promotions to take Ortiz to any other platform for another notable fight. It reminds me of what I was told years ago by Kery Davis at HBO in regards to Roy Jones facing some of the other notable names around him at that time who were not associated with the network. Davis told me bluntly, "Steve, how do I answer to my bosses that after all these other fights with Roy we did, that his biggest one is shown on another network?"
The boxing fan in me didn't like hearing that, but I credit Davis for telling me the truth of that particular situation.
Ring Magazine
But once again, another anticipated fight looks like it will be extinguished by the current boxing business model. Zayas-Ortiz is a solid match-up, one that has two boxers that have been given plenty of exposure throughout their careers. You have the Puerto Rico-Mexico rivalry involved. The problem is that this promotion would not be the magnitude of Felix Trinidad-Oscar De La Hoya, which did robust pay-per-view numbers. Bob Arum and Don King may have been arch rivals, but they could also be business partners when warranted.
For the record, I asked my friend 'JP', better known as @Fight_Ghost on X/Twitter (who has laid a wager or two on boxing and MMA) on what the odds would be for this fight. He responded via text: "Good question, I asked a few people and the oddsmakers seem to think Ortiz -200 or -300 favorite. So they're backing Ortiz."
Later on, 'JP' added, "Xander's done really well, Top Rank's done a masterclass with him, but the I think the consensus with the oddsmakers now is he's in a tough division and going to be the underdog versus several people going forward."
Riyadh Season
Keep this in mind, today's professional boxing is mostly about avoidance and risk mitigation -- not the fights that the fans yearn for. Yeah, that sound really cynical, but I can not tell a lie. I will eat these words if Zayas and Ortiz meet as junior middleweights. (Now, I'm not going as far as that Florida State fan who said he would eat crap out of a red plastic cup if the 'Noles didn't beat Boston College, because, well... I'm a man of my word!)
To go even further, Sebastian Fundora, who currently holds two of the major belts in the division, will he ever get in the mix with either Zayas or Ortiz while at 154? The same set of issues exist when it comes to him. So again, this isn't just about two promotional companies, it's really about everybody. Based on recent track record, unless a certain guy from Saudi Arabia ponies up an exorbitant amount, none of these bouts will probably come to fruition.
This situation reminds me a lot of when Nonito Donaire and Abner Mares were both undefeated and bantamweight champions about 15 years ago. At this juncture, this would've been an eagerly anticipated battle between two elite fighters in their physical prime. And a match-up that would've done well at the box-office at a venue like the Staples Center.
Ring Magazine
Unfortunately, it was at that point that Top Rank and Golden Boy were engaged in the years long 'Cold War', where they simply refused to break bread as one company was ensconced at HBO (Top Rank) and other at at Showtime (Golden Boy). Donaire and Mares each had very good -- and lucrative -- careers, but never ended up facing each other. It should be noted, that the current relationship between the two companies now is very cordial but everyone has a master to serve.
There have been numerous fights that have never taken place or over-marinated as the powers-that-be had to protect their relationships with their broadcast partners, or hold grudges versus promotional rivals, rather than service the fans.
Zayas-Ortiz is just the latest example. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
