Champion WBC in super lightweight American Regis Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) waiting for an opponent. He needs to hold two mandatory defenses in a row.
The first in line – the ex-owner of this belt, compatriot Jose Ramirez (27-1, 17 KOs) – has already refused the fight, as he is dissatisfied with the distribution of the prize fund (he will receive 35%).
And opponent No. 2 – the former undisputed champion in the lower division, American Teofimo Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs) – is ready to fight Prograis right now.
Ramirez: “I have a contract with Top Rank the amount of the minimum fee is prescribed. She is 1 million USD. If they offered me a million or a million and a half, then I would take the fight. But taking it as 35% of the prize pool is too risky. I don’t know how much will win the auction. What if it turns out that my fee will be, say, 300 thousand USD? In this case, there is no point in taking risks.”
Jose claims that it was for this reason that he was waiting for a specific offer from the opposing team: “If they made me a specific offer, would guarantee me my million, then I would immediately agree. It’s not even discussed. All you need is a guarantee that I will get my minimum. And I I will accept the fight“.
Lopez: “Will I take the fight? What the hell are the questions? Of course I will! After all, I want to become a two-time absolute world champion in two weights. I want to be the first to do something that no one has ever done in men’s boxing. I want to go down in history!
You know Why won’t the Prograis-Ramirez fight take place? The fighters exchanged arguments live, it was funny. Lopez immediately promised that fight with Prograis – Teofimo Sr. even announced the dates.