The organizer of the fight for the vacant WBC super lightweight title (up to 63.5 kg) between the Americans Regis Prograis (27-1, 23 KOs) and Jose Cepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) has been determined.
Unexpectedly, competitors were bypassed by an almost unknown company MarvNation Promotions Marvin Rodriguez. They have club-level shows, mainly in California. Observers are still arguing about how the promotion got 2.4 million US dollars – it was with this rate that they won.
Interest in the fight was huge, many promotional companies participated. closest pursuer TGB Promotions Tom Brown (from the system RVS Al Haymon) offered 1.26 million USD, the main promoter of Cepeda Zanfer Boxing Fernando Beltrana gave just over 1 million USD. The same with the main promoter of Prograis Probellum Richard Schafer.
According to WBC rules, Fighters are guaranteed to receive 1.08 million USD each (90% of the prize fund), and the winner will receive the remaining 240 thousand USD. Rodriguez claims that the fight will take place in Los Angeles or in Atlantic City.
It’s interesting that MarvNation is the only bidder who has never previously worked with either Cepeda or Prograis. However, the company has several joint shows with Probellum.
No less entertaining were the bidding for the IBF light heavyweight eliminator (up to 79.4 kg) between British prospect Joshua Buatsy (16-0, 13 KOs) and ex-champion from Canada Jean Pascal (36-6-1, 20 KOs).
It also won a promoter who does not cooperate with any of the fighters – Lou Dibella (DiBella Entertainment) offered 975 thousand USD.
Buatsy’s promoter Eddie Hearn from Matchroom Boxing – 875 thousand USD.
The distribution of the prize fund will be in favor of Buatsi: he will receive 585 thousand USD (60%), and the rest will go to Pascal (390 thousand USD).
But that’s not all! The coolest thing about this situation is that the Bouatsy vs. Pascal fight will be held in Britain as part of the show of the antagonist of Hearn, local promoter Frank Warren (queensberry promotions) – His collaboration with Dibella is expected to be announced soon.
It is known that Hearn tried in every possible way to avoid the auction, but failed to negotiate with the Canadian manager Greg Leon.
Bouatsi and Pascal must determine the mandatory challenger for Artur Beterbiev. The champion was also supposed to box in Britain soon, but it didn’t work out – he had an injury. The fight with Yard is postponed to the beginning of next year.
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