It looks like Golden Boy matched Jojo with Ricky Medina, who would go on to lost to George Acosta. Jojo was deemed too heavy to make 135 lbs and the fight was cancelled.
That was probably when Golden Boy decided Jojo Diaz was too much trouble for what he is worth. Jojo is 5'6, very small for super lightweight. I wonder if Jojo's criticism of Golden Boy and his threat to sit out his contract is just projection.
If Jojo really was serious about sitting out, there's no way he accepts an Oscar Duarte fight.
Tim Tszyu brother Nikita is headining an Australian No Limit PPV this Wednesday. He was supposed to fight Australian super welter Koen Mazudier, but Koen pulled out from an injury in his last fight. Tszyu is fighting Danielito Creati. Creati was given a 4 rounder to impress and set up the Tszyu fight, but just had a draw. Mazoudier then was given the chance, but got injured. With the Fox funded PPV date set, the Rose brothers were forced to go back to Creati.
No Limit has just signed former 140 lber, Brock Jarvis, as cannon fodder for Tszyu. Nikita is said to hit harder than Tim.
I'm not convinced with No Limit's strategy of "clearing out the (Australian) domestic scene" before going world. I'm also not convinced that No Limit has a good matchmaker. For example, No Limit was setting Issac Hardman to headline PPVs and to fight on Vegas undercards. So what did they do? They cherry picked Jamie Mungia's sparring partner to knock out Hardman. And it doesn't help that Hardman had the same "all or nothing" attitude as the Tszyu's.
The Tszyu's are very good boxers. But they could have been better if they had a promoter that was more competent in building them up.
The problem of course is also their corner and their attitude.
I wasn't impressed with No Limit promoter Rose talking about the Crawford fight prior to Tszyu Fundora.
And George Kambosso shared the same trainer, Tszyu's uncle, or the brother in law of Costa. Kambosso had a "co-coach" to prepare for Teofimo. He won of course. But not before the coach throw Kambosso.
There is no "counterbalance" to counter the Tszyu attitude. Tim makes comments like "(Jack Brubaker, Nikita's last opponent) is easy to hit" and Nikita is all offense no defense. The Tszyu's need a yin to their yang.
Pat McCormack ducked Pete Dobson. It's difficult to see McCormack fighting outside England or fighting any top 154 lber in the near future.
Beatriz Ferreira is on the card for the vacant IBF women's lightweight title. Caroline Dubois ducked Ferreira. Ferreira beats both Dubois and Rhiannon Dixon.
I'm not sure McGrail is ready for O'Quinn part 2. Giving him O'Quinn could be like giving Conlan Jordan Gill and ruin McGrail's career.
McGrail is the guy Matchroom needed to give 6 rounders, not Galal Yafai. Yafai has a much better chin.
Marc Leach is a British level gatekeeper at super bantamweight. He lost via UD to Liam Davies, who just won the IBO title. In his last fight, he moved up to featherweight and was brutally TKO by British Afghan fighter on a Queensbury card. At least he would have been TKO, but the ref allowed him to finish the round and his corner was on the cusp of throwing in the towel.
While Yafai fights Mexicans in America, Peter McGrail retreats back to England. He's basically headlining a Matchroom "NextGen" card, but since McGrail isn't a "next gen" prospect it's not marketed as one.
Future opponents for McGrail might include Euro gatekeeper Ionut Baluta. Otherwise it's difficult to see McGrail fighting any top 30 super bantamweight. I'm not convinced he has the power for 122 lbs.
It looks like Golden Boy matched Jojo with Ricky Medina, who would go on to lost to George Acosta. Jojo was deemed too heavy to make 135 lbs and the fight was cancelled.
That was probably when Golden Boy decided Jojo Diaz was too much trouble for what he is worth. Jojo is 5'6, very small for super lightweight. I wonder if Jojo's criticism of Golden Boy and his threat to sit out his contract is just projection.
If Jojo really was serious about sitting out, there's no way he accepts an Oscar Duarte fight.
So Golden Boy matches a nearly 38 year old Rances Barthelemy with Jose Ramirez...
and a 34 year old Thomas Dulorme with Virgil Ortiz Jr.
But for JoJo Diaz they have Oscar Duarte???
Maybe JoJo is right. Maybe Golden Boy is trying to get rid of him.
How many weeks did Diaz say he was sober? 7 weeks prior to his February fight. So that would make it about 16 or 17 weeks sober for this fight.
It's difficult to see Jojo Diaz get into the right mindset to beat Oscar Duarte when his promoter doesn't support him and he knows it.
Tim Tszyu brother Nikita is headining an Australian No Limit PPV this Wednesday. He was supposed to fight Australian super welter Koen Mazudier, but Koen pulled out from an injury in his last fight. Tszyu is fighting Danielito Creati. Creati was given a 4 rounder to impress and set up the Tszyu fight, but just had a draw. Mazoudier then was given the chance, but got injured. With the Fox funded PPV date set, the Rose brothers were forced to go back to Creati.
No Limit has just signed former 140 lber, Brock Jarvis, as cannon fodder for Tszyu. Nikita is said to hit harder than Tim.
I'm not convinced with No Limit's strategy of "clearing out the (Australian) domestic scene" before going world. I'm also not convinced that No Limit has a good matchmaker. For example, No Limit was setting Issac Hardman to headline PPVs and to fight on Vegas undercards. So what did they do? They cherry picked Jamie Mungia's sparring partner to knock out Hardman. And it doesn't help that Hardman had the same "all or nothing" attitude as the Tszyu's.
The Tszyu's are very good boxers. But they could have been better if they had a promoter that was more competent in building them up.
The problem of course is also their corner and their attitude.
I wasn't impressed with No Limit promoter Rose talking about the Crawford fight prior to Tszyu Fundora.
And George Kambosso shared the same trainer, Tszyu's uncle, or the brother in law of Costa. Kambosso had a "co-coach" to prepare for Teofimo. He won of course. But not before the coach throw Kambosso.
There is no "counterbalance" to counter the Tszyu attitude. Tim makes comments like "(Jack Brubaker, Nikita's last opponent) is easy to hit" and Nikita is all offense no defense. The Tszyu's need a yin to their yang.
Pat McCormack ducked Pete Dobson. It's difficult to see McCormack fighting outside England or fighting any top 154 lber in the near future.
Beatriz Ferreira is on the card for the vacant IBF women's lightweight title. Caroline Dubois ducked Ferreira. Ferreira beats both Dubois and Rhiannon Dixon.
I'm not sure McGrail is ready for O'Quinn part 2. Giving him O'Quinn could be like giving Conlan Jordan Gill and ruin McGrail's career.
McGrail is the guy Matchroom needed to give 6 rounders, not Galal Yafai. Yafai has a much better chin.
Marc Leach is a British level gatekeeper at super bantamweight. He lost via UD to Liam Davies, who just won the IBO title. In his last fight, he moved up to featherweight and was brutally TKO by British Afghan fighter on a Queensbury card. At least he would have been TKO, but the ref allowed him to finish the round and his corner was on the cusp of throwing in the towel.
While Yafai fights Mexicans in America, Peter McGrail retreats back to England. He's basically headlining a Matchroom "NextGen" card, but since McGrail isn't a "next gen" prospect it's not marketed as one.
Future opponents for McGrail might include Euro gatekeeper Ionut Baluta. Otherwise it's difficult to see McGrail fighting any top 30 super bantamweight. I'm not convinced he has the power for 122 lbs.