A world title fight in Jamaica for the World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight title came closer to being a reality when Mexican promoting company, Canelo Promotions, won the purse bid that was held in Panama last Thursday, for the WBA title fight between champion Celestino Caballero and Jamaica’s Nicholas Walters.
They were the only promoters to present a bid and the amount they put on the table was the minimum of US$120,000, allowed by the WBA. They presented Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica, as the likely venues and the suggested dates are December 1 or 8, 2012.
Stephen Jones, president of the Jamaica Boxing Board, was present at the opening of the bid.
The promoters will now present contracts to both fighters, with Caballero offered 75 per cent of the bid, which is US$90,000 and Walters US$25,000.
The promoters will give both boxers 15 days to reply to the offers, as they in turn have to send the completed contracts to the WBA in 20 days.
If Caballero does not accept the offer, he could be stripped of the title, which would then be declared vacant and the WBA would then name another contender to fight Walters for the vacant title.
The WBA had opened bidding for the fight on September 3, with a closing date of September 12. But Jacques Deschamps, who manages Walters, asked for another week to allow for additional private negotiations. The parties were given up to September 19 to do so and, within this period, Leonard Ellerbe from Mayweather Promotions, who manages Caballero, made a US$50,000 bid offer to Deschamps for Walters.
Possible title giveaway
However, Deschamps refused this offer and in turn made an offer of US$160,000 and the payment of various expenses on behalf of Caballero, to Ellerbe, to which he did not receive a reply. When this information was relayed to the WBA, they ordered the purse bid to take place on September 20 and Canelo’s bid turned out to be successful.
The general feeling is that Caballero will not accept the US$90,000 purse offer – which for him is low – and will give up the title.
For example, earlier this month, there was a proposal for him to fight Mikey Garcia for US$300,000 and, on that occasion Garcia, refused the fight. This caused Garcia to lose his No. 1 ranking and opened the door for Walters to become the No. 1 contender.
Indications are that it will be at least another month before the dust settles and a decision is finally made as to who will fight Walters for the title.
It seems certain, however, that the venue will be Jamaica.
Written by Leroy Brown, Jamaica Gleaner
