Tanahashi Coates
Superstar
The fukkery of WBSS deserves a documentary.
Essential The Official Boxing Random Thoughts Thread...All boxing heads ENTER.
- Thread starter Jesus Is Lord
- Start date
The fukkery of WBSS deserves a documentary.
per The Athletic
Regis Prograis files suit against WBSS, scrapping bout against Josh Taylor. Here’s how it all went down
Regis Prograis is preparing for a fight. It’s just not the one he was expecting.
The junior welterweight champion was set to meet Josh Taylor in the World Boxing Super Series final this fall, but that fight is now sidelined after Prograis filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in New Jersey on Friday, according to a court document obtained by The Athletic. Prograis seeks a declaratory judgment that would allow him to immediately pursue a career outside of the tournament.
Prograis withdrew from the WBSS on the grounds that Comosa AG, the organization backing the tournament, failed to honor the terms of an escrow agreement set forth earlier this year amid monetary issues connected to Prograis’ semifinal victory over Kiryl Relikh and other fights.
Comosa has left a trail of late payments and scheduling delays that have put many of boxing’s top promoters and boxers in limbo because of its financial problems and breach of contractual duties.
Comosa has failed to pay participant Ivan Baranchyk’s U.K. taxes stemming from his semifinal fight with Taylor, according to a legal source. The former titleholder learned this while he was pursuing residency in the U.S. Last month, Nonito Donaire, who is set to meet Naoya Inoue in the 118-pound final, tweeted “the urgency to make this fight happen is not materializing considering all participants expected the entire tournament to end by no later than July.”
On Thursday, the WBSS officially announced the Inoue-Donaire fight for Nov. 7 in Japan.
The complaint argues that Prograis “is being kept off of a very lucrative boxing market by Comosa, which … cannot finance the rest of its tournament.”
“I am very frustrated with the WBSS and the actions they have taken throughout the process,” Prograis told The Athletic. “I am the best 140-pounder in the world, and my goal remains the same: to become the undisputed champion. I know my fans are as disappointed as I am. Trust me, I would much rather be preparing right now to fight Josh Taylor in a ring rather than getting ready for a battle in a courtroom.”
The junior welterweight unification bout between Prograis and Taylor was penciled in for Oct. 5 in Manchester, England, The Athletic reported last month. However, the complaint states that Prograis and his promoter, Lou DiBella, weren’t notified of that date until Aug. 6, three days after the deadline passed to establish a new escrow agreement.
DAZN, the streaming platform that holds the rights to the WBSS, never approved Oct. 5 because that date is being held for Gennady Golovkin’s middleweight title fight against Sergiy Derevyanchenko, per sources.
Prograis wanted to give organizers every chance to come up with the money on time, but he felt distracted by the ongoing confusion. Thursday, Comosa sent a bout agreement that contained a Sept. 28 date for the final, moving the fight another week earlier when it knew Prograis was already upset by the timing and lack of funding.
That date would give Prograis well less than a standard eight-week training camp considering he would need to be in the U.K. approximately one week in advance to adjust to the time difference.
Once the New Orleans native made the decision to withdraw and pursue legal action, he was determined to see the court battle through.
“We are very disappointed in the WBSS,” said Churchill Management VP of operations Sam Katkovski, who manages Prograis. “The promises provided by the WBSS, from financial to marketing, have been completely ignored. We have been vocal supporters of the WBSS, but we will not allow anyone to be a detriment to Regis’ career while he is in his prime.”
The World Boxing Super Series, now in its second iteration, has been beset by financial issues dating to last year.
Several fighters received their purses well after the contracted deadline as Comosa scrambled to collect the necessary funds. The WBSS has been in serious jeopardy of collapsing before, but never more than now.
The complaint claims that Comosa failed to enter into a new escrow agreement on “substantially similar terms” to the agreement executed ahead of the April 27 semifinal, in which Prograis scored a sixth-round stoppage of Relikh to win the WBA junior welterweight title.
Under the terms of the previous agreement, the World Boxing Super Series was obligated to deposit money into escrow in three installments: $250,000 65 days out from the semifinal, $250,000 54 days in advance and the remaining $600,000 31 days before fight night. That accounts for Prograis’ $700,000 purse and potential $1.3 million bonus should he win the tournament, amounts that were standard for all eight participants in the 140-pound bracket.
The WBSS met those obligations but never sent over the new escrow agreement ahead of the final, per the complaint, nor did it deposit any money into escrow by the Aug. 3 deadline — 65 days out from Oct. 7, the contracted date the final must take place by — for both actions.
DiBella attorney Alex Dombroff argued in a July 29 letter to Comosa’s Chris Meyer that for the new escrow agreement to mimic the terms of the prior one, as stipulated in the contract, the payment schedule would be as follows: $500,000 by Aug. 1, another $500,000 by Aug. 12 and $1 million by Sept. 4 (31 days out).
However, Kalle Sauerland, the German promoter behind the tourney, still hadn’t informed Prograis and DiBella of an official date and site, despite a claim from Meyer promising to notify both parties of a firm date for the final by Aug. 5.
On Aug. 6, Meyer proposed a new escrow plan that would guarantee $350,000 by Aug. 16, another $350,000 by Aug. 30 and the final $1.3 million by Sept. 6. That correspondence, according to the court document, also requested an additional two weeks to secure a date and site for the final. The complaint argues that this was a stalling tactic on the part of Comosa in an attempt to find funds.
The complaint argues that Comosa’s ongoing issues with investors have “Prograis trapped in a tournament whose delays and money problems have kept him and DBE from capitalizing on his status as one of the best boxers in the game.”
The legal action sidelines one of the most anticipated fights of the year, a meeting between the two fighters recognized as the best at 140 pounds. Taylor claimed the IBF title with a decision victory over Ivan Baranchyk in May to advance to the final. (Baranchyk withdrew from the tourney for similar reasons but eventually returned before the fight with Taylor.)
When the tournament was conceived, the original contract envisioned that the World Boxing Super Series would be completed by June or July. DAZN holds the rights to the World Boxing Super Series, and the news is yet another blow to the streaming service’s fall lineup, a slate that won’t include Canelo-GGG 3, as hoped.
“Regis’ greatest desire was to unify titles in the tournament,” DiBella told The Athletic. “We gave them every opportunity from the first round to today to meet their obligation. No matter what the promoter or manager thought about Regis going to the U.K., it didn’t matter. Regis was going as long as they met their contractual obligations. They didn’t, and the complaint speaks for itself.”
If Prograis-Taylor indeed is off, it would leave the boxing world one step further from determining supremacy at 140 pounds. Jose Ramirez unified titles with a sixth-round TKO of Maurice Hooker last month on DAZN, and the hope among those involved was that the winners would face off next year.
With Prograis possibly exiting the tournament for good, the 30-year-old would be free to sign a lucrative multi-fight deal with a network, and it’s expected he will be heavily pursued. After all, the Los Angeles-based fighter is a budding star. He’s charismatic, possesses impressive power (eight of his past nine victories have come by knockout) and employs a fan-friendly pressure style. The junior welterweight division is also hot at the moment, with Mikey Garcia considering a return to the weight class.
Taylor, too, is on a star path. The 28-year-old native Scottish southpaw is already a draw in his hometown, and with his fight with Prograis in danger of being canceled, his future is unclear.
The Athletic broke the news Monday that the bantamweight final between Inoue and Donaire was set for Nov. 7 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The cruiserweight final between Yunier Dorticos and Mairis Briedis has no site or date secured.
And now with this lawsuit, neither does Prograis-Taylor.
Regis Prograis files suit against WBSS, scrapping bout against Josh Taylor. Here’s how it all went down
Regis Prograis is preparing for a fight. It’s just not the one he was expecting.
The junior welterweight champion was set to meet Josh Taylor in the World Boxing Super Series final this fall, but that fight is now sidelined after Prograis filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in New Jersey on Friday, according to a court document obtained by The Athletic. Prograis seeks a declaratory judgment that would allow him to immediately pursue a career outside of the tournament.
Prograis withdrew from the WBSS on the grounds that Comosa AG, the organization backing the tournament, failed to honor the terms of an escrow agreement set forth earlier this year amid monetary issues connected to Prograis’ semifinal victory over Kiryl Relikh and other fights.
Comosa has left a trail of late payments and scheduling delays that have put many of boxing’s top promoters and boxers in limbo because of its financial problems and breach of contractual duties.
Comosa has failed to pay participant Ivan Baranchyk’s U.K. taxes stemming from his semifinal fight with Taylor, according to a legal source. The former titleholder learned this while he was pursuing residency in the U.S. Last month, Nonito Donaire, who is set to meet Naoya Inoue in the 118-pound final, tweeted “the urgency to make this fight happen is not materializing considering all participants expected the entire tournament to end by no later than July.”
On Thursday, the WBSS officially announced the Inoue-Donaire fight for Nov. 7 in Japan.
The complaint argues that Prograis “is being kept off of a very lucrative boxing market by Comosa, which … cannot finance the rest of its tournament.”
“I am very frustrated with the WBSS and the actions they have taken throughout the process,” Prograis told The Athletic. “I am the best 140-pounder in the world, and my goal remains the same: to become the undisputed champion. I know my fans are as disappointed as I am. Trust me, I would much rather be preparing right now to fight Josh Taylor in a ring rather than getting ready for a battle in a courtroom.”
The junior welterweight unification bout between Prograis and Taylor was penciled in for Oct. 5 in Manchester, England, The Athletic reported last month. However, the complaint states that Prograis and his promoter, Lou DiBella, weren’t notified of that date until Aug. 6, three days after the deadline passed to establish a new escrow agreement.
DAZN, the streaming platform that holds the rights to the WBSS, never approved Oct. 5 because that date is being held for Gennady Golovkin’s middleweight title fight against Sergiy Derevyanchenko, per sources.
Prograis wanted to give organizers every chance to come up with the money on time, but he felt distracted by the ongoing confusion. Thursday, Comosa sent a bout agreement that contained a Sept. 28 date for the final, moving the fight another week earlier when it knew Prograis was already upset by the timing and lack of funding.
That date would give Prograis well less than a standard eight-week training camp considering he would need to be in the U.K. approximately one week in advance to adjust to the time difference.
Once the New Orleans native made the decision to withdraw and pursue legal action, he was determined to see the court battle through.
“We are very disappointed in the WBSS,” said Churchill Management VP of operations Sam Katkovski, who manages Prograis. “The promises provided by the WBSS, from financial to marketing, have been completely ignored. We have been vocal supporters of the WBSS, but we will not allow anyone to be a detriment to Regis’ career while he is in his prime.”
The World Boxing Super Series, now in its second iteration, has been beset by financial issues dating to last year.
Several fighters received their purses well after the contracted deadline as Comosa scrambled to collect the necessary funds. The WBSS has been in serious jeopardy of collapsing before, but never more than now.
The complaint claims that Comosa failed to enter into a new escrow agreement on “substantially similar terms” to the agreement executed ahead of the April 27 semifinal, in which Prograis scored a sixth-round stoppage of Relikh to win the WBA junior welterweight title.
Under the terms of the previous agreement, the World Boxing Super Series was obligated to deposit money into escrow in three installments: $250,000 65 days out from the semifinal, $250,000 54 days in advance and the remaining $600,000 31 days before fight night. That accounts for Prograis’ $700,000 purse and potential $1.3 million bonus should he win the tournament, amounts that were standard for all eight participants in the 140-pound bracket.
The WBSS met those obligations but never sent over the new escrow agreement ahead of the final, per the complaint, nor did it deposit any money into escrow by the Aug. 3 deadline — 65 days out from Oct. 7, the contracted date the final must take place by — for both actions.
DiBella attorney Alex Dombroff argued in a July 29 letter to Comosa’s Chris Meyer that for the new escrow agreement to mimic the terms of the prior one, as stipulated in the contract, the payment schedule would be as follows: $500,000 by Aug. 1, another $500,000 by Aug. 12 and $1 million by Sept. 4 (31 days out).
However, Kalle Sauerland, the German promoter behind the tourney, still hadn’t informed Prograis and DiBella of an official date and site, despite a claim from Meyer promising to notify both parties of a firm date for the final by Aug. 5.
On Aug. 6, Meyer proposed a new escrow plan that would guarantee $350,000 by Aug. 16, another $350,000 by Aug. 30 and the final $1.3 million by Sept. 6. That correspondence, according to the court document, also requested an additional two weeks to secure a date and site for the final. The complaint argues that this was a stalling tactic on the part of Comosa in an attempt to find funds.
The complaint argues that Comosa’s ongoing issues with investors have “Prograis trapped in a tournament whose delays and money problems have kept him and DBE from capitalizing on his status as one of the best boxers in the game.”
The legal action sidelines one of the most anticipated fights of the year, a meeting between the two fighters recognized as the best at 140 pounds. Taylor claimed the IBF title with a decision victory over Ivan Baranchyk in May to advance to the final. (Baranchyk withdrew from the tourney for similar reasons but eventually returned before the fight with Taylor.)
When the tournament was conceived, the original contract envisioned that the World Boxing Super Series would be completed by June or July. DAZN holds the rights to the World Boxing Super Series, and the news is yet another blow to the streaming service’s fall lineup, a slate that won’t include Canelo-GGG 3, as hoped.
“Regis’ greatest desire was to unify titles in the tournament,” DiBella told The Athletic. “We gave them every opportunity from the first round to today to meet their obligation. No matter what the promoter or manager thought about Regis going to the U.K., it didn’t matter. Regis was going as long as they met their contractual obligations. They didn’t, and the complaint speaks for itself.”
If Prograis-Taylor indeed is off, it would leave the boxing world one step further from determining supremacy at 140 pounds. Jose Ramirez unified titles with a sixth-round TKO of Maurice Hooker last month on DAZN, and the hope among those involved was that the winners would face off next year.
With Prograis possibly exiting the tournament for good, the 30-year-old would be free to sign a lucrative multi-fight deal with a network, and it’s expected he will be heavily pursued. After all, the Los Angeles-based fighter is a budding star. He’s charismatic, possesses impressive power (eight of his past nine victories have come by knockout) and employs a fan-friendly pressure style. The junior welterweight division is also hot at the moment, with Mikey Garcia considering a return to the weight class.
Taylor, too, is on a star path. The 28-year-old native Scottish southpaw is already a draw in his hometown, and with his fight with Prograis in danger of being canceled, his future is unclear.
The Athletic broke the news Monday that the bantamweight final between Inoue and Donaire was set for Nov. 7 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The cruiserweight final between Yunier Dorticos and Mairis Briedis has no site or date secured.
And now with this lawsuit, neither does Prograis-Taylor.
awful...the initial reason why i got dazn was the fact they were going to air WBSS fights and now its a big mess..no one is going to want to do another WBSS season and i dont blame them
reservoirdogs
Superstar
Something fishy about this WBSS case to me though... I think Comosa are incompetent but there are other factors too. How come only the 2 Di Bella fighters (Baranchyk + Prograis) threatened with lawsuit or actually sued the WBSS but not others?
Seems a little like DiBella was waiting for the opportunity to pull out his fighters. I don’t see Inoue, Taylor and others suing even though I guess Comosa was similarly incompetent with them too. It’s a shame though cause I really believe Prograis could have beaten Taylor but don’t be surprised if they forget about this fight now entirely even after the WBSS.
Seems a little like DiBella was waiting for the opportunity to pull out his fighters. I don’t see Inoue, Taylor and others suing even though I guess Comosa was similarly incompetent with them too. It’s a shame though cause I really believe Prograis could have beaten Taylor but don’t be surprised if they forget about this fight now entirely even after the WBSS.
Nobody finds it interesting Andy Ruiz, PBC nor anyone on Ruiz side of the fight even MENTIONED the rematch today?
Yet Anthony Joshua, Sky Sports, & Eddie Hearn all posted with fight posters etc.
Even if there is no smoke, they are already off to a bad start not being on the same page. This is supposed to be a huge fight...
Yet Anthony Joshua, Sky Sports, & Eddie Hearn all posted with fight posters etc.
Even if there is no smoke, they are already off to a bad start not being on the same page. This is supposed to be a huge fight...
Actually Nonito Donaire and Richard Schaef almost got at them.
Regis fought April 27, they 3 months past...the fight was supposed to be no later than Oct 7th. It's August 9th and they missed recent deadlines lol.
Nothing fishy about it, they fukked up.
reservoirdogs
Superstar
Actually Nonito Donaire and Richard Schaef almost got at them.
Regis fought April 27, they 3 months past...the fight was supposed to be no later than Oct 7th. It's August 9th and they missed recent deadlines lol.
So that makes it 3 and since then Inoue vs Donaire got announced.
Why the other 9 quarterfinalists didn't threaten and/or them? Why it's only 1 fighter suing them if the situation is so bad?
If others start to do this shyt too and start to sue them all my suspicions will be removed but as of now it's fishy to me and seems like Di Bella pulling his fighters out so he can put them in more profitable and more winnable fights without risking them to collect Ls in less profitable fights. Couldn't done it in Baranchyk's case, seems like he can do it in Prograis' case (at second try). It's a pity cause imo Progaris could have beaten Taylor, seems like Di Bella isn't that confident in it.
I'm not saying Comosa is totally competent either, seems like they are not but interestingly others still didn't sue them and pulled out (or at least not yet) even though I think they need their money in time just as much as Prograis.
reservoirdogs
Superstar
I want them to prove me wrong and to seek out for the Taylor fight even if they pull out the WBSS but I'm skeptical about that.
This isn’t the quarters it’s the finals same issues arose in 2/3 matchups. If you’re negatively effected by anything, why it matter what anyone else doing? If they didn’t have a case or breach of contract it wouldn’t stand in court.
And more profitable and more winnable fights? Who Regis going to earn $2M for against that’s a more winnable fight than Taylor? Jose Ramirez tougher fight and likely less money. Mikey Garcia more winnable? Think not. Same. This was the best case for what you mentioned, competition and money. Ramirez & Mikey tougher fights for less than $2M.
Been waiting on a fight Date for 3 months, they don’t have the money ready, or the fight date in all that time? I don’t see how you question anyone but the WBSS. He fought Flanagan in October 18, they had a 6 month gap, scheduled for April...in Lafayette .
The WBSS been blowing it
They didn’t even have sense enough to have the date ready before Hooker Ramirez for more free promotion.
reservoirdogs
Superstar
Yeah I meant semif not quartera that was when these problems first arose.This isn’t the quarters it’s the finals same issues arose in 2/3 matchups. If you’re negatively effected by anything, why it matter what anyone else doing? If they didn’t have a case or breach of contract it wouldn’t stand in court.
And more profitable and more winnable fights? Who Regis going to earn $2M for against that’s a more winnable fight than Taylor? Jose Ramirez tougher fight and likely less money. Mikey Garcia more winnable? Think not. Same. This was the best case for what you mentioned, competition and money. Ramirez & Mikey tougher fights for less than $2M.
Been waiting on a fight Date for 3 months, they don’t have the money ready, or the fight date in all that time? I don’t see how you question anyone but the WBSS. He fought Flanagan in October 18, they had a 6 month gap, scheduled for April...in Lafayette .
The WBSS been blowing it
They didn’t even have sense enough to have the date ready before Hooker Ramirez for more free promotion.
Ramirez isn’t a tougher fight than Taylor, Prograis and Taylor are a notch above imo and generally fans think that they are 1&2 at 140 and Ramirez only 3.
I was thinking of Broner for example. Broner and Prograis started to talk trash at each other, Di Bella might thought “why risk killing his momentum before he could beat Broner”
Again I’m not debating that the WBSS was incompetent but only Lou Di Bella reacted this way so far and I’m wondering why’s that?
If they seek out the Taylor fight afterall just outside the WBSS then alright it was probably really ONLY the WBSS’ fault but if they will go on a whole different route it will stay sus
Conscious Pilot
Do Better.
WBSS already only putting together tournaments with the lesser prominent divisions and still being sheisty with accordingly taking care of the participating Fighters
They gonna hault the momentum they’ve done a solid job with 140 l and we really not gonna get a Top 5 matchup of 2019 in Regis Prograis/Josh Taylor to end the year
DAZN Could have capitalized on that untapped serious boxing fan market but shyt like Prograis pulling out , the Canelo drama and /AJ Ruiz 2 in Saudi Arabia is some bullshyt straight up
They gonna hault the momentum they’ve done a solid job with 140 l and we really not gonna get a Top 5 matchup of 2019 in Regis Prograis/Josh Taylor to end the year
DAZN Could have capitalized on that untapped serious boxing fan market but shyt like Prograis pulling out , the Canelo drama and /AJ Ruiz 2 in Saudi Arabia is some bullshyt straight up
Thatrogueassdiaz
We're on the blood path now
Doesn't robeisy Ramirez debut today on ESPN?