Mick Francis, co-promoter of IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and head of Australian promotional outfit Tasman Fighters has reacted with disappointment to the news that mandatory contender Richard Riakporhe has withdrawn from the scheduled purse bid hours before it was due to be held.
“It’s clear to us that Jai Opetaia is the most avoided Cruiserweight in the world. Twice we’ve had mandatory challengers pull out on us at the last minute. Once with Mateusz Masternak and now with Richard Riakporhe.
I’ve been in regular contact with Ben Shalom from Boxxer the whole way during this negotiating period.
“I was amused to read that Richard stated he had accepted offers for the fight on two occasions. That’s news to me. If he accepted, then why were we going to purse bids in a couple of hours’ time?
“When Masternak pulled out, we petitioned the IBF to have a voluntary defense. Boxxer stood in our way and enforced Riakporhe’s rights as mandatory challenger. For Riakporhe to pull out at the last minute is an extremely poor reflection on Boxxer and how badly Richard wanted the fight in the first place.
“We have an obligation as promoters to make the best fights happen for the boxers and for the fans. I’m not sure that Ben Shalom and Boxxer can say they’re fulfilling that obligation at present.
“This is twice we’ve exhausted our negotiating period for a mandatory challenger and Jai hasn’t fought. He’s desperate to get back into the ring. I’ll speak to the IBF about where we go from here and I’ll be hoping that we can get somebody to step in the ring with Jai in the next few months. All roads in the cruiserweight division go through Jai Opetaia.”
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Opetaia stated, “Obviously I’m disappointed,” said. “Normally fighters dream of fighting for the world title, so to be given an opportunity and pull out, makes no sense to me. I’m ready for the next challenge, I can’t wait to defend my belts.”
Opetaia, who is co-promoted by Tasman Fighters and Matchroom, will now have Francis contact the IBF to seek clarification on their next move.
What a disgrace this is from Ben Shalom and Boxxer. They seem to have a real issue about going to purse bids.
So Shalom and Boxxer manipulate Masternak to withdraw from fighting opetaia by promising him a fight against Billam-Smith, their WBO champ. They then move Riakporhe into mandatory obviously with the hope that he somehow beats Opetaia. Then at the 11th hour they withdraw Riakporhe. Make this make sense…
He’s lost two MANDATORY challengers now. Sounds like what happened with Prograis, but even worse.
You know what. There’s a guy at 175 who isn’t doing much these days, all his potential opponents are busy and I think they share a common half-promoter: How about Opetaia – Bivol??
How embarrassing for Ben Shalom, Boxxer and Richie Riakporhe! They’ve manipulated the ratings to get rid of Masternak to have Riakporhe inserted as mandatory and have lost their bottle when it came time to put pen to paper!
Just want to see Jai back in the ring, has been way too long
unification bout with Badu Jack
He has to fight his mandatory going by the IBF.
Well not if all his mandatories keep dodging him. I’ve never seen this happen in my 30 years of watching boxing where challengers who are guaranteed a world title shot keep pulling out to face the champ. Sleazy promoters and competing networks are going to be the final nails in the coffin of this once great sport.