Barboza Unsatisfied with Purse Against Liam Paro; WBO Could Call On Ramirez
There is a current struggle to make a contest for a WBO junior welterweight title eliminator as Arnold Barboza Jr (28-0, 10 KOs) has decided to forego an ordered match with Liam Paro (23-0, 14 KOs). 3kingsboxing reported that Matchroom won the purse bid at the WBO headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Their winning bid was $303,000, with sixty percent going to Paro. Rick Mirigian, manager of Barboza, informed the WBO that they withdrew due to the finances of the purse bid.
WHAT TO DO NOW?
Paro is ranked second by the WBO at 140, and Barboza is the third-ranked contender. WBO rules state that they must go to the next available contender. They have reached out to the fourth-ranked contender, Jose Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs). But here’s the problem – there’s no guarantee that Ramirez will accept a fight with Paro under the current conditions of the purse bid won by Matchroom.
Ramirez has become very particular and borderline diva-like when it comes to money. He believes he deserves a certain amount every time he fights. That amount is more than he would earn to face Paro.
In December 2022, the former unifed junior welterweight champion walked away from a bout with reigning WBC champion Regis Prograis because he was upset over what he would receive in a purse split. If Ramirez turned down a world title fight against Prograis because of not getting enough money, who in their right mind believes he will accept the current purse on the table to fight Paro for a world title eliminator? Keep in mind that Ramirez and Barboza are both managed by Mirigian.
The expectation is that he will turn down an offer. The highest-ranked WBO contender after Arnold Barboza and Jose Ramirez is Shohjahon Ergashev (23-0, 20 KOs). Stay tuned to 3Kings Boxing for further updates on this very fluid development.
