Saturday, November 11, 2006

UPDATE: December 9 Changes Hit Snag!

Updating our previous post. Within the last few minutes,I have found out that the big changes I discussed for the December 9 card at the Patriot Center may not happen after all.

Negotiations for the proposed bout between Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson and Dorin Spivey hit a snag within the last hour. The stumbling block seems to be a battle between a boxer's word and a half a pound in weight.

We know this much: Johnson agreed to the bout and the contract, which called for the bout to be fought at 136 pounds. This would be the heaviest weight Johnson has fought at in his career.

Johnson told me that, while he agreed to this weight, he did it out of emotion and has asked that the bout be fought at 135 1/2, saying that a half-pound should not matter.

Promoter Joe Hensley is sticking to his guns however, telling me that this is a matter of principle and Johnson should stick to his word and fight the bout at 136.

So here's where we stand: If Johnson agrees to the contract, then he will take on Dorin Spivey and the plans are to have Dean White in another prominent bout on the card.

If Johnson doesn't agree, than we revert back to the original plan of White taking on Spivey, but Johnson will be on the card in another bout.

More as this story develops.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

2 Questions:

1: So Spivey, White, and Johnson will all be on the card one way or another (as it is right now)?

2: Okay, I'm confused: A) Why does it matter whether it's 135 1/2 or 136 in the first place; are weights part of the contract (this question can be attributed to my relative newness to boxing, but this seems like a rather petty issue)?

Anonymous said...

Mark stick with your guns. First of all come on people. Mark was a great fighter in the lower weight classes. Mark you don't need that fight Dorin is to big and to strong. So gary and people where did this come from. I don't like that fight for him at 136 hell know. Mark you are a HALL OF FAMER. You and your father has mad some good choices I think that's not a good choice

Anonymous said...

Gary what is going on I thought TooSharp was going to fight at 126 I don't like that. And wasn't Spivey going to fight Dean White That's bull shhhhhhh

Anonymous said...

136!!!??? Good grief. I think the world of Mark, but he has absolutely no business fighting above 122 or 126. As for the 1/2 pound thing, I understand the 'principle' argument to a point, but a half a pound? Simply put - that's nothing more than a biscuit, or a good dump or p*ss.

Peace...

;-(

Gary Digital Williams said...

As it stands now, the card will be as it was before. White will battle Spivey and Johnson will be on the card in another bout.

The door, however seems to be open for Johnson to fight Spivey should he agree to the prescribed weight.

To answer your question, ACW, most contracts have a weight that is part of the negotiations. In some cases, there is an allowance for a pound more or a pound less than the contracted weight.

In this case, because Johnson AGREED to the 136-pound weight, Hensley is trying to hold him to that as a matter of principle.

It is a petty issue, however and I think somehow it will work out.

As I said before (and I will go into more detail on this in an audio commentary on Monday) Mark did this out of emotion and we'll have to see what happens.

Anonymous said...

Dean White has signed a contract to fight dorin spivey at 137 lbs, I don't know where this is coming from.

Anonymous said...

Cruiser you is right mark at 135 no way.If they want to fight somebody around here why don't they one of the Peterson brothers. I thought they had a contract with Dean. They can do that.Mark you are giving up to much weight. If you fight Dorin you should fight him at like 133.Mark don't let them use you to fight a war you don't need that.I will call you later your cousin John from Vegas

Anonymous said...

We have a contract to fight dorin spivey,so all this talk about fighting Too Sharp is just that all talk. Unless joe is going to renege on his contract with Dean.

Anonymous said...

Yes your do have a contract. But if Mark take the fight at 136 he will fight Dorin no doubt.I know because I am one of Marks advisors.I told him that's.a bad fight because of the weight. I told Mark he need to get Spivey down to 133. I was with Mark yesterday when. Mark was mad because they wanted him to fight a war. So Mark said your want me to fight a war so he said said I will fight Dorin acting on feelings

Anonymous said...

so if what your saying is true then what's the point of signing a damn contract in the first place.

Anonymous said...

Fightnees,

If you are an advisor to Mark, and write like you do, he is in deep trouble. Mark run for THE HILLS!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I just talked to Joe Hensley and he informed me that the fight between Dean White and dorin spivey is a done deal, so let's put that to rest. I believe that something should not be posted unless it's a done deal, that's how rumors get started.

Doug

Anonymous said...

Ok people. Let me say this. Yes I did have the Spivey fight I told Joe if your want me to fight a war let.me and your fighter fight. Which is Spivey and that's how that happen. If would agree to fight him at 136 the fight is on just like that. This is comming from the horse's mouth. If my dad ok the fight it's on we will let them know Monday. So I will consider that Dean is getting ready for this and I know this a fight he want

Anonymous said...

From TOOSHARP

Anonymous said...

Hey Mark

Dean's got payback for this fight with spivey,let it go, then you can get some after he breaks him down.

Gary Digital Williams said...

Let me say that everything that I posted on the two original posts were indeed factual.

I was in contact with both Mark Johnson and Joe Hensley throughout the early evening on Saturday from 5 pm ET through about 8 pm ET.

This whole situation was definitely in the works. This was no rumor.

Yes, there is a SIGNED contract for Dean White to fight Dorin Spivey.

But I stand by everything that I have said before. Meaning, if Mark agrees to the contract at 136, then it will be Johnson vs. Spivey and White will face another prominent boxer on the card. If not, than all will be as it was with White facing Spivey.

Anonymous said...

Gary

I talked to Joe Hensley and he told me that the Dean White fight with dorin spivey was on!!!!
How can you sit there and say that you understand that a contract was signed with Dean and spivey and in the same breath say that if too sharp agree's with 136 that the fight is on? What the hell is a contract if it's not legit. Doug

Anonymous said...

What's happening to DEAN WHITE is a bunch of shit. You should stick to the contract! That's why boxing in the area sucks so bad, by bad promoting like JAKE THE SNAKE & YOUR SELF. You should stop fixing fights and the out comes!

Anonymous said...

Guys, as much as I admire and respect Mark Johnson, PERSONALLY...I would rather not see him fight AT ALL at 135. I don't care who it's against. 122 or 126? Perhaps. But 135 is just too much and not even close to his prime weight. He is at a clear disadvantage no matter how you slice it. That's just my 2 cents on it folks. Peace...

Brian ("Two Cents") Bizzack *A.K.A Bizzy/The Cruiserweight

;-)