Sometime in the near future Eddie Alvarez and Gilbert Melendez need to fight but the possibility of that lightweight showdown taking place looks more bleak by the day. That's because boxing's nasty habit is sneaking into the world of mixed martial arts.
The sweet science crippled itself in the 90's by denying fans their desired megafights because promoters Don King and Bob Arum couldn't co-exist.
Imagine what their battles would've been like if there had been dozens of Internet boxing radio shows, Twitter and Facebook. Could the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather discussions go any worse? Sure they could if Bob Arum and Camp Mayweather decided to smash each other daily on the Internet.
That's exactly what's happening with the proposed Alvarez-Melendez fight.
Bellator's Bjorn Rebney, the promoter for Alvarez, fired the first shot saying that Strikeforce's Scott Coker didn't want to make the fight. On Sherdog's Savage Dog Show, Coker said he didn't enjoy the discussion taking place through the media.
"Bjorn’s saying he’s texting me 11, 12 times an hour. I’m not sure if he’s trying to be a level-five clinger or anything like that, but I haven’t received one text from the guy," Coker said. "I’m not sure what the motivation is, but maybe it’s just his way of staying in the media, staying in the press."
Rebney wasn't pleased, so he released the actual texts (pictured).
Then Strikeforce's P.R. chief Mike Afromowitz said that's Coker's old phone number. Texts aside, Coker went on to say Bellator is in a position of weakness. They need him more than he needs them.
"I understand why he wants to do it so badly. Who is there left for Eddie Alvarez to fight; honestly, that has any relevance? That's why he wants this to happen," said Coker. "We're busy guys. We've got some great fights we're going to put together next year."
Coker said one of those fights may be sooner than that. He's working on getting Melendez to Japan to rematch against Aoki on New Year's Eve.
Rebney and Alvarez have also gotten under Coker's skin by saying Melendez is avoiding the fight.
"Let’s face it: Gilbert’s fought everybody," Coker said. "He beat the guy that Eddie lost to (Aoki). For them to say, ‘Oh, Gilbert’s ducking him’ -- come on, let’s be real. Gilbert has ducked nobody and neither has Eddie. These are two great fighters. The thing is, if Bjorn’s serious about doing this, then there has to be a business component that has to be worked out. Unfortunately, that hasn’t started yet. It’s just been a bunch of stuff in the media. He’s chosen the media to use it as a platform to try to push this thing along, but I think it’s maybe a PR move."
Rebney is the guy who needs to get this thing back on track. Whatever happened to dialing the phone, and actually speaking to someone? Unless he does that or gets out to Northern California to discuss things, he may be turning Alvarez into a worthless commodity.
Listen here for entire interview (1:43:58 mark)
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