Mario R. (Atlanta, GA): HBO put pressure on Arum to make the Donaire/Rigondeaux fight, but have somewhat distanced themselves from Rigondeaux after he defeated the fighter they strongly supported? I know this is a sensitive issue, but would you attribute this to race, considering how difficult it has been to promote certain fighters?
Vivek W. (ESB): Looking at this issue from 10,000ft, I think some would say it’s probably a mere coincidence. When we dig beneath the surface of this situation and get to the core, without doubt we have to acknowledge that this is a business, and investments have to be made in any business. When these networks have to shell out big dollars to put on a show, they’re going to make sure that investment is well spent.
By Shaun Campbell: Kell Brook impressively closed a chapter on his career Saturday night by stopping the durable Carson Jones in their 152 pound rematch. Brook now moves in to the elite level by beating the gatekeeper Jones. It was a good performance from “The Special One”, although he himself claimed it was “nothing to get excited about”. The fight started off much like their first encounter with Brook dominating behind the jab, while Jones kept plodding forward. But the Sheffield fighter couldn’t seem to miss with his sweeping right hook and in the 2nd round he sent Jones to the canvas. 
(Photo credit: Esther Lin/Showtime) Floyd Mayweather Jr. (44-0, 26 KO’s) says he won’t be overlooking the 22-year-old WBA/WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KO’s) in their fight on September 14th despite Canelo being on 22-years-old and not nearly as experienced as Mayweather Jr. as far as important fights go. Mayweather Jr. says he’s taking this fight very seriously and he plans on winning it and then moving onto his last four fights of his 6-fight contract with Showtime/CBS.
Nonito Donaire (31-2, 20 KO’s) said the other night that he’s walking around at 145 lbs. right now, and he’s going to see if he can drop the weight to take a fight against Vic Darchinyan in October or November. However, he’s not really sure if he can take that much weight off without being brittle for his next fight, and he prefers that not happen. 
Unbeaten Kell Brook put a frustrating number of months behind him last night in Hull, in stopping tough rival Carson Jones in the 8th-round of a largely one-sided fight. Looking “Special” indeed at times, Brook – who impressed with his left jab and his right hooks to the head – advanced to 30-0(20). Perhaps more importantly, is the “big name” an “excited” Eddie Hearn spoke of having lined up for Brook in Sheffield in his next bout in September.
Undefeated Kell Brook (30-0, 20 KO’s) took out his frustration at missing a title shot against Devon Alexander by destroying #8 IBF, Carson Jones (35-10-3, 25 KO’s) by an 8th round TKO tonight at the MS3 Craven Park in Hull, England. The fight ending was marred when referee Michael Alexander stepped in and stopped the fight while Jones was still fighting back in the 8th.
Super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez (24-0, 16 KO’s) proved he was the better man tonight in quickly stopped Denis Grachev (13-2-1, 8 KO’s) in the 1st round on Saturday night at the Salle des etoiles, in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Rodriguez nailed a hurt Grachev with three straight clubbing right hands to the head that ended with referee Stanley Christodolou stopping in to stop the fight at 2:50 of the round. 
Lightweight Derry Mathews (33-8-2, 18 KO’s) was able to pull out a 10th round TKO win over Tommy Coyle (15-2, 6 KO’s) tonight in a fight that Mathews was on the verge of losing at the Craven Park Stadium, Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Mathews hit Coyle with a perfectly timed left hook that sent him down on the canvas. 
Lee Selby (16-1, 6 KO’s) proved that he’s world class tonight in beating WBC International featherweight champion Viorel Simion (16-1, 7 KO’s) by a 12 round unanimous decision at the Craven Park Stadium, Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The judges scored the fight 118-110, 115-113, and 116-112.