Strange Bradley-Peterson purse bid goes to Shaw, fight on Dec. 5

The Puerto Rico purse bid for the WBO junior welterweight title fight between Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson went through today, with Bradley's promoter Gary Shaw winning on a bid of $575,000. Top Rank (Peterson's promoter) put up $402,000.

Bradley-Peterson will take place on December 5, headlining a three-fight card on Showtime.

Rick Reeno of BoxingScene.com reports that the WBO had some odd stipulations for the purse bid. Shaw was apparently planning the fight for California, Bradley's home state, but that may now change thanks to these conditions:

• If the fight lands in California, the split is 60-40 for Peterson;
• If the fight lands in Nevada, the split is 60-40 for Bradley;
• If the fight lands in any other U.S. state, the split is 50-50.

This is a deal that both hinders Shaw's ability to put the show at its best drawing location (Bradley is no big draw, but he is from California, at least) and makes it favorable for he and his fighter to take this to Nevada, where it will likely have trouble drawing flies. Both are very talented young fighters, but neither has much of a following.

The other two fights on the card, whatever they may be, could help of course, but the biggest name that could be on the show is Vic Darchinyan, and Gary Shaw just might not have the money to meet his pay demands for this show, even against a lackluster opponent.