File photo: Stephen Albanese/Tailstar.com
The scouts are now circling fight gyms: Alexi Argyriou, a 16 year old training in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, was “signed to a provisional contract” by the Maximum Fighting Championships in June. The deal will kick in when Argyriou turns 18.
“He is the No. 1 draft pick,” President Mark Pavelich said in the press release. “We have the best young fighter anywhere now in our organization. I can’t be any more succinct - he is the future.” Couldn’t he have least tried to sell the guy?
To Pavelich’s credit, it’s not unreasonable to quantify ability in someone that young: Joe Stevenson and Karo Parisyan both competed in pro fights as teenagers. In the con column, this is all fairly standard PR stuff. If Argyriou is that good, he’ll be a quick graduate to the major leagues. If he wants to fight somewhere else when he’s legally able, I doubt any judge would rule on a contract signed by a minor by forcing him into a cagefight. Though this would be very funny.
Argyriou could be as advertised, or he could be a gym-great who can’t perform to expectations under live conditions. (There are some athletes who, if they performed as they do in practice, would be champions.) What’s the benefit to signing a 16 year old? Publicity. What’s the downside? Unreasonable expectations pounded into a kid’s head. A sense of entitlement and accomplishment that often turns promising young athletes into adult jerks.
I hope Argyriou finds the success his camp anticipates for him. If not, I hope they’ve stressed to him the idea of a Plan B.