Ringside With Raymundo 06.25.09: The Heat is on Golden Boy Promotions

Posted by Raymundo Dioses on 06.25.2009

Will GBP sit back and let Top Rank host the rest of the mega fights in 2009? Also, thoughts on Klitschko, Pascal v. Dinociano, Berto v. Collazo II, and Kelly Pavlik's plans in this week's edition of Ringside With Raymundo!



One of the leading promotional companies since its inception, Golden Boy Promotions is currently looking on the outside in while rival company Top Rank holds a tight grasp on the remainder of mega fights left in 2009.

GBP has thus far in 2009 given us thrill packed bouts such as Antonio Margarito v. Shane Mosley and Juan Diaz v. Juan Manuel Marquez.

Yet the promotional firm could have held its last important fight when they staged Ricky Hatton v. Manny Pacquiao on May 2, in which their fighter, Hatton, was knocked out in the second round.

Fighter Manny Pacquaio is the most sought after opponent in the sport of boxing, and it just so happens that he fights under the promotional banner of Top Rank. As of now, there is no current or pending fight being made between GBP and Top Rank, and the latter company apparently has no interest in matching up Pacquaio against any boxer from Golden Boy.

Prior to the Clottey and Cotto match a few weekends ago, Top Ranks Bob Arum had already professed a desire to match up his star fighter against Cotto, whom Arum also promotes, win or lose against Clottey. Arum and Pacquaio sat next to each other ringside, and according to ESPN's Dan Rafael, Pacquiao confirmed on that night his desire to face Pacquaio.

Barring another great match up, Cotto v. Pacquiao is seemingly the last mega fight 2009 has to offer. Top Rank has the opportunity to ‘in-house' promote the affair, and why not? The promotional company can reap all the rewards without accrediting a co-promoter.

In the case of Floyd Mayweather Jr., if his bout is rescheduled for later this year and the recently retired champion is successful against Marquez, (Mayweather Promotions is co- promoting the event) GBP would seemingly have a shot at co-promoting a showdown between boxing's former pound for pound king (Mayweather) and boxing's current pound for pound king (Pacquaio). In this writer's eyes, one successfully put together card could lead GBP and Mayweather and Co. to form an alliance in attempts for the potential money bout against Pacquaio.

However, Top Rank's Bob Arum and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have a long standing beef extending to the early days of Mayweather's career, in which he fought for Top Rank, and had a less than amicable split.

Arum has expressed little interest in staging Pacquiao v. Mayweather, which in the eyes of the public, seems to be the money fight of the year. However, the highest grossing bout doesn't always necessarily provide the highest quality bout. (See De La Hoya v. Mayweather). In fact, Arum has thrown verbal jabs at Mayweather's return to the ring, stating that he's not back to ‘fight anyone who can beat him', and pointing out that he is not seeking to fight any opponents in his own division of welterweight.

Option B for a potential Pacquaio opponent from GBP is WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley. Mosley is fresh off a trouncing of Antonio Margarito in January of this year, yet since has not had success securing another opponent.

Mosley has bended over backward, agreeing to terms of a smaller share of the purse split and agreeing to fight at a catch weight of Top Rank's desire, yet Arum and Co. have shown no interest in Mosley. Mosley has recently said in the media that Arum should make Cotto v. Margarito II, and let him fight Pacquiao in the fall. Arum didn't bite.

Times are looking a little bleak for Golden Boy Promotions.

De La Hoya's last two boxing cards have had negative hits. Marquez v. Mayweather was scrapped altogether and is pending rescheduling, and just this week their card at the Staples Center in Los Angeles lost its semi-main event bout (which could just have easily served as the main event) when WBA super featherweight champion Chris John pulled out of his rematch with Rocky Juarez.

GBP has successfully staged what is to be a monthly installment of small boxing cards in Los Angeles, California, which garnered television time on Versus. The first edition of ‘Fight Night Club' was a sellout, and looks to be able to generate interest in the Los Angeles area, which is a great thing for boxing.

Yet the biggest fights with the biggest match ups seem to be just out of their grasp, and possibly non-existent until either their younger disciples move up in relativity or GBP signs an established boxing star.

Thoughts on Klitschko v. Chagaev

Wladimir Klitschko's recent TKO over Ruslan Chagaev served as yet another robotically fashioned victory for Klitschko. May observers and media like give criticism to Klitschko's mundane style of fighting, coupled with the fact that he has no respectable opponents in his division outside of his brother Vitaly, whom both had promised would never meet in the ring.

I think more criticism should be thrown towards their opponents. Chagaev was yet another opponent willing to stay on the outside and get methodically broken down by the simplistic style of Klitschko.

Until the heavyweight division garners quality opposition for either Klitschko, the ‘robotic bother's' will continue to methodically tear down every fighter in their way.

Thoughts on Jean Pascal v. Adrian Diaconu

Wow, talk about being glad you didn't tune in to a fight!

The Pascal v. Diaconu fight last weekend was a barn burner, and provided just the high quality drama that boxing needs to continue the thus far magnificent boxing year.

The fight produced a few rounds that should become ‘round of the year' candidates.

The outcome was a decision for Pascal, who had moved up in weight to challenge the previously unbeaten WBC light heavyweight champion Diaconu. It was refreshing to see a fight in which the challenger was given a hard earned decision, and not drubbed by the judges.

Berto v. Collazo II in the making

The World Boxing Council has opened up free negotiations for terms regarding a Berto v. Collazo rematch.

Their first bout, in which Berto was awarded a decision, was an early candidate for fight of the year and had fans clamoring for a second fight, which they will soon be able to see.

If an agreeing isn't made promptly, the WBC will hold bids for the fight to be picked up by any promotional company willing to purchase the bout.

Kelly Pavlik plans

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum looks to get his Youngstown, Ohio WBC and WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik back in action.

An October date has been mentioned, with the possible opponent WBA champion Felix Sturm. If successful against Strum, Arum would like to have Pavlik face IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham sometime in early 2010.

If these fights are made, Pavlik has a chance to become the undisputed middleweight champion.