Timothy Bradley gives thoughts on Cold War, Richard Schaefer leaving Golden Boy

Timothy Bradley gives thoughts on Cold War, Richard Schaefer leaving Golden Boy
Mark E. Ortega
BehindTheGloves.com
June 2, 2014


When Timothy Bradley accepted his Fight of the Year Award at the BWAA Awards in Las Vegas for his March 2013 bout against Ruslan Provodnikov, he also gave a message to the assembled attendants. It is time for the Cold War to end and for the best fights available to be made.

With members from HBO, Showtime, Golden Boy Promotions, and Top Rank all under one roof for the dinner that took place a few days before Floyd Mayweather would face Marcos Maidana, it was as good a time as any for a top fighter to be vocal about boxing’s Cold War.

Monday afternoon, it was announced that Richard Schaefer has left Golden Boy, the company he was the CEO to and an integral part of the southern California company’s success in recent years. Behind The Gloves reached out to Bradley and spoke with him briefly on his thoughts about the development and whether or not he thinks it will be a building block to making fights with his promoter Top Rank in the future.

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Larry Merchant’s quick reaction to Richard Schaefer leaving Golden Boy

Larry Merchant’s quick reaction to Richard Schaefer leaving Golden Boy
Mark E. Ortega
BehindTheGloves.com
June 2, 2014


Moments after the news broke that Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer would be leaving the company, I spoke with Hall of Fame boxing analyst Larry Merchant briefly about his thoughts on the development and what impact it will have on the sport moving forward. Here are Larry’s thoughts:

“Schaefer did a good job in helping to build Golden Boy virtually from scratch into one of the two major promotion companies,” Merchant said in a phone interview.

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Thurman: “I’ve got no contract with Golden Boy”

Keith Thurman: “I’ve got no contract with Golden Boy”

April 30, 2014

BehindTheGloves.com

LAS VEGAS–With stories like RingTV.com’s Tim Smith’s circulating that the power struggle is real between Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer at Golden Boy Promotions, the thought of the two splitting into separate stables has gotten heaps more realistic.

Many boxing insiders have mentioned that a large percentage of Al Haymon advised fighters don’t have anything on paper with Golden Boy stating that they are the sole promoter of those fighters. With that in mind, should Schaefer leave Golden Boy and align with Haymon, that leaves a much easier opportunity to grab a number of quality fighters who have been built on Golden Boy shows and promote them on their own.

BehindTheGloves.com caught up with interim WBA welterweight titlist Keith Thurman at Wednesday’s press conference for Floyd Mayweather against Marcos Maidana at the MGM Grand. Though Thurman discussed his impressive stoppage win last weekend over Julio Diaz, Thurman’s admission that he isn’t under contract with Golden Boy comes as the juiciest bit of news.

“I’m not with Golden Boy, I have no contract with Golden Boy,” said Thurman. “I’m a free agent.”

Thurman didn’t say that he had any conflict with Golden Boy and seemed happy with the way he has been moved even though he hasn’t exactly gotten the biggest fights available and it is an easy argument to make that he is due for one.

BTG then asked Thurman for his opinion about the idea of Haymon moving off and doing his own thing with his deep stable of fighters.

“He’s got all the fighters like you said,” said Thurman. “It is nice to talk about rumors but a rumor is a rumor and I don’t talk about anything until it happens.”

Thurman acknowledged that his loyalty is to Haymon.

Saturday night, Mayweather faces Marcos Maidana, whom people forget that Thurman was in line to face a few years ago when the 25-year old Thurman was still green and mostly unknown to casual fans of boxing.

When asked how different things would be if Thurman had gotten the Maidana fight (which Thurman said Maidana’s side turned down), Thurman had a few ideas.

“If that would’ve happened, that would’ve been my moment,” said Thurman. “This [event] is called ‘The Moment’, that would’ve been my moment. It would’ve been an opportunity to skyrocket my career, and at the same time in the same moment, he would’ve been put down so far because people didn’t know who Keith Thurman was at that time.”

Thurman made a good point in saying how strong of a victory it would have been perceived as.

“They would just think that Maidana is an Argentinian opponent,” continued Thurman. “Who knows how many phone calls he would’ve gotten from Golden Boy after that. If Maidana would’ve beat me in that moment were he to fight me, his career would’ve continued just like it did after he got his fight with [Jesus Soto] Karass and Josesito Lopez.”

“He may not have been given a whole lot of credit. He would’ve been moved forward and I would’ve moved back a little bit, but with my young age, I would be able to continuously fight my way into the rankings. It’s a fight that is nice to talk about, it is a fight that didn’t happen. Not happening, this moment is Floyd and him. Obviously, his team has done a great job to put him in this position.”

Thurman has scored a number of quality wins against solid fighters that don’t carry much name value. Argentina’s Diego Chaves would probably compete with a lot of fighters at 147 pounds if given another opportunity. Jan Zaveck was giving Andre Berto hell before his face ripped like tissue paper. But because he’s been kept away from the more recognizable names in the division, Thurman has needed to work harder in order to impress people and earn his way into the mix with the top names in the deep welterweight class.

“I am not an elementary boxer, I have already graduated. I am just waiting for them to initiate me and put me on the main stage,” said Thurman.

“There’s not a fight in the welterweight division that Keith Thurman is not actively trying to pursue,” continued Thurman. “Anybody in the top ten. Who is still around, does Paulie want to fight? These guys don’t want to fight. They want to fight everybody else. How did this card happen, Luis Collazo and Amir Khan. They don’t want to fight Keith Thurman. Luis called me out, then he takes another fight.”



Though Thurman would love to be in the big fights right now, he didn’t come off as overly agitated given that he’s still very young in the sport and has time on his side.

“It’s a big, big political game. These guys wish I wasn’t a welterweight, wish I didn’t exist in the world of boxing but I do. One day, these guys will answer. If it is this year, if is is next year, I’m 25 years old, I’m not worried about nothing but creating my fan base right now and bringing home the cheddar. I’m gonna get my time. Saturday night is their moment, my moment is in the future and it is coming soon.”

Saturday night, Mayweather, Maidana, Khan, and Collazo are getting their moments, and you can bet that Keith Thurman will be there as an interested spectator. His role seems destined to change pretty soon.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com

Omar Figueroa off Mar. 8 card with left wrist injury

Omar Figueroa off Mar. 8 card with left wrist injury
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 1, 2014

The Mar. 8 WBC lightweight title bout pitting champion Omar Figueroa against Ricardo Alvarez has been scrapped, according to Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Eric Gomez.

Gomez told RingTV.com on Saturday afternoon via email that Figueroa suffered a injury that will take him off the Showtime PPV card.

Figueroa's trainer Joel Diaz informed RingTV.com that the injury was to the fighter's left wrist, which occured during sparring Friday. Alvarez will stay on the card, and Golden Boy currently is looking for a new opponent, per Gomez, but there is "no replacement yet."

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Ten Best Things in Boxing in 2013

Ten Best Things in Boxing in 2013
Mark E. Ortega
January 3, 2013

 At the end of last year, I pessimistically counted down the list of ten of the worst things that happened in boxing during the calendar year. Here I take a more positive look at the sport and examine things that really worked out greatly for the sweet science.

Mosley-Mundine likely off

Mosley-Mundine likely off
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
October 21, 2013


A source close to the situation has indicated that the junior middleweight bout between Shane Mosley and Anthony Mundine, set to happen Wednesday in Australia, is likely off.

The source told RingTV.com on Monday afternoon that the promoter, in this case, Vlad Wharton, breached the contract and that Mosley would not be fighting.

The Daily Telegraph reported early Tuesday that the bout was in peril, claiming that Mosley wanted a sizable percentage of his purse to be paid up front, as there was concern the money wouldn't arrive otherwise.

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Diaz continues comeback on Alvarado-Provodnikov undercard

Diaz continues comeback on Alvarado-Provodnikov undercard
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
October 18, 2013


After a tough two-year stretch that saw him suffer losses in three out of four bouts, former unified lightweight titleholder Juan Diaz took a break from boxing in 2010 following a unanimous decision rematch loss to Juan Manuel Marquez.

A return to the ring the following year was nothing more than a false start as Diaz pulled out of a proposed ESPN2 fight, announcing his retirement from the ring instead.

Diaz, who turned 30 just a few weeks ago, fights on Saturday on the untelevised undercard of the much-anticipated junior welterweight title clash between Mike Alvarado and Ruslan Provodnikov. His opponent is the unheralded Juan Santiago.

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Mayweather Jr. takes young Alvarez to school

Mayweather Jr. takes young Alvarez to school
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
September 17, 2013


LAS VEGAS – Floyd Mayweather Jr. was so dominant against Saul Alvarez on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena that he may have cost himself some money down the line.

Though the official verdict will be recorded as a majority decision, there’s no question that Mayweather (45-0, 26 knockouts) was masterful in his victory over Alvarez.

Billed as the biggest fight in a long time, Mayweather overcame the youthful Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 KOs) with much ease. That has erased a possible rematch from the immediate future, leaving a gaping question as to who will step up next when Mayweather elects to return, which could come as early as next May.

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Vegas insanity: Fans flock to Mayweather-Alvarez weigh-in

Vegas insanity: Fans flock to Mayweather-Alvarez weigh-in
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
September 13, 2013


Saturday’s pay-per-view card headlined by Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul Alvarez has been generating an unbelievable buzz in Las Vegas since early in fight week. The turnout for Friday’s weigh-in is something that had to be seen to be believed.

Passionate boxing fans camped out at the entrance to the MGM Grand Garden Arena as early as midnight and the line stretched well into where the food court sits, about half a football field away.

“We haven’t been asleep for 27 hours,” said a Mayweather fan named Tiffany, who was wearing shirt emblazoned with "The One." “It’s pure adrenaline that’s keeping us awake.”

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Porter wins rematch with Diaz; Jack and Periban fight to draw

Porter wins rematch with Diaz; Jack and Periban fight to draw
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
September 12, 2013


LAS VEGAS – Former lightweight titleholder Julio Diaz will fight his slip into gatekeeper status kicking and screaming as evidenced by the effort he put up in losing a unanimous decision to undefeated Shawn Porter on Thursday night in a ballroom of the MGM Grand.

The 10-round fight, which was televised on Fox Sports 2, was a rematch. In December, Porter and Diaz fought to a draw that most felt was edged by the veteran fighter. Perhaps people leaned Diaz's way because they were shocked at the tremendous effort he put forth as well as taking into consideration the fact that most had written him off following a bad knockout loss to Kendall Holt the year before.

Diaz gave his career new life in the draw with Porter and subsequent close loss to Amir Khan in March. In the meantime, Porter easily decisioned unbeaten but lightly regarded Phil Lo Greco earlier in May.

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Getting ready for Mayweather & Alvarez

Getting ready for Mayweather & Alvarez
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
September 12, 2013


LAS VEGAS – If Tuesday’s grand arrivals are any indication of what’s in store later in the week, Floyd Mayweather Jr. didn’t know what he was signing up for when he agreed to face 23-year old Mexican superstar Saul Alvarez this Saturday at the MGM Grand.

Mayweather and Alvarez’s fight takes place on the weekend of Mexican Independence Day. Mayweather has a long history of fighting Mexican fighters, usually around the time of either that holiday or Cinco de Mayo.

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Jean signs co-promotional deal with Golden Boy, eyes Peterson fight

Jean signs co-promotional deal with Golden Boy, eyes Peterson fight
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
September 11, 2013


Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told RingTV.com on Wednesday that they've reached a deal to co-promote junior welterweight contender Dierry Jean alongside Canada-based Eye of the Tiger Promotions, Jean's current promoter.

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De La Hoya admits himself into rehab, will miss Saturday's fight

De La Hoya admits himself into rehab, will miss Saturday's fight
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
September 10, 2013


Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, has announced he will miss the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Canelo Alvarez fight Saturday in Las Vegas because he will be in rehab.

De La Hoya has had ongoing problems with substance abuse. Alvarez is his company’s star attraction.

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Arreola KOs Mitchell in one

Arreola KOs Mitchell in one
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
September 7, 2013

All throughout the buildup to their fight, Chris Arreola disparaged Seth Mitchell as not being in his league.

Saturday night in their Showtime headlining bout in Indio, Calif., Arreola followed through on those statements, serving up his most impressive victory to date with a first-round knockout.

Arreola (35-3, 31 knockouts), of Riverside, Calif., had Mitchell badly hurt in the first 30 seconds, but the former Michigan State linebacker used his old tackling skills to stay in it as the two hit the mat. Mitchell didn't have the benefit of a timeout, though, and Arreola took advantage, scoring an official knockdown soon after.

Referee Jack Reiss took a close look at Washington, D.C.'s Mitchell (26-2-1, 19 KOs) before letting the fight continue. Arreola jumped on Mitchell and battered him with an assortment of power shots, giving Reiss no choice but to stop it.

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Arreola ready for do-or-die fight against Mitchell

Arreola ready for do-or-die fight against Mitchell
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
September 5, 2013


An intriguing heavyweight crossroads bout takes place on Saturday as former title challenger Chris Arreola meets once-beaten but less experienced standout Seth Mitchell in a Showtime-televised main event at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.

For Arreola, it is the final opportunity to break through in a career that has had many squandered opportunities.

Over what will amount to a 10-year career on Sept. 5, Arreola has yet to notch a victory over a top-10 heavyweight. Despite this fact, he fought on HBO seven times after scoring a TKO against Damian Wills on the November 2006 pay-per-view undercard of Floyd Mayweather-Carlos Baldomir.

A loss for Arreola would undoubtedly cast him into the discard pile of American heavyweight hype jobs, as well as force Southern Californian to consider another line of work, in his own words.

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No problem with judges selected for Mayweather-Canelo

No problem with judges selected for Mayweather-Canelo
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
September 4, 2013


The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced the officials for next Saturday’s junior middleweight championship between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul Alvarez.

The referee will be respected veteran Kenny Bayless, a selection the boxing public responded to positively.

The three judges will be Dave Moretti, CJ Ross and Craig Metcalfe. Moretti and Ross both hail from Las Vegas while Metcalfe is the neutral judge from Alberta, Canada.

When asked about the appointed officials on Wednesday’s conference call, Mayweather seemed fine with the selection.

“Kenny Bayless is a great referee who’s going to let us fight,” said Mayweather. “He’s not for the bulls__t. He treats every fighter fair.”

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Q&A: Merchant on Mayweather-Canelo, Zou Shiming

Q&A: Merchant on Mayweather-Canelo, Zou Shiming
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
September 3, 2013


After a quiet Labor Day weekend, RingTV.com contributor Mark E. Ortega got in touch with legendary analyst Larry Merchant on Tuesday afternoon via phone. Merchant gave his thoughts on the highly anticipated fight next Saturday between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul Alvarez, along with his thoughts on Chinese amateur star-turned-pro Zou Shiming and his impact on the sport.

RingTV: Obviously, there’s a pretty big fight coming up between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul Alvarez. I’m curious, if Canelo were able to pull off the victory, where would you rank that among the biggest wins in Mexican boxing history?

Larry Merchant: It would certainly be a major earthquake for many fans, and for Mexican fans it would be a huge event because prizefighting is so important to them. They, in fact, discovered and anointed Canelo to be their next superstar, so it would be a very big deal.

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Collazo re-emerges with victory over Sanchez

Collazo re-emerges with victory over Sanchez
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
September 2, 2013


When Luis Collazo was fighting championship fights on HBO, Alan Sanchez was barely old enough to drive a car and hadn’t fought as a professional yet.

That experience helped guide the battle-tested Collazo (34-5, 17 knockouts) to a unanimous-decision victory over the ten-year younger Sanchez (12-3-1, 6 KOs) in their ten-round main event on Fox Sports 1’s second Monday night broadcast.

The two felt each other out in the opening round, but Collazo showed his sharpness early, landing straight lefts regularly. Sanchez didn’t open up until a few rounds later, and began landing straight right hands, though Collazo would occasionally land a pretty counter.

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Sanchez gets called up to the majors

Sanchez gets called up to the majors
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
September 1, 2013


When Luis Collazo first won a world title by beating Jose Antonio Rivera by unanimous decision in 2005, Fairfield’s Alan Sanchez wasn’t even old enough to drive, being just fourteen years old.

While Collazo had fought names like Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley, and Andre Berto in fights all televised by HBO by 2009, Sanchez had yet to fight a professional bout.

It’ll be Collazo who Sanchez looks across the ring at on Monday night when the two fight in the ten-round main event of Fox Sports One’s new Monday night boxing program. The show emanates from San Antonio, Tex.

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Bits & Pieces: Ali makes GBP debut, Tomlinson moves to L.A.

Bits & Pieces: Ali makes GBP debut, Tomlinson moves to L.A.
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
August 30, 2013


Ali makes Golden Boy debut Sept. 30

2008 U.S. Olympian Sadam Ali held himself back early in his professional career by refusing to sign with a major promotional company, instead going on his own.

Ali finally aligned himself with Golden Boy Promotions earlier this year, and makes his debut in a headlining bout of a Fox Sports 1 card on Sept. 30. It'll be the most exposure he's received since turning pro in January of 2009. It'll be part of Golden Boy's Monday night series, Golden Boy on FOX, and will take place in Ali's hometown of Brooklyn at the Cushman & Wakefield Theater at Barclays Center.

Ali (16-0, 10 KOs) will fight the unheralded Jay Krupp (17-5, 8 KOs) in his first fight of 2013.

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