SHERMAN OAKS, CA - Some victories are bittersweet, especially those won in battles one tries to avoid against longtime associates and friends.
Such is the feeling that Dan Goossen, President of Goossen Tutor Promotions is experiencing after an arbitrator's ruling announced today in his favor in a contract dispute with the man whose professional boxing career Goossen has promoted since 2004 - Andre "S.O.G." Ward.
Several weeks ago the former 2004 U.S. Olympic Gold medalist, Super Middleweight Champion and 2011 Ring Magazine "Fighter of the Year" filed for an arbitration hearing to void his Exclusive Promotional Contract with Goossen Tutor Promotions. The case went before Andy Foster, the Executive Officer of the California State Athletic Commission, on Tuesday, June 25 at the Ronald Reagan State Office Building in Downtown Los Angeles. The Commission was represented by Supervising Deputy Attorney General Karen Chappelle, Ward was represented by Richard Dwyer of Mountain View, CA, while Goossen's brother, Michael Goossen of Sherman Oaks, CA and Benjamin Reder of Beverly Hills, CA served as legal counsel for Goossen and Goossen Tutor Promotions.
Following the ruling, which validated and re-enforced the terms of the existing Exclusive Promotional Contract, a resolute but relieved Goossen shared his thoughts on the favorable outcome: "Thank you to my family, friends and Goossen Tutor staff for their support. I want to thank the California State Athletic Commission and the Attorney General's office for protecting not only their licensed boxers, but their licensed promoters as well.
"We've enjoyed a very honorable and successful relationship with Andre Ward and I can only hope having to go through this whole legal process will only strengthen our relationship moving forward. I've said for years that he had the talent - both in and out of the ring - possessed by the other greats before him such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar de la Hoya and, of course, Floyd Mayweather."
"Now I look forward to getting back to promoting Andre's next bout, as well as helping him become the number one fighter in the sport," Goossen concluded.
