By Miguel Rivera
Promoter Felix 'Tutico' Zabala of All Star Boxing is celebrating is victory from Monday in Miami, when a jury made several decision pertaining to his ongoing lawsuit against Golden Boy Promotions and former two-division world champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.
Zabala claimed that Canelo signed a four year contract in 2008, but then signed with Golden Boy in 2011. The jury exonerated Golden Boy, but ordered Canelo to pay $8.5 million to Zabala - ruling that the Puerto Rican promoter introduced Canelo to Golden Boy and helped jump start his career in the United States.
According to Zabala, the entire dispute could have been solved six years ago with a payment of $250,000 for bringing Golden Boy and Canelo together, but claims De La Hoya blew him off and wanted to handle the matter legally.
Zabala claims that De La Hoya was only looking out for himself and not the interests of Canelo. He claims that he tried to avoid a legal war, which it turned out to be, and because of that Canelo was hit with an multi-million dollar judgement.
"I think his actions were to protect him and not his boy," said Zabala to El Vocero.
"If I were him I would have gone all the way with my boxer. This is a case that could have been resolved six years ago with $250,000 through an arrangement in which we let would have released him. But they chose the hard road. De La Hoya was thinking of himself and allowed the fighter to get hurt."
"He hurt the boxer. Here, the important thing for us is that my work was recognized. It was a matter of dignity and not about more money. I have nothing against 'Canelo' Alvarez. I just think he was wrong and I advised that these things could have been avoided. De La Hoya chose the rocky road."
Golden Boy is planning to appeal.
