Just when you thought that the new blood in the promoter circles was going to be better than the current regime you get a wake up call. I function as advisor and manager of Xavier “X-Man” Tolliver “20-4, 13KO‘s“, who has become much more of a friend than a business interest.
At the time that Xavier called about fighting Walter Dario Matthysse “23-0, 22KO’s) on HBO Latino Dec 8th we thought it was a great opportunity to show the world the skills the X-Man could bring to the fans. Of course had we been told that Matthysse would be signing a promotional contract with Golden Boy and the fight would turn from a neutral site and even match up to Matthysee becoming the hometown boy on his own promoters card , I would have advised different and much more expensive.
Announcing the signing of Matthysee five days before the bout is not what most of us expect from an honest promoter and it will backfire on Golden Boy eventually.
Where is the Selwyn curse when you need it?
I will quote the press release sent out yesterday;
“College Park, Georgia’s Xavier Tolliver is not about to go away quietly though”
A little message to Oscar and Walter Matthysee;
The WBC Fecarbox Champion “X-Man” Xavier Tolliver is not going away at all, he is here to stay and Golden Boy will find out that they wasted the paper used signing Matthysee.
Here is another little tidbit for the fans of “The Contender”
Boxingscene has confirmed from several sources that this years weight class will feature the lightweights and one of the chosen is Atlanta’s own Ebo Elder.
Elder is coming off a terrible loss to Lakva Sim in his own backyard in the box off to face Diaz for the belt.
I personally am happy for Ebo, who is a great guy and deserved the shot at the title that he lost out on when Diaz suffered a cut in camp that canceled the bout with Ebo last year.
What I am confused on is all the hype that “The Contender” uses to promote the show as looking for prospects to catapult into a title fight.
How is choosing a top ten ranked fighter who has already been giving opportunities at a title shot looking for prospects?
I have knowledge of some of the other participants and will bring them to you latter in the week.
Juan "Iron Twins" Urango is out of the December 15th Show for Warrior’s due to an injury.
Donald Carmarena sent several week sparring with Mayweather in camp for the Mitchell bout and would have loved to take on Urango in Florida.
Word must have gotten out about Carmarena being ready to rock because his opponent for his December 3rd bout pulled a Houdini at the weigh in.
Word out of Philly is that Chris Cruz wants a rematch with Yusef Mack after being stopped last month.
Could be a great match up again and we hope that it comes off for Mack and Cruz.
Boxing legend Howie Albert has completed a book and is currently in negotiations for a publishing deal. I for one am going to be first in line for this one folks. Albert receives yet another award from the Boxing Writers this year and it couldn’t go to a more deserving guy.
Talking about Howie, I was bitterly disappointed when the Hall of Fame ballots were sent out. Missing on the ballots are Juan LaPorte and Eddie Booker , both fighters are deserving of induction yet were passed up this year. Special thanks to Steve Canton for bringing this to my attention.
Politics and favoritism pollutes to much of our sport and world any more.