By Steve Kim
So is Oscar De La Hoya, who's company is one of the leading promoters in the sport of boxing, particularly concerned about what looks to be a hostile takeover of the business by Al Haymon, who is procuring one network after another to showcase his burgeoning roster of fighters?
Having dates - big and small - is paramount to any company and as of now, Haymon is grabbing more than the lion's share of them. Haymon's company, Haymon Boxing, recently announced television deals with NBC and Spike TV, and the powerful manager/adviser has closed in on Telemundo and is reportedly in talks with CBS Sports, BET and ESPN - and he also has a close relationship with Showtime.
"Look," said Oscar to BoxingScene.com. "Obviously we are not concerned or worried about what Al Haymon is doing, of going to the networks and buying the time on every single platform. We have relationships with other networks, with various networks and so we're going to continue doing what we're doing and lock up dates and continue working closely with HBO and growing and identifying the next young champions of tomorrow. So there's no concern, whatsoever. I mean, how many TV channels do we have that we watch?"
On this day from the Belasco Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, Golden Boy Promotions officially announced the re-launch of the rebranded 'LA Fight Club' series that will premiere on March 6th as a monthly card from this venue and feature young prospects. These cards will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes. De La Hoya noted during the press conference that the goal is to eventually go twice a month.
Cards like this are key to nurturing and developing talent, especially for Golden Boy, which lost a good deal of marquee names recently in their legal settlement with Al Haymon.
When asked if he felt Haymon was out to drive everybody out of the business - De La Hoya responded: "Well, look, the biggest players in boxing, right now, are Golden Boy and Top Rank. We're not going anywhere. That's for sure."
He added - "In boxing it's really hard and difficult to take over because the next day a new fighter is popping up, new talent is coming up, a new promoter is popping up. So it's very, very difficult. As long as we do our job and we take care of business... look, I'm worried about what I do. I worry about what Golden Boy does and right now we have the next generation of - not only champions but superstars for the sport of boxing.''
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.
