By Rick Reeno
Rick Glaser, well-known boxing agent and Don King associate, was appalled when reading the recent comments made on BoxingScene.com by Juan Diaz’s manager, Willie Savannah. Glaser contacted BoxingScene to not only respond, but to present the other side of the story. Glaser initially brought all of the concerned parties together to facilitate Diaz’s career.
“I created a meeting of the minds and the only problem was that one of them was Willie,” Glaser said. “Juan made more money in three fights with Don King than all 30 of his previous fights with his prior promoter, probably twice as much.”
Savannah, upset over the recent cancellation of Diaz’s bout with Michael Katsidis, placed the blame on promoter Don King for the events which led to the fight falling through. Katsidis (23-0, 20KOs). is the WBO’s mandatory to Diaz (33-0, 17KOs), holder of the WBO, WBA and IBF lightweight titles. The bout was scheduled to headline an HBO televised event on February 9.
Several weeks ago at the WBO headquarters in Puerto Rico, Oscar De La Hoya gained the promotional rights to the fight with a winning purse bid of $1.5 million. Diaz's promoter Don King was overseas and not present for the WBO purse bid.
King stood firm on his claim of a clause in Diaz's contract which prevents the boxer from fighting for another promoter pursuant to a winning purse bid, and issued a letter to HBO which outlined his position and legal rights. HBO, following the receipt of King’s letter, backed away from the fight in order to avoid a potential legal battle.
"Don King threatened to sue HBO. We signed the contract for the fight. "Only in America" can a person like Don King prevent a person from making a living. Not at any time did he try to make this fight. He made no effort with us, and no effort with Katsidis. He didn't come to the purse bid or send a representative and as soon as Golden Boy won the bid, he didn't want the fight to happen. There were days when he wouldn't even return my lawyer, Fred Levin's phone calls," Savannah said. "I can't believe this is the guy George Bush sent to hang out with the troops, only in America, and he came back to America to screw a troop from making a living."
Glaser took offense at Savannah making comments about King’s recent trip to spend time with the troops.
“Don King was being patriotic and how dare a person criticize a man for using his holiday time that he could have spent with his family, to go overseas to spend time with the troops. He was also running a multi-million dollar pay-per-view show at the Staples Center and he goes overseas, risking his life to spend time with the troops,” Glaser said.
“How dare a person from the confines of his home in Houston, Texas, criticize a man from being way from his family over the Thanksgiving holiday, being away from a pay-per-view show he was doing, to be with the American troops. I commend Don King, not criticize him for it. He was giving back to America because America gave him a second chance. Don is a people person; people are Don King’s greatest asset. This is not a one shot deal for Don, Don goes over to spend time with the troops on a regular basis. He’s giving back to a great country in America.”
In the opinion of Glaser, the only individual creating a problem in the situation is Savannah. Unfortunately, the contract dispute is likely heading to a court room.
“This is not Don King creating a problem; this is Willie Savannah creating a problem. I have nothing personal against Willie Savannah, but what he’s done in this situation is out of line. I can’t see where he’s acting in this fighter’s best interest. Don has gotten him two more world titles and making him bigger and bigger.” Glaser said.
“Next time Willie sees Don King will probably be in a court room in a civil proceeding and Willie won’t be happy. Don won’t be happy either because Don likes Juan. People say there are always three sides to every story. Well here there are two sides, and all we’ve heard everyone is coming from Willie’s side. I’m telling you the other side.”
