By Jake Donovan

Plenty of incoming regarding my Wednesday blog discussing Golden Boy Promotions' self-serving plans for the future, with fans speaking their minds whether agreeing or disagreeing with what I had to say. (Full article – What Golden Boy Wants Isn't What Boxing Needs )

Without further ado, your thoughts and my responses:

You fools. You guys are like bees, following the swarm. How could this have become such a big deal to the point where an article was created in the first place? Oh yeak I know, because the writer has always had a dislike for GBP. You are all shocked and upset that they would want this instead of clearing the way for Mayweather vs Cotto but how about the fact that Mayweather is ducking Cotto because he has more interest in his money than you useless humans (I understand why). Wanting to set up a rematch (probably good like the first) with Mosley because Mayweather will not fight Cotto FTMFW!!!

Zarco (Boxingscene.com Message Board member)

Jake's Take: I have a dislike for anyone who does a disservice to the industry. That said, I'm not a blind hater of Golden Boy Promotions. When they do good, I report on that as well. Two weeks ago, I penned a glowing pre-fight piece on Golden Boy and Versus bringing Saturday afternoon boxing back to our living rooms, and thought it was great that they could make it happen on such a modest budget. That's only one example, but at least the most recent.

But beginning with last year, everything's revolved around Oscar's exit plan. It started with "The World Awaits", and any event where they're the lead or sole promoter has been far more self-serving than beneficial to the sport as a whole.

Just as fans were embracing the concept of one champ per division (I myself recognize true linear champs, and often disregard the alphabets), Golden Boy promotes or is indirectly involved with several past and present Ring champions who make no bones about defending against anyone EXCEPT their top contender. To repeat what I mentioned in my article, facing your number-one contender should be the industry STANDARD, not the exception.

If Golden Boy wants to be the New York Yankees of boxing, snatching up all of the high-priced notable talent, that's great. But when you claim to have the best and to be the best, then it's your obligation to offer the best BOXING MATCHES, not just the glitziest events.

Thank you all the same for your feedback.

Jake,

Golden Boy's really messing with boxing fans this year. They have stopped the fight everybody wants to see Cotto vs. Mayweather just because Oscar blew the first fight, which was dire and the way Nate Campbell is being treated by them is a joke. Future rematches with Hatton vs. Mayweather and Cotto vs. Mosley are not what the public want.

I hope HBO will soon get their act together and stop this nonsense from continuing.

Take Care

Lee

Jake's Take: It's understandable for any promoter to want to be involved in the biggest fights available. But it becomes detrimental to the sport when you stand in the way of one big fight, and try to sell a lesser product as an alternative. Golden Boy's not the first to do it, they're just the latest. The difference is, it became fashionable during the past couple of decades to rip on Don King and Bob Arum, who all but had the industry on lockdown. Now for whatever reason, far too many in the media aren't as willing to stand up and point out that the Emperor wears no clothes, or in this case, shame.

JAKE

HAVING A PAST RELATIONSHIP WITH MOST OF THESE FIGHTERS IT'S A SHAME THAT THIS IS NOW WHAT THEY'RE A PART OF. YEAH YEAH GET MONEY, DO YOU... WHATEVER THESE FIGHTERS ARE SAYING NOWADAYS... BUT THEY KNOW WHO THEY SHOULD REALLY BE FIGHTING OR NOT FIGHTING. IF WE'RE GOING TO SAVE OUR SPORT, WE SHOULD STOP BORROWING OUR DRAMA FROM WWE AND START PITTING THE BEST AGAINST THE BEST LIKE MMA OR BETTER YET BOXING OF OLD! TELL GOLDEN BOY TO STOP TRYING TO MAKE FIGHTS JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN... BUT BECAUSE THEY MUST! BEST VS BEST, CHAMP VS CHAMP P4P VS P4P!!!

HERES AN IDEA... CANCEL COTTO V MARGARITO AND DELAHOYA V MAYWEATHER AND LET'S DO COTTO V MAYWEATHER AND MOSELY V MARGARITO AND THEN THE WINNER MEET!!!

AS FOR DELAHOYA LET HIM CO-PROMOTE WITH ARUM SINCE THAT'S WANT HE REALLY IS DOING ANYWAY !!!...

SORRY HAD TO VENT... I REALLY DON'T RESPOND TO BULLETINS

-LOU

Jake's Take: I agree that the sport may become better when Oscar retires once and for all and sticks to promoting full time. The problem now is that everything is revolving around Oscar the fighter, which if it were a different crop of fighters, would otherwise bring the loaded welterweight division to a screeching halt. Thankfully, fighters like Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Carlos Quintana, Paul Williams, Joshua Clottey, Shane Mosley, Zab Judah and others aren't taking their cue from the division's "leader" (Mayweather). Instead, they call out each other, which should be applauded. The best fighting the best, at least from 2-10.

That said, I respectfully disagree on canceling Cotto-Margarito. The matchup is a guaranteed Fight of the Year contender. I like your final four as well, and agree that Shane should get back in line. Perhaps he could fight the winner of Quintana-Williams II in the meantime.

Hi Jake,

Just a few comments on this wonderful sport of ours.

Golden Boy promotions is turning to be the worst imitation of Don King.

As advisers to Shane Mosley they should of taken the fight postponed by Judah. The bad decisions will affect Mosley overall he has no partner for any dances and Judah is granted a title shot. Who lost here?

As far as Mosley vs Cotto goes! Forget it, Cotto will not survive Margarito's will and amount of punches he throws in a fight. This time Cotto is going to have some one after him rd by rd.

Golden Girl vs Mayweather another false hope for those few creditable fans that do not buy into this great circus of Oscar and Floyd! Oscar said it openly when Merchant asked him about his dream of being Billionaire. All Oscar should have had said was As long as there are fools buying it I will become Billionaire.

Thank you for your time.

Martin

Jake's Take: I agree on the Mosley part, only because they snuffed Zab without having a Plan B in place. As the old saying goes, Shane cut off his nose just to spite his face. Or more specifically, allowed his team (read: Jin) to do so. Credit to Zab for jumping right back in the mix, agreeing to take on the dangerous Joshua Clottey, and sad for Shane that his promoter is now begging for a Cotto rematch.

We'll see how well your prediction plays out regarding Cotto-Margarito.

On Mayweather-de la Hoya II – many are speaking out against it, including many in the media. But it's still only June. Come mid-September, I expect anyone with even a remote interest in attending to go into full ass-kissing mode. While I don't expect the rematch to come within sniffing distance of the tallies for the first fight, it will most likely still rank as the highest grossing event of the year. Which, of course, will justify Golden Boy's interest in staging the event.

Jake,

Another fantastic article.  Not stated was the incredible irony Golden Boy Promotions itself has become.

Boxing fans who have been around for the past decade can remember the breath of fresh air GBP was when it first came on the scene.  Here was a promoting company which was looking out for boxers and fans - boxing's savior it was said in articles at the time.  Oscar De La Hoya wanted to do the right things for boxing and here was a promoter that could actually relate to those he represented.  In the beginning, GBP unabashedly said no to the types of poor, greed driven matchmaking common at the time.  Instead Golden Boy offered great matchups and great boxers in meaningful matches. 

In short, GBP gave boxing fans the fights they craved. What more, De La Hoya spoke openly and often about this philosophy and it was not long before an exodus of famous fighters left Don King, Top Rank, and other big name promoters to sign with GBP. In fact, it is my opinion that GBP is a big reason for boxing's recent mini-resurgence despite fierce competition from MMA.

Unfortunately the matchmaking philosophy at Golden Boy Promotions has changed.  Its hard say exactly when this happened, but the acquisition of The Ring magazine was a possible turning point.  Despite reassurances that purchase of The Ring would not alter the boxing landscape, it is increasing obvious that GBP is no longer sticking to the philosophy which made them so successful in the first place.

No doubt you and other scribes have not missed this great irony: that Golden Boy Productions has become exactly the greed mongering monstrosity it was designed to combat.  What more, GBP has more power and influence than any other promoter in modern boxing history, further compounding the issue.

One can only hope that GBP's greed fueled philosophy backfires on them. Perhaps a new "savior" is needed to do to Golden Boy what Golden Boy has done to Don King and others. Only ten years ago, it was Don King who could not be denied.  Now he can't get his boxers in a match with meaningful outcome (Campbell).

Sincerely,
Kenneth

Jake's Take: Saving the best for last. You're 100% correct, Golden Boy started out with good intenions and, for the most part, offered a healthy dose of fan-friendly boxing events. That's what leaves me so distraught these days.

Believe me, I understand any promoter's need to make a buck. On a much smaller scale, I tried the promotional thing, and quickly came to realize that what fans ask for doesn't always translate into fans buying once they get it (a wordy way of saying I lost my ass on the show). Like everything else, those who are in the game for a living have to eat, and regardless of agendas and intentions, the bottom line is about getting paid.

But in collecting ends, be prepared for the backlash from those who feel cheated. Right now, it sounds like a lot of boxing fans are in that boat, because nothing on the sport's docket is being met with the same anticipation as there was for the final quarter of last year's schedule, or even the first quarter of this year. 

On their purchasing The Ring, I'd be inclined to believe it was The Ring's philosophy that changed. Their concept of one champion per division is certainly on the right track, and for as much flak as they receive, their rankings for the most part crap all over the crude jokes any of the sanctioning bodies offers in their monthly ratings. But as I've argued in the past, it's not much of a comparison because any given fan can come up with a better 1-10 than what's offered by the ABC's. The gaping flaw in The Ring's policy is that they merely settle for a champion being crowned, and are ultimately defenseless when said champ refuses to defend against his top challengers.

It's possible that Golden Boy's latest moves come back to haunt them, or at the very least, force them to reconsider their blueprint for the future. What I'd like to see is, while they're acquiring the biggest names the sport has to offer, that they're packaged with the stars of generation next. GBP is doing a good job in that regard as well, as they boast Daniel Jacobs, the Velasquez Twins among several others. What those fighters need is proper exposure, not merely come along for the ride while more (and in many instances, too much) attention is paid to faded former greats milking the spotlight in the twilight of their career.

Jake Donovan is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Tennessee Boxing Advisory Board. Comments/questions can be submitted to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com