By Rick Reeno
As BoxingScene.com previously reported, Golden Boy Promotions scored the first victory in their contract dispute with former champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero. Last week, BoxingScene.com reported that Guerrero's lawyer initiated the process to break his promotional contract with Golden Boy through an arbitration with the California State Athletic Commission. Guerrero, through his attorney, claims the contract he signed prior to last May's fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. - is illegal and violates the Muhammad Ali Act.
The CSAC denied Guerrero's request for an arbitration. The CSAC directed both parties to settle their dispute in New York - because in their opinion the contract agreement is governed under New York law.
"I hope I can sit down with Robert and his team and work things out," Schaefer said to BoxingScene.com.
However, attorney Bruce Zabarauskas of California-based firm Thompson & Knight LLP, who represents Guerrero, is not looking for peace. Now that the CSAC kicked their dispute to New York, and the fact that most of Guerrero's claims were based on the violation of California state laws - the boxer's legal team will need a new plan of attack.
Zabarauskas told BoxingScene - "the fight has just begun" - when reached for comment on the current situation, but he declined to comment further on the CSAC's ruling or his next course of action in trying to break Guerrero free of his promotional agreement.
Schaefer is shaking his head at Zabarauskas' quote, because the Golden CEO would much rather come together with Guerrero and his team to plan out his future - instead of watching Guerrero sit on the shelf due to an ongoing legal dispute.
"I find it strange that the attorney is being quoted everywhere, saying 'let the fight begin' or something like that. What is that? What is wrong with this guy? What the hell does he want to fight? I'll tell you one thing, this guy certainly has the wrong New Year's resolution," Schaefer said.
"He's the same guy, the same attorney, who told his client to sign the deal and then a few months later he goes and tells them 'oh, by the way, this is not a legal contract.' Is this a case of yesterday I was lying and today I'm telling the truth?"