by Rick Reeno
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer is a man of many words, but he was speechless when BoxingScene.com asked him to explain the reasons behind Robert Guerrero's maneuvering to break his Golden Boy promotional agreement.
Guerrero's lawyers has started the process to break the contract through an arbitration with the California State Athletic Commission.
The former champion has been inactive since the May 2013 twelve round decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. - where Guerrero received a career high $3 million dollar payday. Prior to that, Guerrero headlined televised events against Andre Berto and Seluck Aydin.
"I am proud of what we have done for him and there are a lot of interesting fights for him.....fight Thurman, fight Maidana, fight Broner, there are so many names that he could fight. I don't understand it," Schaefer told BoxingScene.com. "He hounds me to get him a Mayweather fight. You need to get Mayweather, you need to get Mayweather. Everybody wants Mayweather. I get him Mayweather and then he gets pissed off at me when they lose."
Schaefer is confused as to why Guerrero's lawyer filed the papers with the California commission, because the contract was written under New York law - which in turn, according to the Golden CEO, gives the California commission no jurisdiction over that contract.
Moreover, Schaefer says the attorney who filed the papers and claims the promotional contract is illegal, is the same lawyer who negotiated Guerrero's new promotional contract prior to the Mayweather fight.
"The guy who filed the papers, he's the same one who negotiated the deal on the contract and he is listed on the contract as the legal representative. The contract is under New York law. So they go to the California commission to ask them to void a New York contract. The California commission has no jurisdiction over a New York contract," Schaefer said.
"They were happy with everything [on the new contract]. Their attorney negotiated everything. The managers, Luis and Santos negotiated it. [Their attorney] discussed the New York law provisions, he even explained it in the contract and the specific language in there and everything . Everything was okay and now suddenly it is illegal. I am speechless. I do not understand it."
Schaefer believes that a third party might be responsible for Guerrero's unexpected attempt to defect.
"I think that maybe there is someone else whispering in his ear. I'm not going to stay any names. I think there is another promoter whispering in his ear, promising him this and promising him that. First he needs to be free. I've been down that road before. The fact is, we have a valid and enforceable contract. I will continue to do a great job with Robert Guerrrero and get him big fights," Schaefer said. "I tell all of the fighters, I can't help you win the fight. I can only get you the big fights. It is up to you to win."
Since the loss to Mayweather, Schaefer has tried to offer Guerrero several fights, which the boxer's management rejected - including a televised showdown with Keith Thurman in the Broner-Maidana co-feature slot on December 14th.
"You take a fighter like Keith Thurman, like a Lucas Matthysse, Marcos Maidana, Adrien Broner, Danny Garcia, Abner Mares or Bernard Hopkins. I could go on. I know I'm missing some names. But these guys never say no to anybody. Sure they negotiate the numbers, but they never say no to anybody. Look at Ander Berto, there is another guy who never says no to anybody. He discusses the amount that he's getting and says 'where do I sign.' Look at Victor Ortiz, he could have taken an easier fight but instead he goes against Luis Colazo and that's a dangerous fight. Keith Thurman and Guerrero was a great fight. I don't know who's going to win that fight," Schaefer said.
"And I do think Robert Guerrero has the same mentality. I think he'll fight anybody. I think that maybe his manager is overly protective, but sometimes you have to roll the dice. When you are overly protective, you are not going to get to the top. You have to roll the dice and believe in your fighter's capabilities. You take those fights and then you go and prepare and train and then you win."
Guerrero, and his management, Bob Santos and Luis DeCubas Jr., were unavailable for comment.