By Mark Vester
The cold war between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, the two biggest promotional companies in boxing, appears to be back in full force. The war began several years ago when Oscar De La Hoya left Top Rank to start Golden Boy. The two companies would barely conduct any business together until they reached a settlement last June over the promotional agreement of Manny Pacquiao (who signed with both of them) and came together for several co-promoted shows in the last twelve-months.
But in the last few months, you could see tensions rising. Since Pacquiao won a close-decision over Golden Boy fighter Juan Manuel Marquez in March, words have been exchanged between Top Rank head Bob Arum and Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer.
The latest claims take the war to a new level. Arum told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that officials from MGM Mirage are conspiring with Golden Boy to keep his company out of their Las Vegas venues. Arum wanted to use the Mandalay Bay for the November 8 lightweight bout between Pacquiao and Edwin Valero, but MGM Mirage turned him down and said the date would not be available because it conflicted with two Golden Boy shows, the Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi on Nov. 22 and De La Hoya's final career bout on Dec. 6.
"That's a disgrace," Arum told the paper. "If they do this, Top Rank will never do another deal with MGM properties again. "It's extortion. (Schaefer) is using the De La Hoya fight to keep us out."
Schaefer was not taking the comments lightly and issued a response to Arum's claims.
"Bob has to be very careful making those kinds of accusations," Schaefer said. "He should think before he talks. What he's saying is ridiculous. We already agreed that Oscar would fight at the MGM Dec. 6. The deal has been in place for some time. He knows that. We've also had the Nov. 22 date for quite a while. He knows that, too."
Richard Sturm, MGM's president of entertainment and sports, sided with Schaefer on the matter.
"It's absurd that he (Arum) is saying that," Sturm said. "We are in difficult economic times right now. We already have two major fights scheduled in 30 days. It doesn't make economic sense to bring in a third fight in that time frame. Bob needs to understand that it's nothing personal. We appreciate the fact Bob has brought Pacquiao to Mandalay Bay several times. The timing's just not right to do another big fight in November."
Arum is not going to walk away quietly, he feels that Sturm is just making excuses.
"They're talking about the economy? You would think in these economic times, they'd want this fight," Arum said of MGM Mirage. "It's more business for them. All they're going to do is alienate the Filipino communities that come over from California. I don't understand it."
Pacquiao-Valero may head to the Thomas & Mack Center or to a venue in either California or Texas, but Arum prefers to have the fight in Las Vegas.
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com
