Recently in this column I made the observation that some American and US based boxers had started fighting off at lighter weights and had fought and won titles in many higher weight divisions. A feat that their British counterparts haven’t managed to do.
Now in the aftermath of the Pacquiao and Mayweather cancelled fight where Golden Boy made the allegation that Pacquiao was taking performance enhancing drugs took a new turn with the allegation that the Boss of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya had used PED’s.
The respected author and writer of Muhammad Ali’s autobiography Thomas Hauser caused a stir on secondsout.com challenging Oscar De La Hoya to make public the findings of the Nevada State Athletic Commission drug test for PED’s that he may have taken in the past.
Hauser said:
“Oscar De La Hoya can show the world had a righteous PED-free fighter acts and remove any hint of suspicion that he himself might not have clean hands, Oscar should waive his right to confidentiality and authorise the Nevada State Athletic Commission to release the results of any tests for performance enhancing drugs that he has taken in the past.”
“I’m not talking about Lidocaine (which Oscar acknowledges having taken when he suffered a cut prior to his 2004 fight against Bernard Hopkins). Nor am I talking about creatine. I’m talking about the possibility of something more.”
Hauser challenged De La Hoya too send the following letter to the Nevada Commission – “I, Oscar De La Hoya, hereby waive all right of confidentiality with regard to the past testing of my blood and urine for steroids and other performance enhancing drugs conducted by or on behalf the Nevada State Athletic Commission. In that regard, I also authorise all present and past Nevada State Athletic Commission personnel and any other person with knowledge of the situation to speak openly with the media about such testing”.
Oscar was continually asking for Pacquiao to take tests, so I am sure there shouldn’t be a problem in him clearing up these allegations thus keeping his Golden Boy imagine in tact.
***
David Haye, the promoter who constantly says that boxers are being “ripped off” and was going to make sure that wouldn’t happen on his shows.
This week Haye made an offer to one of the fighters I co-manage, Ryan Rhodes, to defend his European title on the undercard of his show.
As part of the negotiation process, we asked for three night’s hotel accommodation for four people, a modest meal allowance per day, and 10 tickets to the show.
This is a standard one in the industry – but the answer was a flat no – can you imagine no hotel or food? In all my years in boxing, I've never had that kind of response.
They also said that we couldn’t approve of Rhodes’ opponent.
Why would I put a fighter in against someone I’ve had no say over.
Are Hayemaker for real? What is Haye’s manager, Adam “Phoney” Booth on?
To make matters worse, Rhodes’ other manager is Dave Coldwell who is Haye’s matchmaker. Who needs enemies when you’ve got friends like those!
May be this is what Haye meant when he said he’d be doing things differently…hungry fighters.
***
European middleweight champion Matt Macklin announced that he was leaving trainer Joe Gallagher and team up with Freddie Roach in the states.
It’s a move that a few boxers, Amir Khan included, have made in the last year or so.
Macklin praised Gallagher, saying that he’d just had the best year of his life, but wanted to move on.
Under Gallagher he’s won the British and European titles, so I’m sure he wouldn’t have been too impressed with the praise coming his way.
He’s had a string of trainers since turning professional, including Billy Graham (twice), Richie Woodhall and Paddy Lynch.
I personally thought that Joe Gallagher did a really good job for Macklin. American trainers haven’t been successful with their fighters against the likes of Joe Calzaghe and Carl Froch, who are both trained by Brits.
When fighters leave promoters, managers or trainers it hits the headlines, but there’s plenty who stick it out as well and last week I overlooked some of them. I appreciate the way guys like Enzo Maccarinelli, Tony Bellew, Nathan Cleverly, Paul Smith, Steve Bell, Derek Chisora, Sam Sexton, Alex Arthur, Matthew Hall, Michael Jennings, the Walsh Brothers and Kevin Mitchell have kept the faith.
Some big things are about to happen for them, with title fights – at various levels - lined up for later this year.
Clevery steps up to challenge for the European title on 13th Feb and has vacated the Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Title, which Bellew will challenge for in Liverpool on March 12.
These two young fighters seem to be on a collision course.
It’s a fight that could be made tomorrow – but it will be a juggernaut down the road.
Hopefully, both of them could be World Champions by then.
***
This week GBP CEO Richard Schaefer said that David Haye’s fight against John Ruiz is going to be one of the most exciting heavyweight showdowns for years.
Has Schaefer actually seen Ruiz fight?
***
Meanwhile Amir Khan’s WBA light-welterweight title defence against Marcos Maidana may get put on the backburner.
Richard Schaefer says that it needs building up, and he wants to get Maidana more exposure in the States. Maidana ko’d Golden Boy’s start on HBO, while Khan hasn’t been on US television yet.
***
Did you see it! What a match – United v City, but what was really at stake - the third tier Carling Cup? No it was down to pride – pundits should remember that when they criticise boxers for fighting for junior belts and titles.
Like football, most of the time, it is not about the cup or belt but winning.
Wednesday, 17 February 2010