Tag: Golden Boy Promotions

Ryan Garcia-Golden Boy rift hovers over comeback fight on Saturday

A rift between Ryan Garcia and Golden Boy Promotions is hovering over Garcia’s comeback fight on Saturday in Houston.

Ryan Garcia has two fights on his hands.

One is a scheduled 140-pound bout with Oscar Duarte on Saturday in Houston, which will be streamed on DAZN. The other is with his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, with which he has been at odds off and on the past several years.

The latter fight took a bizarre turn Thursday at the final news conference to promote Saturday’s event, when Garcia accused Oscar De La Hoya and Co. of backing Duarte.

The latest tribulations started when Golden Boy partner Bernard Hopkins said he would “make my personal decision on whether [Garcia] should fight again” after he meets Duarte.

Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) is coming off a seventh-round knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in April, the first setback of the 25-year-old’s career. And that followed a 15-month layoff in 2021 and last year to focus on his mental health.

He took a shot at Hopkins at the news conference.

“He don’t decide that,” Garcia said. “My coach does, my team does, everybody that grinds with me day in and day out. That’s who decides.”

Garcia initially responded to Hopkins’ comments on social media. De La Hoya, Golden Boy chairman, suggested then that Garcia should focus on his training and not a misinterpretation of what Hopkins said.

Garcia addressed that at the news conference.

“Oscar saying that, you know, we misinterpret what they say,” Garcia said. “It’s plain English. I didn’t hear anybody speaking any language I don’t know. So, you know, it’s very clear to me that, you know, they’re backing [Duarte] to beat me, just like they thought [Romero] Duno was going to beat me. He was the next Filipino star. They say [Duarte is] the next Mexican star.”

De La Hoya said on social media after the news conference that he’s worried about Garcia’s state of mind, suggesting the fighter isn’t focused on Duarte. The Hall of Famer deleted the item. And Garcia has yet to respond.

The friction between Garcia and his handlers had never been so public but it’s nothing new.

In 2019 Garcia had expressed dissatisfaction with the size of his purses given his massive following on social media. Then, when he refused to face Duno – a late replacement opponent for Avery Sparrow, who had been arrested – the relationship deteriorated further.

Golden Boy President Eric Gomez said on social media that Garcia turned down the fight because Duno was “too tough,” per ESPN. Garcia exploded on social media.

“My promoter acted in a very unprofessional manner, saying things that were false about me,” Garcia said. “I’m a fighter and not afraid to fight anyone!!! My team tried tirelessly to negotiate a fair purse amount to save the show, but my promoter has shown little interest in my career.

“I promise I tried for my fans. But like all things in life, I’m staying positive and will come back soon.”

Garcia also took exception to De La Hoya’s assertion that Vergil Ortiz was the organization’s top fighter, not Garcia.

Then, as if nothing had happened, Garcia signed a five-year contract extension in September 2019, which was described by Golden Boy as “one of the most lucrative deals in history for a boxing prospect.”

That apparently means that the contract will end next September, less than a year from now. No one will be surprised if a divorce takes place then.

[lawrence-related id=39937,39930,36989]

Ryan Garcia-Golden Boy rift hovers over comeback fight on Saturday

A rift between Ryan Garcia and Golden Boy Promotions is hovering over Garcia’s comeback fight on Saturday in Houston.

Ryan Garcia has two fights on his hands.

One is a scheduled 140-pound bout with Oscar Duarte on Saturday in Houston, which will be streamed on DAZN. The other is with his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, with which he has been at odds off and on the past several years.

The latter fight took a bizarre turn Thursday at the final news conference to promote Saturday’s event, when Garcia accused Oscar De La Hoya and Co. of backing Duarte.

The latest tribulations started when Golden Boy partner Bernard Hopkins said he would “make my personal decision on whether [Garcia] should fight again” after he meets Duarte.

Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) is coming off a seventh-round knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in April, the first setback of the 25-year-old’s career. And that followed a 15-month layoff in 2021 and last year to focus on his mental health.

He took a shot at Hopkins at the news conference.

“He don’t decide that,” Garcia said. “My coach does, my team does, everybody that grinds with me day in and day out. That’s who decides.”

Garcia initially responded to Hopkins’ comments on social media. De La Hoya, Golden Boy chairman, suggested then that Garcia should focus on his training and not a misinterpretation of what Hopkins said.

Garcia addressed that at the news conference.

“Oscar saying that, you know, we misinterpret what they say,” Garcia said. “It’s plain English. I didn’t hear anybody speaking any language I don’t know. So, you know, it’s very clear to me that, you know, they’re backing [Duarte] to beat me, just like they thought [Romero] Duno was going to beat me. He was the next Filipino star. They say [Duarte is] the next Mexican star.”

De La Hoya said on social media after the news conference that he’s worried about Garcia’s state of mind, suggesting the fighter isn’t focused on Duarte. The Hall of Famer deleted the item. And Garcia has yet to respond.

The friction between Garcia and his handlers had never been so public but it’s nothing new.

In 2019 Garcia had expressed dissatisfaction with the size of his purses given his massive following on social media. Then, when he refused to face Duno – a late replacement opponent for Avery Sparrow, who had been arrested – the relationship deteriorated further.

Golden Boy President Eric Gomez said on social media that Garcia turned down the fight because Duno was “too tough,” per ESPN. Garcia exploded on social media.

“My promoter acted in a very unprofessional manner, saying things that were false about me,” Garcia said. “I’m a fighter and not afraid to fight anyone!!! My team tried tirelessly to negotiate a fair purse amount to save the show, but my promoter has shown little interest in my career.

“I promise I tried for my fans. But like all things in life, I’m staying positive and will come back soon.”

Garcia also took exception to De La Hoya’s assertion that Vergil Ortiz was the organization’s top fighter, not Garcia.

Then, as if nothing had happened, Garcia signed a five-year contract extension in September 2019, which was described by Golden Boy as “one of the most lucrative deals in history for a boxing prospect.”

That apparently means that the contract will end next September, less than a year from now. No one will be surprised if a divorce takes place then.

[lawrence-related id=39937,39930,36989]

Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu makes scary statement in Australia

Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu made a scary statement against Carlos Ocampo in Australia.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Tim Tszyu

OK, it was only Carlos Ocampo. Tszyu was expected to defeat the solid, but limited Mexican on Sunday in Broadbeach, Australia to set up a showdown with undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo in the fall. It was the way he did it that was so impressive. Tszyu needed only 1 minute, 17 seconds to hurt Ocampo (35-3, 23 KOs), put him down twice and deliver a Knockout of the Year candidate in front of his appreciative home country fans. In that short amount of time the son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu made it clear that he has carved out his own name in the sport and left no doubt that he’s a genuine threat to the best junior middleweight on the planet, Charlo. Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) was scary before, particularly after victories over respected opponents Terrell Gausha and Tony Harrison. Now it’s reasonable to wonder whether Charlo could survive 12 rounds against him. If nothing else, that matchup – Charlo vs. Tszyu – became a lot more interesting after a memorable performance down under.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Regis Prograis

Progais apologized to his hometown fans after his split-decision victory over Danielito Zorrilla in a stinker Saturday in New Orleans. That should tell you something. Everyone is entitled to an off night but the 140-pound titleholder abused that notion, assuming the posture of the aggressor throughout but rarely taking the risks necessary to get close to Zorrilla for fear of getting hurt. Prograis landed a putrid 8.5% of his punches (42 of 297), according to CompuBox. He blamed Zorrilla, suggesting it’s difficult to do your job when your opponent runs for 12 rounds. That’s not fair. Yes, the Puerto Rican used his feet as a primary weapon but that was strategic. He stopped often enough to land some of the hardest punches of the fight. That included a right hand in the opening round that put Prograis down, although the referee ruled it a slip. The winner admitted afterward that the shot gave him pause. In the end, Prograis had his hand raised, which is the principal objective. At the same time, he lost ground in terms of perception. Is he overrated?

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Charlo and Tszyu were scheduled to fight in January but Charlo had to pull out after breaking his hand, after which Tszyu fought Harrision in March and then Ocampo. Now focus has returned to Charlo. The WBO has ordered Charlo to defend against Tszyu by Sept. 30 or risk losing that belt. Of course, there are no guarantees that they’ll come to terms but my guess is that the competitor in Charlo will want to prove he’s better than Tszyu. I believe the fight will happen sometime in the fall. … The two judges who had Prograis winning – 118-109 and 117-110 – obviously gave him credit for being the aggressor regardless of his inability to land punches consistently. I believe they gave him too much credit. Yes, Prograis moved forward almost the entire fight but Zorrilla matched him power shot for power shot. In fact, according to CompuBox, they landed the exact same number of power punches, 38. The scoring should’ve been tighter. The third judge and I scored it for Zorrilla 114-113. …

Prograis had a number of miserable rounds. His worst was Round 2, in which he landed none of the 43 punches he threw. That’s a record for most punches thrown without landing one in a single round, CompuBox informed Boxing Junkie. He also landed only one punch in each of three more rounds. Of course, Zorrilla had his own problems. He had two rounds in which he connected on only one punch. And we should keep in mind that CompuBox stats aren’t official. Still, these numbers give you an idea of how horribly one of the world’s top fighters performed. … Bonus stat: Prograis landed 4 of 371 jabs (1.1%). Why bother throwing it? … Sam Goodman (15-0, 7 KOs) turned in a breakthrough performance on the Tszyu-Ocampo card, defeating fellow 122-pound contender Ra’eese Aleem (20-1, 12 KOs) by a split decision (117-111, 116-112 and 112-116). I had it 115-113 for Goodman. Aleem got off to a strong start but a determined, durable Goodman outworked him in the second half of the fight to pull away. The Aussie will be a handful for whomever he faces going forward. … Welterweight contender Shakhram Giyasov (14-0, 9 KOs) showed his class on the Prograis-Zorrilla card, dominating Harold Calderon (27-1, 18 KOs) en route to winning a one-sided decision in a 12-round bout. Giyasov won a silver medal for his native Uzbekistan in the 2016 Olympics. …

News item: Golden Boy Promotions has sued 140-pound contender Ryan Garcia to ensure that he honors the remainder of his contract with the promotional firm. Garcia’s representatives say the move was retaliation after the fighter requested mediation over what his team believes were contract breeches on the part of Golden Boy. What a mess. It’s not difficult to imagine Garcia sitting out the remainder of his contract after losing faith in his longtime promoter, which would be a shame given Garcia’s talent. … Badou Jack, a 200-pound titleholder, reportedly rejected an offer to face 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez. Jack said Alvarez wanted a 180-pound catch weight AND a rehydration clause, which he wouldn’t accept. I don’t blame him. Enough with the rehydration clauses, which place the larger fighter at too much of a disadvantage and could cause health issues. I understand that the bigger draw – Alvarez, in this case – has the right to use his leverage but it’s also important to have a level playing field. If you’re worried about your opponent’s size, face men in your weight class. Here’s an idea: Fight David Benavidez.

[lawrence-related id=37848,37841,37827,37817,37814,37795]

Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu makes scary statement in Australia

Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu made a scary statement against Carlos Ocampo in Australia.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Tim Tszyu

OK, it was only Carlos Ocampo. Tszyu was expected to defeat the solid, but limited Mexican on Sunday in Broadbeach, Australia to set up a showdown with undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo in the fall. It was the way he did it that was so impressive. Tszyu needed only 1 minute, 17 seconds to hurt Ocampo (35-3, 23 KOs), put him down twice and deliver a Knockout of the Year candidate in front of his appreciative home country fans. In that short amount of time the son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu made it clear that he has carved out his own name in the sport and left no doubt that he’s a genuine threat to the best junior middleweight on the planet, Charlo. Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) was scary before, particularly after victories over respected opponents Terrell Gausha and Tony Harrison. Now it’s reasonable to wonder whether Charlo could survive 12 rounds against him. If nothing else, that matchup – Charlo vs. Tszyu – became a lot more interesting after a memorable performance down under.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Regis Prograis

Progais apologized to his hometown fans after his split-decision victory over Danielito Zorrilla in a stinker Saturday in New Orleans. That should tell you something. Everyone is entitled to an off night but the 140-pound titleholder abused that notion, assuming the posture of the aggressor throughout but rarely taking the risks necessary to get close to Zorrilla for fear of getting hurt. Prograis landed a putrid 8.5% of his punches (42 of 297), according to CompuBox. He blamed Zorrilla, suggesting it’s difficult to do your job when your opponent runs for 12 rounds. That’s not fair. Yes, the Puerto Rican used his feet as a primary weapon but that was strategic. He stopped often enough to land some of the hardest punches of the fight. That included a right hand in the opening round that put Prograis down, although the referee ruled it a slip. The winner admitted afterward that the shot gave him pause. In the end, Prograis had his hand raised, which is the principal objective. At the same time, he lost ground in terms of perception. Is he overrated?

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Charlo and Tszyu were scheduled to fight in January but Charlo had to pull out after breaking his hand, after which Tszyu fought Harrision in March and then Ocampo. Now focus has returned to Charlo. The WBO has ordered Charlo to defend against Tszyu by Sept. 30 or risk losing that belt. Of course, there are no guarantees that they’ll come to terms but my guess is that the competitor in Charlo will want to prove he’s better than Tszyu. I believe the fight will happen sometime in the fall. … The two judges who had Prograis winning – 118-109 and 117-110 – obviously gave him credit for being the aggressor regardless of his inability to land punches consistently. I believe they gave him too much credit. Yes, Prograis moved forward almost the entire fight but Zorrilla matched him power shot for power shot. In fact, according to CompuBox, they landed the exact same number of power punches, 38. The scoring should’ve been tighter. The third judge and I scored it for Zorrilla 114-113. …

Prograis had a number of miserable rounds. His worst was Round 2, in which he landed none of the 43 punches he threw. That’s a record for most punches thrown without landing one in a single round, CompuBox informed Boxing Junkie. He also landed only one punch in each of three more rounds. Of course, Zorrilla had his own problems. He had two rounds in which he connected on only one punch. And we should keep in mind that CompuBox stats aren’t official. Still, these numbers give you an idea of how horribly one of the world’s top fighters performed. … Bonus stat: Prograis landed 4 of 371 jabs (1.1%). Why bother throwing it? … Sam Goodman (15-0, 7 KOs) turned in a breakthrough performance on the Tszyu-Ocampo card, defeating fellow 122-pound contender Ra’eese Aleem (20-1, 12 KOs) by a split decision (117-111, 116-112 and 112-116). I had it 115-113 for Goodman. Aleem got off to a strong start but a determined, durable Goodman outworked him in the second half of the fight to pull away. The Aussie will be a handful for whomever he faces going forward. … Welterweight contender Shakhram Giyasov (14-0, 9 KOs) showed his class on the Prograis-Zorrilla card, dominating Harold Calderon (27-1, 18 KOs) en route to winning a one-sided decision in a 12-round bout. Giyasov won a silver medal for his native Uzbekistan in the 2016 Olympics. …

News item: Golden Boy Promotions has sued 140-pound contender Ryan Garcia to ensure that he honors the remainder of his contract with the promotional firm. Garcia’s representatives say the move was retaliation after the fighter requested mediation over what his team believes were contract breeches on the part of Golden Boy. What a mess. It’s not difficult to imagine Garcia sitting out the remainder of his contract after losing faith in his longtime promoter, which would be a shame given Garcia’s talent. … Badou Jack, a 200-pound titleholder, reportedly rejected an offer to face 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez. Jack said Alvarez wanted a 180-pound catch weight AND a rehydration clause, which he wouldn’t accept. I don’t blame him. Enough with the rehydration clauses, which place the larger fighter at too much of a disadvantage and could cause health issues. I understand that the bigger draw – Alvarez, in this case – has the right to use his leverage but it’s also important to have a level playing field. If you’re worried about your opponent’s size, face men in your weight class. Here’s an idea: Fight David Benavidez.

[lawrence-related id=37848,37841,37827,37817,37814,37795]

Golden Boy sues Ryan Garcia, attorney to ensure he honors contract with promotional firm

Golden Boy has sued Ryan Garcia to ensure the popular fighter honors the remainder of his contract with the promotional firm.

Editor’s note: This article was updated with a statement from Ryan Garcia’s litigation counsel.

***

Golden Boy Promotions has sued Ryan Garcia and his attorney in United States District Court, District of Nevada to compel the popular fighter to honor his contract with the promotional company, according to a court document obtained by Boxing Junkie.

Garcia signed a five-year deal in the fall of 2019. However, Golden Boy said in the lawsuit that Garcia contends the contract is “void and unenforceable.”

Golden Boy accuses Garcia’s attorney, Lupe Valencia, of “driving a wedge” between his client and the company and leading him away from his obligations.

“Unfortunately, Garcia’s advisors have apparently convinced him that he does not need Golden Boy anymore,” the suit states. “One of those advisors, Valencia, has, for the last year or more, directly interfered with Golden Boy’s ability to communicate with Garcia and to negotiate the best deals and fights for Garcia. In fact, Valencia, in direct violation of Golden Boy’s
Agreement with Garcia, has engaged in negotiations with other promoters and boxers for Garcia’s fights. Valencia has done so despite explicitly knowing of the Agreement and its terms and has orchestrated an effort to drive a wedge between Garcia and Golden Boy.”

Golden Boy released a statement Friday in regard to the lawsuit: “Golden Boy has been proud to have worked with Ryan Garcia for the last several years and to help catapult him to the kind of stardom that led to the biggest boxing Pay Per View event in years just two months ago. With this filing, we are seeking to ensure that Ryan and his team will honor the remainder of his contract, a contract that Ryan himself called ‘one of the most lucrative boxing deals for a prospect in the history of the sport.’ Since then, Ryan has moved on to becoming a legitimate contender, and we will continue to present Ryan with the best possible opponents that can eventually lead the way to a world championship and a historic legacy.”

Garcia’s litigation counsel, James “Bo” Pearl, said in the formal statement that the lawsuit is retaliation to Garcia’s request for mediation.

The statement reads: “Golden Boy is obligated to promote and enhance Ryan Garcia, not malign him on Twitter and file a public, baseless lawsuit against him.  Ironically, the lawsuit itself constitutes a breach of the very agreement Golden Boy is seeking to enforce.  It is obvious retaliation to a written request by Ryan last week to mediate multiple breaches of contract by Golden Boy.   Rather than address these serious issues in mediation (as is required under the contract), Golden Boy rushed to court to sue its fighter.  To be sure, we will respond to this gamesmanship and fully enforce all of Ryan’s contractual rights against Golden Boy as well as his rights under state and federal law.”

On-and-off acrimony between the 140-pound contender and his promotional company reached a crescendo after his knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in a 136-pound bout on April 22.

Golden Boy executives Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins failed to show up at the post-fight news conference, as did trainer Joe Goossen.

Garcia parted ways with Goossen and made other changes in his camp shortly after the fight but he has not made an announcement about his future with Golden Boy.

However, a war of nasty words between Garcia and De La Hoya, the founder of Golden Boy, on Twitter a few weeks ago made it clear that the relationship is on the rocks.

Garcia questioned the loyalty of De La Hoya and his team, to which the Hall of Fame fighter-turned-promoter responded: “Wtf @RyanGarcia it’s been almost two months and youre still crying about the post presser? The blame for your loss is on YOU and your “advisor” Lupe. He is the only one who pushed you to accept that INSANE rehydration clause and THAT is the reason you lost. Man up. Own that.”

Garcia responded to that tweet: “Okay buddy, you got it all figured out. Tired of you disrespecting my whole career and you think non[e] of it matters. Loyalty and common sense is lost in your head. Stop treating people that way and think that they will just accept it.”

Then came the lawsuit, which Golden Boy claims was unavoidable given the circumstances.

“Golden Boy was forced to file this action to protect and enforce its interests under the Agreement so that it can continue to make the best fights for Garcia and his fans and to deter Valencia and others from interfering with Golden Boy’s rights,” the suit states.

The relationship between Garcia and Golden Boy had soured by 2019. However, the contract extension seemed to resolve their differences.

Garcia, 21 at the time, couldn’t have been more pleased with the deal.

“Actions speak louder than words,” he said, according to ESPN. “I’m here today to show everybody that I consider Golden Boy my family and that we’re going to be in this together as I fulfill my dreams. Just like I have all the capabilities to become a big star, Golden Boy has all the tools to get me there. But I just want to tell all of our fans: Enjoy the ride!”

Davis knocked out Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) with a body shot in Round 7 of their fight, which generated 1.2 million pay-per-view buys in the United States. Garcia moved down from 140 to 136 and accepted a rehydration clause to make the fight, which some believe was unwise.

Garcia is now expected to campaign at 140. He’s ranked in the Top 10 by all four major sanctioning bodies.

[lawrence-related id=37060,36998,36989,36985]

Golden Boy sues Ryan Garcia, attorney to ensure he honors contract with promotional firm

Golden Boy has sued Ryan Garcia to ensure the popular fighter honors the remainder of his contract with the promotional firm.

Editor’s note: This article was updated with a statement from Ryan Garcia’s litigation counsel.

***

Golden Boy Promotions has sued Ryan Garcia and his attorney in United States District Court, District of Nevada to compel the popular fighter to honor his contract with the promotional company, according to a court document obtained by Boxing Junkie.

Garcia signed a five-year deal in the fall of 2019. However, Golden Boy said in the lawsuit that Garcia contends the contract is “void and unenforceable.”

Golden Boy accuses Garcia’s attorney, Lupe Valencia, of “driving a wedge” between his client and the company and leading him away from his obligations.

“Unfortunately, Garcia’s advisors have apparently convinced him that he does not need Golden Boy anymore,” the suit states. “One of those advisors, Valencia, has, for the last year or more, directly interfered with Golden Boy’s ability to communicate with Garcia and to negotiate the best deals and fights for Garcia. In fact, Valencia, in direct violation of Golden Boy’s
Agreement with Garcia, has engaged in negotiations with other promoters and boxers for Garcia’s fights. Valencia has done so despite explicitly knowing of the Agreement and its terms and has orchestrated an effort to drive a wedge between Garcia and Golden Boy.”

Golden Boy released a statement Friday in regard to the lawsuit: “Golden Boy has been proud to have worked with Ryan Garcia for the last several years and to help catapult him to the kind of stardom that led to the biggest boxing Pay Per View event in years just two months ago. With this filing, we are seeking to ensure that Ryan and his team will honor the remainder of his contract, a contract that Ryan himself called ‘one of the most lucrative boxing deals for a prospect in the history of the sport.’ Since then, Ryan has moved on to becoming a legitimate contender, and we will continue to present Ryan with the best possible opponents that can eventually lead the way to a world championship and a historic legacy.”

Garcia’s litigation counsel, James “Bo” Pearl, said in the formal statement that the lawsuit is retaliation to Garcia’s request for mediation.

The statement reads: “Golden Boy is obligated to promote and enhance Ryan Garcia, not malign him on Twitter and file a public, baseless lawsuit against him.  Ironically, the lawsuit itself constitutes a breach of the very agreement Golden Boy is seeking to enforce.  It is obvious retaliation to a written request by Ryan last week to mediate multiple breaches of contract by Golden Boy.   Rather than address these serious issues in mediation (as is required under the contract), Golden Boy rushed to court to sue its fighter.  To be sure, we will respond to this gamesmanship and fully enforce all of Ryan’s contractual rights against Golden Boy as well as his rights under state and federal law.”

On-and-off acrimony between the 140-pound contender and his promotional company reached a crescendo after his knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in a 136-pound bout on April 22.

Golden Boy executives Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins failed to show up at the post-fight news conference, as did trainer Joe Goossen.

Garcia parted ways with Goossen and made other changes in his camp shortly after the fight but he has not made an announcement about his future with Golden Boy.

However, a war of nasty words between Garcia and De La Hoya, the founder of Golden Boy, on Twitter a few weeks ago made it clear that the relationship is on the rocks.

Garcia questioned the loyalty of De La Hoya and his team, to which the Hall of Fame fighter-turned-promoter responded: “Wtf @RyanGarcia it’s been almost two months and youre still crying about the post presser? The blame for your loss is on YOU and your “advisor” Lupe. He is the only one who pushed you to accept that INSANE rehydration clause and THAT is the reason you lost. Man up. Own that.”

Garcia responded to that tweet: “Okay buddy, you got it all figured out. Tired of you disrespecting my whole career and you think non[e] of it matters. Loyalty and common sense is lost in your head. Stop treating people that way and think that they will just accept it.”

Then came the lawsuit, which Golden Boy claims was unavoidable given the circumstances.

“Golden Boy was forced to file this action to protect and enforce its interests under the Agreement so that it can continue to make the best fights for Garcia and his fans and to deter Valencia and others from interfering with Golden Boy’s rights,” the suit states.

The relationship between Garcia and Golden Boy had soured by 2019. However, the contract extension seemed to resolve their differences.

Garcia, 21 at the time, couldn’t have been more pleased with the deal.

“Actions speak louder than words,” he said, according to ESPN. “I’m here today to show everybody that I consider Golden Boy my family and that we’re going to be in this together as I fulfill my dreams. Just like I have all the capabilities to become a big star, Golden Boy has all the tools to get me there. But I just want to tell all of our fans: Enjoy the ride!”

Davis knocked out Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) with a body shot in Round 7 of their fight, which generated 1.2 million pay-per-view buys in the United States. Garcia moved down from 140 to 136 and accepted a rehydration clause to make the fight, which some believe was unwise.

Garcia is now expected to campaign at 140. He’s ranked in the Top 10 by all four major sanctioning bodies.

[lawrence-related id=37060,36998,36989,36985]

Jon Jones advisor Richard Schaefer offers insight into how he’ll deal with Dana White

Jon Jones advisor Richard Schaefer offered insight into how he’ll deal with Dana White and the UFC.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

According to Richard Schaefer, he was recently introduced to Jon Jones through a mutual friend. Schaefer already knew plenty about the former UFC light heavyweight champion and all of his accomplishments inside the octagon. This meeting, which lasted “for a few hours,” was about getting to know Jones on a personal level and how he could be of assistance.

“When I sat down with him, I was really impressed how articulate he was, how well he came across, just his thought process and everything,” Schaefer said Thursday in an “MMA Today” interview on Sirius XM. “I really felt this is the kind of guy I’d like to work with.”

And so it is that Schaefer, the former longtime CEO of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, was retained by Jones as his new advisor. The announcement was made Wednesday, one month after Jones parted ways with First Round Management, which represented him for 11 years.

It’s a significant move for Jones as he’s been embroiled in a contract dispute with the UFC – specifically on the topic of moving up a division for a superfight with heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Schaefer said he’s agreed to a “multifight deal” with Jones, but nothing is bigger right now than the job in front of him.

“There’s this big fight out there, the fight against Francis Ngannou,” Schaefer said. “That’s the fight everybody wants to see. That’s what fight fans want to see – not just UFC fans, fight fans period – and that’s really my task, is to see if there’s a way to get that fight done and represent Jon Jones the legend against UFC, to see if we can get it done.”

Schaefer, a Swiss national with a banking background, ran Golden Boy from 2000-2015 before founding his own boxing promotional company, Ringstar Sports, in 2016. He’s helped make some of boxing’s biggest fights of the past 20 years, working with De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez, among others.

In addition to Schaefer’s proven track record, it should help Jones that UFC president Dana White already gave a thumbs up on Jones teaming up with him.

“Dana and me have a great relationship. We respect each other. We’ve known each other for a long time. And I think you saw that yesterday with his comments, as well,” Schaefer said. “I respect him; he respects me. I know the pay-per-view business as good as probably anyone; so does he. It’s really a matter of finding some common ground, so we will be meeting soon to see if we can structure a deal that everybody can live with.”

For the past year, Jones’ frustration in dealing with the UFC himself has been clear as he’s publicly feuded with White about being underpaid. The tension ramped up after Ngannou claimed the UFC heavyweight from Stipe Miocic on March 27.

Jones, who hasn’t fought since a February 2020 win over Dominick Reyes, has been critical of White on social media ever since, with the UFC boss firing back in various interviews. That type of public negotiating is one thing Schaefer said he will not partake in.

“When you start negotiating fights in the media, and people are starting to dig in their heels and say, ‘Well, this is too much,’ and people who maybe even aren’t supposed to talk are throwing out crazy numbers, which didn’t even come from the athlete himself, and people are getting pissed off at each other, that’s not the way you get deals done,” Schaefer said. “These (big fights) don’t get done through the media and Twitter and Instagram and things like that. They get done by professionals sitting down at the table talking about the different revenue streams and negotiating a deal. … That’s really the problem, because otherwise things get out of hand.”

Schaefer said he already has a date set to meet with White and the UFC brass to discuss Jones’ contract – but he wouldn’t disclose when.

“That’s exactly what I just said. I’m gonna be meeting with them, we’re gonna sit down, and you’re not gonna hear from me a peep until such time when that peep is gonna be, ‘Guys, we have a fight,’” Schaefer said. “Anything in between, like tweeting or messaging or talking, is just counterproductive, and I’m not gonna get caught up in that. That is exactly why I delivered the biggest fights there were in the last 15, 20 years in boxing.”

Schaefer is up against the clock as White has indicated the UFC will move on with a heavyweight title rematch between Ngannou and Derrick Lewis. The date for that fight could be August 7, though nothing is official.

What makes Schaefer think he can be the one to ensure cooler heads prevail and Jones receives a deal to his liking to give fans the Ngannou-Jones superfight fans have been clamoring for?

“I think I understand the pay-per-view business better than most. I know the different revenue streams probably better than most. Because, again, I have done millions and millions and millions of pay-per-view buys, promoted some of the biggest pay-per-view events of all time, so I know what the different revenue sources are,” Schaefer said. “It’s a matter of sitting down and seeing if we can structure a deal, which everybody can live with. I don’t know the MMA managers. I don’t know who the other MMA managers are. And I frankly don’t care. I have one task, which is to deliver to Jon that fight, and I’m gonna do whatever I can to do that based on my experience, based on my great relationship with Dana, and see if we can turn out what I think can be the biggest UFC pay-per-view event of all time.”

He continued, “We’re gonna find out in the coming days and see what is done and what is not done. My philosophy going back into my boxing days: If you do have a mega-event (in front of you), I always try to get that mega-event done. Because if you allow for interim fights or other fights, you never know. A guy might lose, a guy might get injured. There just are so many question marks out there. My philosophy was always to deliver the biggest fights when they can get made.”

Jon Jones advisor Richard Schaefer offers insight into how he’ll deal with Dana White

Jon Jones advisor Richard Schaefer offered insight into how he’ll deal with Dana White and the UFC.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

According to Richard Schaefer, he was recently introduced to Jon Jones through a mutual friend. Schaefer already knew plenty about the former UFC light heavyweight champion and all of his accomplishments inside the octagon. This meeting, which lasted “for a few hours,” was about getting to know Jones on a personal level and how he could be of assistance.

“When I sat down with him, I was really impressed how articulate he was, how well he came across, just his thought process and everything,” Schaefer said Thursday in an “MMA Today” interview on Sirius XM. “I really felt this is the kind of guy I’d like to work with.”

And so it is that Schaefer, the former longtime CEO of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, was retained by Jones as his new advisor. The announcement was made Wednesday, one month after Jones parted ways with First Round Management, which represented him for 11 years.

It’s a significant move for Jones as he’s been embroiled in a contract dispute with the UFC – specifically on the topic of moving up a division for a superfight with heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Schaefer said he’s agreed to a “multifight deal” with Jones, but nothing is bigger right now than the job in front of him.

“There’s this big fight out there, the fight against Francis Ngannou,” Schaefer said. “That’s the fight everybody wants to see. That’s what fight fans want to see – not just UFC fans, fight fans period – and that’s really my task, is to see if there’s a way to get that fight done and represent Jon Jones the legend against UFC, to see if we can get it done.”

Schaefer, a Swiss national with a banking background, ran Golden Boy from 2000-2015 before founding his own boxing promotional company, Ringstar Sports, in 2016. He’s helped make some of boxing’s biggest fights of the past 20 years, working with De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez, among others.

In addition to Schaefer’s proven track record, it should help Jones that UFC president Dana White already gave a thumbs up on Jones teaming up with him.

“Dana and me have a great relationship. We respect each other. We’ve known each other for a long time. And I think you saw that yesterday with his comments, as well,” Schaefer said. “I respect him; he respects me. I know the pay-per-view business as good as probably anyone; so does he. It’s really a matter of finding some common ground, so we will be meeting soon to see if we can structure a deal that everybody can live with.”

For the past year, Jones’ frustration in dealing with the UFC himself has been clear as he’s publicly feuded with White about being underpaid. The tension ramped up after Ngannou claimed the UFC heavyweight from Stipe Miocic on March 27.

Jones, who hasn’t fought since a February 2020 win over Dominick Reyes, has been critical of White on social media ever since, with the UFC boss firing back in various interviews. That type of public negotiating is one thing Schaefer said he will not partake in.

“When you start negotiating fights in the media, and people are starting to dig in their heels and say, ‘Well, this is too much,’ and people who maybe even aren’t supposed to talk are throwing out crazy numbers, which didn’t even come from the athlete himself, and people are getting pissed off at each other, that’s not the way you get deals done,” Schaefer said. “These (big fights) don’t get done through the media and Twitter and Instagram and things like that. They get done by professionals sitting down at the table talking about the different revenue streams and negotiating a deal. … That’s really the problem, because otherwise things get out of hand.”

Schaefer said he already has a date set to meet with White and the UFC brass to discuss Jones’ contract – but he wouldn’t disclose when.

“That’s exactly what I just said. I’m gonna be meeting with them, we’re gonna sit down, and you’re not gonna hear from me a peep until such time when that peep is gonna be, ‘Guys, we have a fight,’” Schaefer said. “Anything in between, like tweeting or messaging or talking, is just counterproductive, and I’m not gonna get caught up in that. That is exactly why I delivered the biggest fights there were in the last 15, 20 years in boxing.”

Schaefer is up against the clock as White has indicated the UFC will move on with a heavyweight title rematch between Ngannou and Derrick Lewis. The date for that fight could be August 7, though nothing is official.

What makes Schaefer think he can be the one to ensure cooler heads prevail and Jones receives a deal to his liking to give fans the Ngannou-Jones superfight fans have been clamoring for?

“I think I understand the pay-per-view business better than most. I know the different revenue streams probably better than most. Because, again, I have done millions and millions and millions of pay-per-view buys, promoted some of the biggest pay-per-view events of all time, so I know what the different revenue sources are,” Schaefer said. “It’s a matter of sitting down and seeing if we can structure a deal, which everybody can live with. I don’t know the MMA managers. I don’t know who the other MMA managers are. And I frankly don’t care. I have one task, which is to deliver to Jon that fight, and I’m gonna do whatever I can to do that based on my experience, based on my great relationship with Dana, and see if we can turn out what I think can be the biggest UFC pay-per-view event of all time.”

He continued, “We’re gonna find out in the coming days and see what is done and what is not done. My philosophy going back into my boxing days: If you do have a mega-event (in front of you), I always try to get that mega-event done. Because if you allow for interim fights or other fights, you never know. A guy might lose, a guy might get injured. There just are so many question marks out there. My philosophy was always to deliver the biggest fights when they can get made.”

Gilberto Ramirez eyeing Floyd Mayweather’s 50-0 mark, 175-pound title

Gilberto Ramirez has an eye on Floyd Mayweather’s 50-0 mark and winning a 175-pound title.

Gilberto Ramirez has Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his sights.

No, the light heavyweight contender has no designs on fighting the much smaller Hall of Famer. It’s Mayweather’s final record – 50-0 – that he has an eye on. Ramirez is 41-0, which means he could catch Mayweather in three or four years if he stays active.

“That’s only 10 fights. I want to make history,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez has been anything but active the past few years, in part because of promotional issues. The 29-year-old Mexican has fought only once since December 2018, a 10th-round knockout of Alfonso Lopez in December.

That’s one reason he signed a three-fight deal with Golden Boy Promotions, which he believes can get him the fights he wants. And he wants to face the best, he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLSK9zOETeM

Ramirez doesn’t plan to defeat a parade of pushovers in an effort to remain undefeated. His goal is to fight the most-feared 175-pounders immediately, including titleholders Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

He’s particularly interested in a fight with Bivol, who he believes is the most skillful light heavyweight.

Ramirez said he’d like to fight again in June, a time frame that probably means he would have to face a second-tier opponent. However, after that, he wants to fight for a major belt.

“I first want to be a pound-for-pound fighter,” the former 168-pound titleholder. “And I want to be a champion again. I think Golden Boy can help get me on that path. … I want to fight for a title right away. That’s what I want.

“Sometimes promoters make things too complicated. We as fighters want to fight the best.”

Another prospective opponent for Ramirez: countryman Canelo Alvarez.

The pound-for-pounder reportedly has said he’s not comfortable with the idea of fighting fellow Mexicans going forward but Ramirez doesn’t buy that line of thinking.

“We as fighters don’t have to feel comfortable fighting someone,” he said. “If you feel that way, then why did you choose this career? I want to fight anyone. That’s what I do.”

[lawrence-related id=18103,16645]

Gilberto Ramirez eyeing Floyd Mayweather’s 50-0 mark, 175-pound title

Gilberto Ramirez has an eye on Floyd Mayweather’s 50-0 mark and winning a 175-pound title.

Gilberto Ramirez has Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his sights.

No, the light heavyweight contender has no designs on fighting the much smaller Hall of Famer. It’s Mayweather’s final record – 50-0 – that he has an eye on. Ramirez is 41-0, which means he could catch Mayweather in three or four years if he stays active.

“That’s only 10 fights. I want to make history,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez has been anything but active the past few years, in part because of promotional issues. The 29-year-old Mexican has fought only once since December 2018, a 10th-round knockout of Alfonso Lopez in December.

That’s one reason he signed a three-fight deal with Golden Boy Promotions, which he believes can get him the fights he wants. And he wants to face the best, he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLSK9zOETeM

Ramirez doesn’t plan to defeat a parade of pushovers in an effort to remain undefeated. His goal is to fight the most-feared 175-pounders immediately, including titleholders Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

He’s particularly interested in a fight with Bivol, who he believes is the most skillful light heavyweight.

Ramirez said he’d like to fight again in June, a time frame that probably means he would have to face a second-tier opponent. However, after that, he wants to fight for a major belt.

“I first want to be a pound-for-pound fighter,” the former 168-pound titleholder. “And I want to be a champion again. I think Golden Boy can help get me on that path. … I want to fight for a title right away. That’s what I want.

“Sometimes promoters make things too complicated. We as fighters want to fight the best.”

Another prospective opponent for Ramirez: countryman Canelo Alvarez.

The pound-for-pounder reportedly has said he’s not comfortable with the idea of fighting fellow Mexicans going forward but Ramirez doesn’t buy that line of thinking.

“We as fighters don’t have to feel comfortable fighting someone,” he said. “If you feel that way, then why did you choose this career? I want to fight anyone. That’s what I do.”

[lawrence-related id=18103,16645]