Golden Boy Promotions files $300 million lawsuit against Al Haymon

05/06/2015 Golden Boy Promotions

Golden Boy Promotions today filed a $300 million lawsuit against Al Haymon and his related companies and Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and its related hedge funds, alleging their repeated violation of the antitrust laws and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. The case was filed in Federal Court in Los Angeles.

Since the moment Al Haymon launched Premier Boxing Champions, he has repeatedly and brazenly broken the letter and spirit of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act that is meant to protect fighters from exploitation. As part of an anti-competitive conspiracy that includes financial backers from Waddell & Reed, Haymon has “entered into agreements to restrain trade in a substantial portion of the market for promotion of Championship-Caliber Boxers,” the bombshell new lawsuit claims.

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Can Matthew Macklin Bounce Back?

05/06/2015 Olly Campbell

This Saturday, Birmingham middleweight Matthew Macklin (31-6, 20ko) attempts to steer his career back towards world title glory in a confidence building fight against Ferenc Albert (12-7, 7ko) on the Matchroom sport show from the city’s Barclaycard Arena.

Macklin – just days shy of his 33rd birthday – is coming off a devastating knockout loss to Argentine contender Jorge Sebastian Heiland (25-4-2) last November that left many in the trade questioning whether the Brum fighter still has the goods to mix it at top level.

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24/7 Canelo vs. Kirkland Full Episode (HBO Boxing); Fighters Arrive In Houston

09/15/201605/06/2015 HBO Boxing

Cinco De Mayo unleashed “Canelomania” as Canelo Alvarez and James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland arrived in Houston on the celebrated holiday to kickoff fight week for their highly anticipated clash on May 9 at Minute Maid Park and live on HBO World Championship Boxing ®. The fighters greeted Houston fans at a special Cinco De Mayo Fan Fiesta hosted by Corona and HEB and then sped off to attend the ceremonial coin toss for the Houston Dynamo vs. San Jose Earthquakes game along with Oscar De La Hoya, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions.

Tickets for May 9 Canelo vs. Kirkland are priced at $350, $150, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable fees and service charges, are available for purchase at Astros.com/boxing, the Minute Maid Park Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com. There is a 19-ticket limit per household.

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Only In America! Pacquiao Sued For Injury

05/06/2015 Olly Campbell

I’m a Brit so please forgive me if you DON’T find the American legal system slightly farcical at times, yet the BBC is reporting that two “people” have filed a lawsuit against Manny Pacquiao in Nevada for “defrauding ticket buyers, television viewers and gamblers” after the fight on Saturday.

The litigation culture in America is something foreign in the extreme to us and all this mess has stemmed from Pacquiao’s post fight insistence that a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder was to blame for his underwhelming, yet spirited performance that resulted in a UD defeat.

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Ricky Burns – Last Shot At Glory Against Omar Figueroa

05/05/201505/05/2015 Olly Campbell

This weekend Scotland’s Ricky Burns (37-4-1, 11ko) will enter the proverbial “Lion’s Den” when he attempts the monumental task of dethroning unbeaten former WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa Jr (24-0-1, 18ko) as part of Al Haymon’s PBC brand – in his opponents home state of Texas.

Despite insisting he ultimately wants to remain at lightweight, the Coatbridge fighter is moving to 140lb to fight the Mexican-American who stopped Daniel Estrada in his last fight some 9 months ago.

It’s certainly going to be a tough, tough ask for the former world champion who, since losing his title on home soil to Terence Crawford in March last year, has faced questions over whether he still has what it takes to operate at top level.

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Eddie Hearn ” Mayweather Won’t Fight Kell Brook Or Amir Khan”

05/05/201505/05/2015 Olly Campbell

Britain’s biggest promoter Eddie Hearn, who looks after IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook, has poured scorn on suggestions that Floyd Mayweather will face his fighter for the final fight of his Showtime contract in September.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Hearn said of the suggestion;

“Kell Brook is not a big enough fight for Floyd Mayweather. Floyd doesn’t want to fight young lions and that includes Brook and Amir Khan.”

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Canelo v Kirkland – “Will Kirkland Turn Up?”

05/05/201505/05/2015 Olly Campbell

With the debate still raging at whether or not Saturday’s fight will have attracted new fans to the sport, the dedicated hardcore are turning their attentions to the weekend and the return of Mexican star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (44-1-1, 31ko) who squares off against big punching James Kirkland (32-1, 28ko) in Houston, TX in a fight that – on paper at least – should be far more entertaining than the May-Pac affair.

At least that is what Golden Boy chief Oscar De La Hoya is promising, previously telling fighthype.com

“This will be a dangerous and fun fight to watch. You’re guaranteed to see fireworks, guaranteed to see a knock-out. One punch can change it all.”

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Pacquiao and Top Rank make statement about Manny’s shoulder injury

05/05/201505/04/2015 Top Rank

During training, Manny Pacquiao suffered a right shoulder injury. Manny went to see world-class doctors, partners in the prestigious Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, who performed tests and, in consultation with Manny, his promoter, and his advisors, concluded that with short rest, treatments, and close monitoring, Manny could train and, on May 2, step into the ring against Floyd Mayweather.

Manny’s advisors notified the United States Anti-Doping Agency (“USADA”) of the shoulder injury and the treatments being proposed by the doctors during training and on fight night. USADA spoke to Manny’s doctors twice, investigated, and confirmed in writing that the proposed treatments, if used, were completely allowed. The medication approved for fight night was a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (Toradol).

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Thurman Intends To Announce Himself

05/05/201505/04/2015 Olly Campbell

After Saturday night in Vegas and the subsequent news that Floyd Mayweather intends on vacating ALL his 3/4 share of the world welterweight world titles, it leaves the way open for a few of the “next-generation” at 147 to stamp their name firmly onto the elite world boxing scene should he do so.

WBA (reg) champion Keith Thurman is one name ready to claim the full version of the title he owns as well as any others along the way.

Tonight the Dan Birmingham trained fighter posted on his twitter;

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Amir Khan – “I Believe I Have Mayweather’s Number”

05/05/201505/04/2015 Olly Campbell

After Floyd Mayweather’s career defining fight on Saturday, it would seem that the tears of millions of Filipino’s were not yet dry when one man ringside – former 2x 140lb champion Amir Khan – spoke to BBC radio 5live to say he is the man in prime position to face BOTH Mayweather and Pacquiao next.

Khan, who faces light-punching American Chris Algieri on May 29th as part of the PBC broadcast from the Barclays Centre, New York, said;

“I’m in a position where I could fight both, but I want Mayweather.”

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