14.02.07 – Dan Goossen, President of Goossen Tutor Promotions, announced today that the company has filed a lawsuit in Puerto Rico against Bob Arum’s Top Rank, Inc. for tortiously interfering with Goossen Tutor’s promotion of WBO Welterweight Champion Antonio Margarito’s mandatory title defense against #1 contender Paul ‘The Punisher’ Williams. Goossen Tutor earned the right to promote the Championship Bout by winning the purse bid held in Puerto Rico on January 30, 2007..
As the successful bidder and upon receiving the signed bout agreement from Margarito, Goossen Tutor requested that the WBO sanction the Margarito v Williams Championship Bout. Stating litigation threats by Top Rank against the WBO, the WBO postponed the sanction pending resolution of the legal controversies. Accordingly, Goossen Tutor included the WBO as a Defendant demanding the sanctioning of the Championship Bout consistent with the rules and regulations of the WBO.
The lawsuit filed by Goossen Tutor is likewise requesting an injunction, which will enable the company to proceed with the staging of the Margarito-Williams title bout as soon as Margarito is given medical clearance to return to the ring.
“Bob Arum is operating in a very disingenuous manner in failing to comply with the same WBO rules that he specifically requested be applied to this same WBO champion in December of last year,” Goossen explained. The Top Rank-WBO agreement enabled Margarito to defend his title against a lower-ranked Joshua Clottey instead of the WBO’s #1 Mandatory contender, Paul Williams, provided the winner next defended the title against Williams.”
“The representation made by Top Rank stated that Margarito would next defend against Williams, and now Arum is attempting to circumvent this agreement and the WBO rules by disregarding the very rules he has abided by for many years as a WBO licensed promoter,” Goossen continued.
“We cannot — and will not — stand for Top Rank’s blatant disregard of Williams’ rights in this case,” Goossen declared. “We abided by the WBO rules and stepped aside so Margarito could face Clottey. Then we outbid all eligible promoters for the right to promote the mandatory bout. Paul Williams has earned the right to fight for Margarito’s title, and Margarito signed for the bout confirming his belief the boxing public deserves to see this exciting and intriguing match-up between undoubtedly the two biggest and strongest welterweights in the world.
“We hope to have a swift and definitive decision in our favor so that we may proceed in promoting what shapes up to be one of the most compelling fights in this or any other year.”