26.09.07 – By Matthew Hurley: As Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions continues it’s stranglehold on the fight game it was a bit disconcerting to hear the news that Oscar and said company had purchased The Ring Magazine. This is in no way an attempt to question Golden Boy’s intentions or credibility but promotional firms, even in their infancy, learn from the sharks they swim with.
Make no mistake about it, Oscar and his partners, despite a wary allegiance with former enemy Bob Arum want nothing more than to be the top dog when it comes to promotional firms. As was often repeated in the Godfather, “it’s not personal, it’s just business.” The problem with Oscar’s securing the Ring Magazine, one of the last bastions of integrity in the sport, is that it will leave its readers wondering if any pressure is being put upon writers and editors as to content.
The Ring has always been a law unto itself, never catering to the myriad organizations that have helped cripple the sport. Indeed The Ring belt is held in such high esteem that fighters proudly adorn their waists with it when the magazine deems them the true champion. The Ring’s ratings are also fair and balanced. It’s been a safe haven for true boxing fans for decades.
Editor Nigel Collins recently addressed the sale of the magazine in an article posted on the Ring’s website. In an attempt to allay fears of coercion he said, “I both understand and respect those who are concerned about the current situation and its potential for a conflict of interest. Having an active fighter, who is also one of the sports foremost promoters, own the magazine could conceivably mean the end of the autonomous impartiality that has made The Ring the Bible of Boxing. It’s a natural fear, but one that I firmly believe will prove unfounded.”
That remains to be seen, but Mr. Collins’ integrity should never be called into question. He is an honorable man as are the senior writers on the staff. But the magazine will be under heavy scrutiny in the months to come. Oscar De La Hoya himself has always maintained a rather plastic façade when it comes to public relations but after years in the game there can be little doubt that he truly loves the sport and he has long admitted his fondness for The Ring Magazine. To him, he maintains, it’s an honor to become an owner of such an institution. For those of us who choose to believe that as a business man Oscar will simply let the editorial staff continue their unfiltered work we do so with fingers crossed. Ring Magazine is too important to boxing to be corrupted in any shape or form.
De La Hoya issued a statement after the purchase and he was adamant about his desires. “The magazine will be held in an editorial trust where it will be operating totally independent of any influence from me or others from Golden Boy companies as it relates to the editorial direction or content. We won’t attempt to influence the editorial content. It we did that, it would achieve exactly the opposite of what we want.”
Hopefully De La Hoya’s words will live up to his nickname and Ring Magazine will remain “Gold.”