by James Slater – It has been reported by The South Florida Business Journal, amongst other publications, that Nicaragua’s Ricardo Mayorga has filed suit against promoter Don King; for not getting him any fights. Reportedly, Mayorga, now aged 35 and inactive since his closer than expected battle with Sugar Shane Mosley, has also filed suit against the legendary promoter over alleged violations of The Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, due to King’s stepson Carl being appointed as Mayorga’s manger (a conflict of interest)..
“Our client is being held in limbo,” Mayorga’s attorney Carlos Gonzalez said earlier this week. “He hasn’t boxed much lately because Don King hasn’t gotten him any matches. He’s wasting what would potentially be the most profitable years of his career.”
The suit claims Mayorga was promised three fights from June of 2008 to June of 2009 unless the Nicaraguan became a world champion. Mayorga was offered just one fight, against Alfredo Angulo ( a fight which Mayorga pulled out of – Mayorga said due to a rib injury, King said because of the fighter’s demand for more money).
If the complaint goes to trial it will likely be tough for Mayorga to win the damages he is seeking from King. In any case, isn’t it a bit much to say that Mayorga’s potentially most profitable years are being wasted? Okay, the former belt holder at welterweight and light-middleweight looked better than expected against Mosley back in September of last year, but are there any top names currently residing in either the 154 or the 160-pound weight class that “El Matador” would have a good shot at beating?
Still, if Mayorga has been stopped from making a living due to King, it’s hard not to feel for him. Supposing Mayorga does get himself back in shape and launches a ring return, who would he make an interesting opponent for?
At 35, Mayorga would possibly struggle to make light-middleweight, but who knows for sure. Up at 164-pounds, back in November of 2007, Mayorga defeated Fernando Vargas – maybe the former champ would have a shot at winning another catch-weight fight between a pair of past their best names.
If he can make 154, though, here are a couple of fights that could make sense for Mayorga, or at least for his bank balance.
The word is, if his hearing goes okay, unbeaten 154-pound hope James Kirkland could be fighting again next spring. Would a first fight back against the always dangerous Nicaraguan prove attractive to the fans and to the two fighters? How about the inactive Sergio Mora? Would he like to take what would be a reasonably high profile fight with Mayorga?
Up at 160, Mayorga could always try and lure Winky Wright, returning as he is from his loss to Paul Williams, into taking a fight with him. The attraction for Wright would be the chance to look better against Mayorga than old foe Shane Mosley did. Or how about hot prospect Daniel Jacobs stepping up in class a touch and taking on what would be his most well known opponent in Mayorga?
There are, I suppose, a number of at least vaguely possible options for the always colourful Mayorga; the problem may be who he is allowed to fight. Let’s see how he gets on in his fight against King.