Money talks.
When the number is 2.4 million, you’ll get attention. When that 2.4 million is the
record-breaking number of pay-per-views buys for the most purchased event of all time, you’ll send fight promoters scurrying like an upset anthill.
Eight months after the semi-epic bout between pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. and fan favorite Oscar De La Hoya ended with Mayweather taking a split decision, Robert Morales of presstelegram.com writes about the possibility of a rematch. Promoter Bob Arum told the newspaper that he wasn’t able to set up a match between the De La Hoya and his client, Miguel Cotto, because the Golden Boy is scheduled to take on Mayweather again.
Arum, obviously disappointed in not being able to set up a blockbuster fight involving one of his own promotees, took a passive-aggressive route to justifying the rematch.
“I don’t think Oscar really wanted to fight Cotto,” Arum said. “I think he used a possible fight with Cotto to put leverage on Mayweather in their negotiations. I knew it wasn’t going to happen because the truth is, if Oscar fought Cotto, he’d be in for a serious beating.
“And with Mayweather, he just plays around. It’s not a real … nobody gets hurt.”
“Ouch,” you say? I concur. But wait, there’s more!
Richard Schafer, CEO of De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, seemed a tad confuzzled in his response, though he never denied that the negotiations with Mayweather were indeed taking place.
“Nothing is done,” Schaefer said. “I don’t know why Bob would say that, he’s not even involved in the negotiations.”
Arum was quick to insist that he understands the decision, from a business perspective.
“I didn’t mean to sound critical of Oscar because I really don’t blame him. After what he’s done in his long career, why fight a beast like Cotto?” said Cotto’s promoter. “I mean, it’s silly. It’s not like a guy that is campaigning like a real fighter. Oscar takes a fight here, a fight there. And it’s clear that a Mayweather fight is a much easier fight.”
As much as they may sting, there may be some truth to his words. De La Hoya only took one fight in both 2007 and 2006. He didn’t fight at all in 2005.
If the rematch that has De La Hoya fans drooling over actually materializes, it looks like it will take place near the beginning of May. So, all six of you that missed the first fight, mark your calendars.
Technorati Tags: Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., PBF, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto
Written by Moses Utomi - Visit Website
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