It?s funny how some people, generally younger people tend to have a glamorized view of the restaurant industry. I?ve seen and heard many of them state that one day they?d like to run their own dining establishment with the freedom to offer whatever is they?d like to offer and entertain in methods they deem as entertaining.
A well-oiled establishment can surely make it seem as though running a restaurant is a walk in the park.
What?s that statement that?s stamped on your car?s side mirror? Objects in mirrors are closer than they appear?
Not everything in this world is as it appears to be whether it is opening up, establishing, and running a restaurant or in this case? delving into the world of match-making within the sweet science.
There are multiple heart attack and ulcer inducing instances and experiences behind virtually every restaurant today as well as every match-maker within the sport.
The general boxing public and media has the general perception that match-making is probably the easiest and most entertaining occupation within the sweet science. In general, the vision of a match-makers job commonly falls in line with that of a fan that merely picks and matches fighter ?A? against fighter ?B?.
Sure? and McDonalds is successful merely based on serving grease encrusted hamburgers.
Should a match-maker have the power of a higher being and was able to exude complete control over the fighter, their management, their trainer, their family, and whoever else is involved in the decision making process for a fighter team, match-making might not be such a difficult occupation. Unfortunately for virtually each and every match-maker out there today, this isn?t the case and they are usually relegated to having to deal with the multiple headaches of making intriguing bouts take place.
Here is BoxingConfidential?s interview with Vice President and Match-maker for Golden Boy Promotions, Eric Gomez:
BB: What?s going on Mr. Gomez? I think it?d be interesting for the public to get a closer look into what it is that you do as a match-maker for Golden Boy. First off, what exactly is a match-maker and what do they do?
EG: In the most straight-forward sense? match-making comes down to effectively being able to develop your stable of fighters. It?s about being able to help your fighter?s progress and reach their full potential while looking great in the process. I?m sure you know from what you?ve seen in boxing that it?s much more complicated than merely making fights happen. I feel that it?s one of the most important aspects of a boxing promotional company being that you can make or break your future with proper or improper match-making.
Sometimes a fight can look great on paper, let me think of an example? like when Oscar fought Trinidad. On paper it was about as good as you can get. Both guys were knocking guys out and it was marketed as the fight of the century. Unfortunately it just didn?t produce and turned into somewhat of a dance (chuckling) instead of a fight.
BB: (laughing) At least you?re being honest. I hear there are also a lot of ?issues? to deal with when it comes to making a match such as dealing with a fighter?s management, trainers, etc.
EG: There are so many personalities within boxing and that is what can make match-making so challenging. Some fighters prefer that you deal with them directly. In other situations you?re speaking with strictly the manager or trainer. In some cases you can get the okay from the fighter, their trainer, and their manager but then a fighter?s father might step in and shoot a proposed fight down. There?s a lot of persuasion that takes place in this position.
Sometimes you?ll have fighters that just get paranoid that you?re trying to put them in over their heads which can happen a lot more often than you think. It can get pretty stressful to say the least.
BB: What is one of the most ill preconceived notions by the public as it pertains to match-makers?
EG: I think that the public has a certain perception that match-making is this glamorous position where all you do is travel and meet famous boxing personalities while putting fights together. It just isn?t the case. I?m just like anybody else in this world with a wife, two kids, and trying to pay the bills. Don?t get me wrong, I?m not saying that I don?t enjoy what I do. I definitely do but it?s just not all fun and games as is the perception amongst the media and general public.
A lot of times you?ll have to convince a fighter and his team to take that next step up in competition to progress themselves and their careers. This isn?t as easy as it sounds.
BB: I can only imagine. So how long have you been doing match-making for?
EG: I?ve been in boxing for ten years and have been match-making for the last five years. Ten years ago I started to run Oscar?s youth center and amateur boxing program out of East Los Angeles. I think it was the perfect preparation for the position I?m currently in being that you see a lot of development with the kids and how they progress as fighters. We did everything from working with them on a daily basis to setting up shows for them to showcase their talents.
When I transitioned into match-making for Golden Boy, I had Don Chargin help teach me the ropes. Unfortunately? and I?m sure Don will tell you this, there?s no handbook to learn how to properly make matches. It?s something that you must learn through experience and you definitely need some luck at times.
BB: So basically you?ve been involved in boxing for ten years but have grown up watching the sport your whole life?
EG: Oh yeah. Obviously growing up with Oscar, I was and still am a huge boxing fan since I was a little kid.
BB: What is your favorite fight that you?ve created to date?
EG: Favorite fight? hmm that?s a tough one. There?s been so many over the past several years that I?ve been so proud to be involved with.
BB: How about a top three?
EG: Well? the first one that comes to mind was the bout between Jhonny Gonzalez and Izrael Vazquez. It took over a month of phone calls, persuasion, and almost a salesman-like effort to get it done. I knew that it would turn out to be an action packed fight and it lived up to the expectations.
Another that comes to mind is Javier Jauregui versus Juan Gomez. It was more for the revenge factor being that Gomez had taken out one of Don?s guys in Efren Hinojosa. We were able to make the Jauregui-Gomez fight for an IBF title eliminator in which Javier ended up stopping him in four. It was not only the outcome but all of the factors leading up to the fight that made it great for me.
The third fight that comes to mind is the Joan Guzman-Humberto Soto fight. That fight took a lot to make happen. I?d say months. Bruce Trampler (Top Rank) and I had been in discussions for quite some time and luckily we had the HBO Boxing After Dark date available. While a lot of people were touting Soto as being a Margarito-type character that nobody wanted to fight, I knew that Guzman would be able to beat him. With the help of Richard Schaefer and Bob Arum, the fight got made and Guzman got the victory.
BB: I think the storylines behind a lot of these fights are almost as interesting as the fights themselves. A lot of people aren?t privy to this type of information and I think maybe in the future it?d be interesting to expose it being that it?s part of the build-up to a fight. Next topic? outside of Pacquiao-De la Hoya, what is the most exciting fight to be made on paper right now regardless of what promotional firm they might be involved with?
EG: (No hesitation) Mosley-Margarito. I think Shane can beat him. I know a lot of people will say that Shane is getting up there in age but I think he still has it. He has a somewhat difficult fight against Mayorga this Saturday but he should definitely win. I think Mosley-Margarito is the fight for next year and I also believe that it?s a very doable fight to make.
BB: Well Eric, thanks a lot for your time. Don?t stress out and keep doing what you?re doing.
EG: Thanks John. Anytime. Oh and don?t forget about Escobedo-Salcido tomorrow night on Telefutura. It?ll be another great one this year!
There it is my friends.
No mud slinging.
No shit talking.
Just an interview with a Golden Boy executive outlining what it takes to keep this boxing powerhouse up and running.
If anybody offered me a match-making position within any promotional firm, I?d most definitely decline the offer. It?s a thankless job in which criticism will come in from all angles.
Move a guy too slow, you?re babysitting.
Move a guy too fast, you?re ruining him.
Move a guy just right? there?s no such thing according to the public or the media.
It?s crazy.
Perhaps boxing is filled with far too many critics and not enough supporters? who knows?
From my perception, match-making on such a high level is part artistry, part salesman, part babysitter, and part mental ward. Good luck Mr. Gomez, it?s not a job for the faint of heart?
