AN executive of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) assured it will be bright and breezy the next couple of months and the years to come for their outfit despite the economic meltdown plaguing the United States.
GBP vice president Eric Gomez told the BusinessMirror that with big names fighting under their wings, as well as major networks in and out of the United States working with them, they are upbeat the crisis will not be a major concern for their outfit.
?As long as we have the support of those big networks, I think we?re gonna be good. We?re gonna continue since we have the support of HBO and some other networks whom we?ve worked very well, like ABS-CBN in the Philippines and Telefutura out here in the States,? said Gomez in an overseas telephone interview.
Gomez said they have noticed that despite the global economic crunch, a lot of people divert their worries even for a short time by watching sports shows like boxing.
?What we?ve noticed is that even during times of crisis, like what?s happening right now throughout the world, people turn to sports or entertainment for some sort of relief,? said Gomez.
One good sign that boxing is still one of the best alternatives for entertainment is the way the tickets were sold out for the Oscar de la Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao December 6 clash in Las Vegas.
?The way the gates sold out in a couple of hours is a very, very good sign. Not too many gates sold out especially in boxing, which you can count in one hand. Is it going to hurt? I?m sure it?s going to hurt a little bit,? said Gomez.
?This is not the only fight we?ve done this year, we?ve been working hard, we?ve had some very successful shows.? GBP is the main promoter of the de la Hoya-Pacquiao bout with Top Rank getting their usual share as Pacquiao?s main promoter.
Gomez also cited several promotions they staged the last couple of months, most notable of which was the 12-round brawl between former champions Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis in September, which was watched by 15,000 paying fans at the Toyota Center in Houston, Teaxas.
GBP also promoted the classic 11th-round knockout win of Pacquiao?s bitter rival Juan Manuel Marquez over Cuban Joel Casamayor last month.
Among the fighters under the GBP banner are Bernard Hopkins, Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley, Israel Vazquez, Winky Wright and Filipinos Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista, Z Gorres and Gerry Penalosa. Golden Boy also has sharing rights to Pacquiao with Top Rank, which is the Filipino?s main promoter.
GBP was established by de la Hoya in 2001 to become the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company.
One of its outfits, Golden Boy Enterprises, has a diverse portfolio of investments including ownership in several Spanish-language newspapers in major markets throughout the US, and select investments in a number of consumer products. The company holds a 25-percent interest in the Houston Dynamo soccer team.
Macau card moved
THE much-awaited major boxing card to be promoted by Top Rank Inc. in Macau has been postponed for January next year.
Interviewed by the BusinessMirror Tuesday morning, Top Rank president Bob Arum revealed there is a conflict with their planned Macau promotions which was supposed to be staged on December 13.
According to Arum, their outfit has scheduled a December 13 promotions featuring the third fight between current world junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt and Ricardo Torres to be held at the Atlantic City in New Jersey.
Arum also said that though they still have no specific date, although officials of the Venetian Hotel prefers a late January schedule.
Arum added that the major match-ups his firm has originally set-up will still headline the Macau show.
International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight champion Ulises Solis is due for a mandatory defense against former World Boxing Council (WBC) belt holder Brian Viloria. Also in the card is Filipino super bantamweight prospect Bernabe Concepcion.
Arum will again grace today ?Sports Chat,? the daily morning radio show aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 kHz.
