When it comes to the behind-the-scenes bargaining maneuvers for high profile fights, most people have no inkling as to what goes into making a championship fight come to fruition. Often times, such particulars are overshadowed by accusations, hyperbole and mudslinging by various adversaries.
A good example of this would be the upcoming bout between IBF heavyweight champ, Wladimir Klitschko and top ranked contender, Calvin Brock on November 11th at Madison Square Garden.
In June, it looked like Klitschko would defend his title against Brooklyn, NY native, Shannon Briggs, when suddenly Oleg Maskaev’s name was brought into the mix after he beat Hasim Rahman for his WBC title in August. That move triggered Briggs (who is promoted by Cedric Kushner) to seek out another fight and allege publicly that he fell victim to a bait-n-switch tactic. Ultimately, Briggs came to terms with promoter Don King and a fight was scheduled for him to square off against WBO champ Sergei Lyakhovich on November 4th in Phoenix. Thus, Team Klitschko was left without an opponent and Brock was then selected.
At the epicenter of the deliberations was Klitscko advisor, Shelly Finkel who cleverly established control at the onset by securing an airtight deal for Klitschko to fight at the Garden.
Once the Lyakhovich-Briggs fight was announced at a press conference in New York, Briggs and King launched a verbal attack on Finkel. “Shelly used my name to get into the Garden,” declared Briggs. “Shelly outdid Goebbels,” seethed King in referring to Adolph Hitler’s Nazi propaganda chief, Joseph Goebbels.
Finkel, who maneuvers himself through contract negotiations much like Muhammad Ali did around the ring, has managed to stay afloat for over 25 years in a business that is widely known to be savage and ruthless. His most recent triumph was the lucrative deal he constructed on behalf of his WBC super featherweight champ, Manny Pacquiao. Should Erik Morales fail to make weight for their third match later this month, Pacquiao could earn 1 million dollars without stepping foot in the ring.
Fightnews spoke to Finkel:
What were the circumstances that caused Klitschko-Briggs to collapse? We were speaking to Briggs about doing the fight. We had a tentative deal, but several things changed along the way. We wanted a rematch in Germany, and he didn’t. Of course, our first choice was to get Maskaev if we could. When that didn’t happen, the official contract had been sent to Briggs. But in the mean time, without Cedric knowing, Cedric was dealing with us, while his manager was dealing with King – and he made the deal without anyone knowing. So, if Briggs did not sign the deal to fight Lyakhovich, he would’ve been fighting Wladimir for over 1 million dollars, on November 11th at the Garden.
What level were you at with Briggs when you spoke to Oleg? It was on a level, that if we didn’t fight him, and we fought Maskaev instead, we would put him on the undercard for a 1/4 of a million dollars. Money that I doubt he got to fight Lyakhovich.
Obviously, a unification bout between Oleg and Wlad would be very marketable, but if Rahman had retained his title, would you have posed the same offer to him? Rahman had already agreed to fight us if he had won. It would have been on the same date at the Garden.
There was such a mixed reaction to Briggs fighting for Wlad’s title. What were the factors in considering him in the first place? Well, the only reason we considered him was because we were in New York. If it were anywhere else – as you saw in Phoenix where his fight did not sell – it wouldn’t have meant anything. And the problem with fighting a Briggs type of fighter is, if you look good against him, people will say: ‘So what, he’s a bum.’ If you look bad against him, people will say: ‘Oh, you couldn’t even look good against Briggs.’ So it was a lose-lose situation, except for the fact that he probably would have drawn well at the Garden.
In your negotiations with the Garden, one of the stipulations in the contract was that the arena not book any other boxing cards 60 days prior to your show. That maneuver shut out Don King, who wanted the Garden too. Did you anticipate some sort of competition with King when you negotiated that clause? Yes I did. But not just from him, from anyone else who wanted to put a fight there. King was looking to put Valuev there several weeks before us. It’s the same market in the same town, and you just don’t do that. It’s my job to protect my fighter’s best interest. And you know something else? At first, Briggs did not have a deal to fight Lyakhovich. He had an option to have a fight before the end of the year because King felt, ‘If I pull Briggs out, then I can get Valuev into the Garden.’ King thought my deal with the Garden was for Klitschko to fight Briggs. But that wasn’t true. My deal was for Klitschko to fight at the Garden against a suitable opponent. King was LIVID about that, because he thought he could put Valuev in there instead.
You recently had a meeting with Ross Greenburg of HBO and Maskaev’s manager (Dennis Rappaport). Can you comment on what was discussed and if any agreements were made? We were talking about seeing if that fight (Klitschko-Maskaev) could be put together. But nothing definitive has come of it yet.
Were you thinking of a unification tournament? No. Because King says he wants it, but he really doesn’t. And when it comes time to have a meeting about putting together a tournament, King backs off. Or, he says: ‘Look, why don’t we do these mandatories, then we’ll TRY to do the tournament.’ But in the end, he’s not looking to do it because he knows if he loses, he’s out of the heavyweight picture… and he doesn’t want that. You know, we were at a press conference in L.A., because I had Robert Guerrero on the undercard of Toney-Peter. King yells: ‘Klitschko is AFRAID to fight Valuev!’ I’m standing right behind him and I say quietly: ‘Don, there is a lot of press right here, why don’t we just make a deal and announce it right now.’ But he said: ‘Uhhh… well… ummm… no.’ So at this point, his fighters (Nicolai Valuev and Serguei Lyakhovich) can’t beat Wladimir and I think he knows it.
Manny Pacquiao. What are your thoughts on him signing with Golden Boy and the legal threats made by Bob Arum? I think it’s a shame. Manny has a fight coming up and it should be the only thing that should be on everyone’s mind. Instead, it’s distracting. I wasn’t involved in that and Manny didn’t speak to me about it. As far as Arum, I think there will be a lawsuit. I just don’t know if he has a case or not. Only time will tell.
Your managerial agreement with Manny ends at the beginning of next year. One would assume that he will continue on with you, especially since you negotiated that formidable contract on his behalf. What’s going on with you and Manny? I hope we can continue working together, but I’m not convinced because there are people telling him: ‘You could do this, and you could do that.’ You know, Manny is one of my prides of success – from getting him out of his contract with Murad Muhammad, getting him out of his problems in the Philippines, getting his taxes paid, setting up a central withholding agreement for him, and doing all these things for him that has changed his life significantly. He is a superstar now, where before he was a great fighter. Now that he’s on top, people are telling him this and that. So hopefully, Manny will know what was done for him and we can continue working together.
Unfortunately, trainers experience the same situations. Yes! That’s because a lot of fighters have short term memory. But not every fighter, because Manny is loyal to Freddie. Manny’s life was totally changed for the better, thanks to Freddie and myself. Where have you ever heard, in the history of boxing, of a fighter losing a fight and getting DOUBLE for the rematch (Pacquiao-Morales 2)? It’s unprecedented.
In regards to that contract, it will no doubt be a blueprint for others who negotiate terms for future mega-fight deals within the lower weight classes. It’s kind of like you’re a pioneer in that respect. Well, the only thing that matters is what’s best for your client – and that was my goal in devising that contract. I was just protecting Manny. He is the one at risk if Erik comes in heavy. I won’t allow Manny to get penalized because he made weight and Erik couldn’t. So if, for other managers it becomes a blueprint, that’s great! But, sad to say, in the last couple of months, there were two fighters (Diego Corrales and Jorge Barrios) who had problems with their weight.
What was your initial reaction to Corrales not making weight against Joel Casamayor? Why do you think fighters are having trouble with their weight lately? I was very surprised! But I knew he was draining himself to make weight in previous fights. As far as why they can’t make weight, I don’t think they’re doing it properly. Or, maybe they shouldn’t be fighting at that weight. And, there should be a clause in their contract so that the fighter doesn’t get penalized.
Mike Tyson’s first exhibition bout on his World Tour has not been very well received. What is your opinion on his latest project? I didn’t see it because I was traveling. And all I know is what I read. I wasn’t involved with that, but if I was, I would have done it a lot differently. I just hope Mike is well. I really care about his well being. We’ve known each other for a long time and been through a lot together.
Final question. I know you’re not one to engage in mudslinging, but King’s remarks (re: Goebbels) were way below the belt. Are you ever angered by such comments, or do you find that they only empower you? Yes, those comments were below the belt and it can be empowering because you know it stems from bitterness. And the thing is, I know who it’s coming from. But I won’t sink to his level. If you fight back, then you’re in his game. If not, you just have to do your own thing. I look at it this way, I was able to protect Wladimir at the Garden because that’s my job. Of course, King is angry that he couldn’t get it done. But that’s just tough. So, he can say whatever he wants, because in the end, I got the Garden… and King didn’t.
