The anticipated unification bout between junior featherweight champions Steve Molitor and Celestino Caballero is being threatened by a promotional play on the part of New Jersey-based promoter Murad Muhammad.
Last week, it was reported that Allan Tremblay, promoter of Molitor, came to a verbal deal with Warriors Boxing to put together a fight with Caballero for a November date in Canada. Sources close to the situation have informed that MaxBoxing/BoxingScene.com that Murad Muhammad is trying to sign Molitor away by promising a two-year deal worth $2 million dollars.
Molitor (27-0, 10KOs), known as the “Canadian Kid,” is one of the more popular fighters in Canada and a rising star in a weight division filled with big names and big money.
Over the years, Muhammad has been involved in numerous lawsuits over monies owed to fighters, promoters, and a who’s who of people involved on the promotional end of his events. The most famous case against Muhammad was filed by Manny Pacquiao in 2005.
Pacquiao claimed that Muhammad, through his company M&M Sports, Inc, corrupted his business managers by transferring more than 30% of his purses to a shell limited liability company controlled by the business managers with the promise that Pacquiao’s United States taxes were going to be paid out of those monies. The taxes were never paid and Pacquiao was left with a massive bill for back tax, penalties and interest. Pacquiao claimed that Muhammad refused to provide the necessary disclosures as entitled by the Ali Act.
“It has taken me awhile to come to terms with the fact that I have been cheated by people whom I trusted,” Pacquiao said at the time. “I intend to see this suit to the bitter end so that I can recover every dollar that was stolen from me, as well as help protect other fighters from being taken advantage of by Mr. Muhammad. I will never fight again for Murad Muhammad and M&M Sports.”
The lawsuit was settled during jury deliberations for a reported $800,000 dollars.
Muhammad’s recent troubles stem from a failed 2006 pay-per-view that involved Evander Holyfield and Fres Oquendo at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Numerous parties are still owed money from the show, including fighters involved with the card and co-promoter Lou DiBella, who at the time had Oquendo.
When contacted for comment, DiBella’s ears opened up when he was advised that Muhammad was trying to sign a fighter with the promise of a $2 million dollar deal.
“Murad still owes over $100,000 dollars to me for Oquendo and I never received the promtional profit from the show. He failed to show for a hearing before the Texas commission so they are about to take action,” DiBella said. “The “Canadian Kid” would have to be the stupidest kid on earth to get suckered in by Murad Muhammad. I will do everything in my power to make sure that Murad is never licensed as a promoter in the United States. He has creditors, he defaulted on payments to fighters on a national and international scale. He has $2 million dollars? This is coming from a man who disappeared for a year because he couldn’t pay his bills in San Antonio. Tell him to pay me my $100,000. He doesn’t deserve to be licensed. I will take action against anyone who does business with Muhammad.
“You don’t have to take my word for it, tell Molitor or anyone else to speak with Roy Jones, Evenader Holyfield, Manny Pacquiao and others who were promoted by Murad Muhammad for a reference. He won’t even return my calls. Give Murad a message, return my calls mothef**ker! Tell Molitor’s mother, father, wife, neighbor and anyone else that’s close to him who wants the scoop on Murad – please call me.”
DiBella won’t be alone to file action, Tremblay will be the first to file suit to protect his interests with Molitor.
More to come.
