The fall of Golden Boy Promotions was greatly exaggerated according to one of its partners Bernard Hopkins. Last year there was a mass exodus from the company when it was related to many Al Haymon-advised fighters. CEO Richard Schaefer was let go, and now the company is suing Al Haymon for 300 million dollars.
But the fights must go on as the say. Golden Boy is still putting on fights and grooming prospects but their MO has been putting their flagship fighters in tough. On the slate Golden Boy fighter, Lucas Matthysse will face Viktor Postol in October. Two weeks later another Golden Boy fighter, David Lemieux will take on Gennady Golovkin. In November, its flagship fighter Canelo Alvarez will face Miguel Cotto.
Hopkins says these are the fights the people want.
“All the media wants to go; all the former fighters want to go,” Hopkins said of those three fights. “Take the money to the side, it’s different from the fight in May (Mayweather-Pacquiao) because people want to pay for a fight, and that’s what they are going to get. This is going to be a war, the fight in October between GGG and Lemieux is going to be a war. You got another one six months later but one month later; you’ll get Canelo-Cotto. When’s the last time you had three major fights in boxing and two major fights before the year ends. Then the winners fight in 2016, this something to look for.”
Hopkins says the foundation is set for Golden Boy. Many were waiting and seeing what Golden Boy would look like and operate after the exodus. The slogan for the company is to make the best fights and work with other promoters to do so. This is the vision that’s coming to light, Hopkins adds.
“We want to work with everybody and everyone that’s comfortable with their respective deal then we can make fights. I’m a wait and see the guy, so now you see while you waited. We set out boldly and said to put the best fighters and fights on even if it risks our fighters. That’s saying, now you see it. You wouldn’t have this fight if politics were involved. Now let’s talk about the promoters, the switcheroo, see if they are going to sink or swim, right now we’re swimming.”
