Gary Shaw testifies, Pavlik fight to A.C., DiBella honored, Hatton turns Golden, and Gracie goes to the movies… GARY SHAW TESTIFIES AT JAMES TRIAL
Boxing promoter Gary Shaw was on the witness stand in a Newark, N.J., courtroom on Wednesday testifying in the federal corruption trail of former Newark mayor Sharpe James. Shaw’s testimony as chronicled in Thursday’s editions of the Newark Star Ledger centered around the June 8, 2002, fight between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson and four tickets Sharpe received that cost $4,000. Shaw was there to explain whether or not he remembered selling the tickets to a representative of James while explaining the ins and outs of the fight game and why we see all those celebrities sitting at ringside.
“We call them ‘on-camera seats’ because people watching on television can see them there in the first or second row,” Shaw is quoted as saying. “That’s good for us, because people recognize famous people like that.”
Shaw boasted about promoting some of the biggest fights in history, the article said, as he chronicled his career in boxing, first working as an inspector for the state of New Jersey before joining Main Events where he worked until starting his own promotional company.
Though he said, “There is something intoxicating about prizefighting. And, sometimes, people get into trouble because of it,” Shaw insisted he runs a clean operation. “I take care of my fighters,” he said. “I worry about their health and safety, and I keep them out of trouble. That’s the reputation I’ve got.
“I’d like to invent a shower telephone so that every time someone calls me about boxing, it comes on and washes me clean.”
PAVLIK FIGHT MAKES ROOM FOR RANGERS
Kelly Pavlik’s first defense of his middleweight title will take place in Atlantic City, after all. Officials of Madison Square Garden, the original site of the fight, decided to relinquish the date when a possibility arose the New York Rangers might be hosting an NHL playoff game in the Garden.
Until last week, the Garden and Top Rank were exploring ways of keeping the Pavlik bout in the Garden on June 7 after plans for a defense against Ireland’s John Duddy evaporated when Duddy suffered a severe cut over his eye during his last fight on Feb. 23. Duddy was unimpressive in earning a controversial decision in that fight further hampering a potential Pavlik-Duddy matchup.
Pavlik will now defend his 160-pound belt against Gary Lockett of Wales, who is the WBO mandatory challenger. The fight will be held at Boardwalk Hall on either June 7 or June 14. Lockett (30-1, 21 KOs) has never faced a highly regarded fighter, but has won his last 14 fights. Pavlik won the middleweight crown with a seventh-round knockout over Jermain Taylor last September. He defeated Taylor by unanimous decision in a non-title rematch fought at 166 pounds last month.
DiBELLA CHOSEN AS HONOREE
Boxing promoter Lou DiBella and Diane Garnick, an Investment Strategist for Invesco, have been selected as honorees for the 2008 Council for Unity Champions for Children Gala. The gala will take place at 6 pm on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at The Lighthouse Chelsea Piers.
The mistress of ceremonies will be Law and Order SVUâs Tamara Tunie, who plays medical examiner Dr. Melinda Warner. Other special VIP participants include New Jersey State Senate President Richard Codey and 1997 Nobel Prize Winner in economics Dr. Robert C. Merton, the John and Natty McArthur University Professor at the Harvard Business School.
Event sponsorship ranges from $25,000-$50,000 for Presidentâs Circle table, $10,000 for Patron table, $5,000 for host committee table, and $500 per person. For tickets call 212.701.9440 or for more information on the Council for Unity please visit their website at http://www.councilforunity.org.
GOLDEN BOY SIGNS HATTON
Looks like Golden Boy Promotions and Ricky Hatton will be doing business together for a while now that “The Hitman” has signed a promotional deal with Oscar De La Hoya’s company. Hatton has started his own promotional company “Punch Promotions,” but needs Golden Boy’s experience and clout to help him get established.
GRACIE ATTENDS SCREENING
Last week, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grandmaster Renzo Gracie attended a private screening of the feature film âNever Back Down,â hosted by CBS Newsâ Katie Couric. The mixed-martial-arts-themed movie, which debuts in theaters on Friday, stars Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) and Sean Faris (Yours, Mine and Ours), both of whom were in attendance at the screening. After the screening, Gracie met with director Jeff Wadlow, who is Couricâs nephew, praising the authenticity of the MMA moves in the film. Gracie will lead his Renzo Gracie Academy camp, the 2007 IFL champions, in their first action of 2008 on April 4 at Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
WILLIAMS READIES FOR WARD
Veteran boxer Rubin âMr. Hollywoodâ Williams says he won’t be the slightest bit intimidated when he takes on undefeated super middleweight Andre Ward at San Joseâs HP Pavilion on March 20.
Williams, 31, is scheduled to meet the 2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist seven years his junior, in the scheduled 10-round main event of the 2008 âAmerican Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tankâ series opener, presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions and HP Pavilion. The bout will be televised on FSNâs âBest Damn Fight Night Period.â
Williams, who is in his ninth year as a pro, feels that he will benefit from the higher level of competition he has foughtâincluding a world title challenge loss to then-IBF super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy three years ago, a draw with former top world contender Antwun Echols last year and a decision loss following a 14-month layoff to current world contender Allan Green two months ago.
SHOULDER INJURY SIDELINES MESI
A shoulder muscle tear has forced âBabyâ Joe Mesi to withdraw from his April 4 fight against Terry âHurricaneâ Smith, headlining an ESPN2 Friday Night Fights pro boxing show, at Twin River Events Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Mesi is under doctorâs orders to rest his injured shoulder for three to four weeks.
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