OMG. Did you hear about this wickedly awful boxing manager/adviser named Al Haymon? I’m sure if you monitor social media or religiously read your favorite boxing columnists, you know the name of this shadowy boxing huckster and evil genius behind the “Money” Mayweather empire.
This guy has set out on a course to single-handedly ruin the sport we all love– and he’s doing it all from his shadowy lair, likely surrounded by rabid demon dogs and Gothic stone gargoyles. But nobody really knows, exactly, what he’s up to. The scoundrel stays away from gratuitous photo ops and prefers not to speak to the media. I’m scared.
I even hear that he takes his fighters and tries to get them the most possible money for the lowest risk. Chilling.
This odd concept of high pay for low risk is completely foreign to the world of professional boxing.
The main stage world of big time prizefighting usually dictates that a young, promising fighter face the best, most challenging opposition as soon as possible. And if HBO or Showtime look to showcase these young prospects before the fighters are 100% razor-sharp, most managers and promoters proudly refusing the deals and reject the money. As a matter of fact, in the dignified world of professional boxing, nobody opts for undeserved exposure at the expense of others.
But this vile beast of a man, Al Haymon, actually pursues these deals for his fighters and doesn’t even think twice about putting a young fighter on premium cable when given the opportunity.
Case in point is Gary Russell Jr., the 24-year-old featherweight, who fought on Showtime Saturday night against Christopher Perez….Christopher Perez! Haymon also represents the 22-year-old Adrien Broner, who was guided to HBO dates and a world title with these same shady, unheard of tactics.
What a disgrace!
At 22-24, blue chip prospects are usually chin-deep into a maddening series of well-matched wars. In that age range, media sweetheart, Nonito Donaire was tangling with the mighty Kevin Hudgins (5-9); Brandon Rios was going to war with the modern day gladiator, Lorenzo Estrada (3-15-1); and Carl Froch was fighting awesome Mike Duffield (9-15-1).
As one can see, these guys never took the quick cash for easy bouts. They fought the very best from the very beginning. That is this code of warrior ethics in boxing.
Haymon has been doing his nastiness for years, guiding an undeserving Andre Berto to prime HBO dates at the expense of the dozens upon dozens of more deserving American fighters out there– fighters with massive fan followings, “Sugar Ray” skills, and matinee idol charisma. These guys deserved air time more than Andre Berto, but that devious Al Haymon always manages to pull strings behind the scenes– How does he do it?!?
Word has it that the dastardly heel has now sunk his hooks into southpaw ex-commie, Erislandy Lara– an otherwise good Cuban boy who will surely find himself corrupted by added exposure and the ultra-harmful expectation of fair compensation.
Haymon’s evilness is so overwhelming that he even has experienced businessmen and network programmers under his mysterious spell, all captivated by pie chart boardroom trickery and his audacity to actually sign American fighters to management deals at a time when the networks are looking for more American fighters.
Among the honorable, righteous men and women of boxing, Haymon stands out like a sore thumb and, deservedly, receives full blame for all things wrong with the sport. Damn him and damn his minions. They must be stopped…
For the good of the sport. For the sake of all things decent. Al Haymon must be stopped.
On the line is boxing’s good name and the hard-earned decent and righteous reputation of noble boxing management.
You can email Paul at paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com or feel free to stalk him online like many of your favorite writers do . Paul is a full member of the Burger King Kids’ Club, a born iconoclast, and an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church.
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