Golden Boy Promotions

Current company Logo

Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. is a combat sport promotional firm started by former boxer six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya (whose nickname is The Golden Boy). De La Hoya owns a majority interest in the firm, and his partners in the venture include fellow boxers Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Márquez, and Ricky Hatton among others.

Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2001 by Oscar De La Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. In 2006, their fifth year of promoting, Golden Boy Promotions broke a record by selling over 2 million in pay-per-views. Golden Boy Promotions is also one of boxing's most active and respected promoters, presenting shows in packed venues around the United States on networks such as HBO, HBO Latino, Showtime, Telefutura, and ESPN. Golden Boy Promotions also co promotes fight cards with other boxing promoters i.e. Top Rank, Gary Shaw Productions, Lou Dibella, Murad Mohammad, etc. Golden Boy Enterprises has a diverse portfolio of investments including ownership in several Spanish-language newspapers in major markets throughout the U.S., and select investments in a number of consumer products. The company continues to seek additional business investments and opportunities that fit with its mission. Golden Boy Enterprises also holds a majority interest in Golden Boy Promotions. The company holds a 25% interest in the Houston Dynamo soccer team.

Key people

• Oscar De La Hoya - Founder
• Richard Schaefer - CEO
• Eric Gomez - Matchmaker
• Bruce Binkow - CMO
• Jeremy Hicks - Head Accountant
• Bernard Hopkins - Managing Partner (East Coast)
• Shane Mosley - Managing Partner (West Coast)
• Ronald Wright - Managing Partner (South)

Promoted boxers

Many of the world's most famous boxers are promoted by Golden Boy, including:

• Manny Pacquiao (Shared with Top Rank)
• Floyd Mayweather Jr
• Amir Khan (boxer)
• Juan Manuel Márquez
• Ricky Hatton
• Bernard Hopkins
• Librado Andrade
• Shane Mosley
• Victor Ortíz
• Jorge Barrios
• Rey Bautista
• Nate Campbell
• Joel Casamayor
• Hugo Cazares
• Juan Díaz
• Vicente Escobedo
• Jhonny Gonzalez
• Robert Guerrero
• Joan Guzmán
• Vivian Harris
• David Haye
• Charles Huerta
• Daniel Jacobs
• Chris John
• Rocky Juarez
• Michael Katsidis
• James Kirkland
• Jorge Linares
• David Lopez
• Abner Mares
• Enrique Ornelas
• Daniel Ponce-De Leon
• Sergio Mora
• Kassim Ouma
• Gerry Peñalosa
• Israel Vázquez
• Winky Wright
• Daud Yordan
• Orlando Cruz

Promoting the biggest boxing match in history

Golden Boy promoted the May 5, 2007, "super fight" between De La Hoya and still undefeated Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather won the bout by a split decision. The fight appears to have been one of the most lucrative in the history of the sport. They also co-promoted along with Top Rank, The Dream Match: Oscar De La Hoya Vs Manny Pacquiao on December 6, 2008.

Mixed Martial Arts promotion with Affliction

Golden Boy Promotions and Affliction Clothing started a mixed martial arts promotion that has been extremely aggressive in pursuing free agents. It has been rumored that their new promotion has already worked out deals with Aleksander Emelianenko, Vitor Belfort, Matt Lindland, and Gilbert Yvel, as well as pursuing Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett, Renato Sobral, and Fedor Emelianenko, and a tv deal with HBO.

However, the promotion would fold before airing itsthird PPV event, "Affliction: Trilogy" - a steroid scandal and being unable to find replacement fighters would lead to the eventual cancellation of the event.

Other

In 2005, Golden Boy Enterprises announced the formation of Golden Boy Partners, a company focused on urban development in Latino communities.

In June 2009 Golden Boy Enterprises became embroiled in a dispute over who would fight for the WBA junior welterweight title. On the one hand, undefeated Dmitry Salita (the WBA's No. 1-ranked 140-pounder) was told by the WBA in writing that he will face the winner of the June 27 fight between titleholder Andreas Kotelnik and Amir Khan. On the other hand, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy said that he had it "in writing" that that fight would face the winner of the Victor Ortíz-Marcos Maidana fight.[1] The WBA's top executives were unavailable for comment. Salita was extremely upset over the prospect that he could lose what would be his first title shot. "They’re a big company", he said of Golden Boy. "They’re trying to bend the rules. They’re trying to kick everyone to the side and get their way, rules or no rules. When Oscar De La Hoya formed Golden Boy, he said he wanted to change boxing, to bring honor to the sport. This isn’t the honorable thing to do. This isn’t good for boxing. This isn’t justice. This goes against the right to pursue happiness, which is why my family immigrated to this country (from Ukraine) and why I’ve worked so hard. We’ll see what happens."[2] Salita ended up fighting Khan, losing by 1st round TKO.

External links

• Golden Boy Promotions