Watching the feud between Golden Boy and Top Rank play out in the media has been a bit like being in a car crash. You can see exactly what’s about to happen, almost like it’s in slow motion, but you’re powerless to do anything about it.

Except that members of the boxing media aren’t entirely powerless. Reporters have some (small) influence on fans (we’d like to think) and, in turn, on the promoters and networks who need those fans to make a buck. So the way that the boxing media reports a story like the GBP-TR feud can have an effect on the story itself.

And the effect that we’ve had hasn’t been good. It’d be fair to say that the media is partly responsible for Bob Arum no longer being on Golden Boy’s Christmas card list, and vice versa.

Much of the online coverage of what happened in the aftermath of the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather negotiations (or lack thereof, depending on who you believe) has added little to what we know. Instead, morsels of new information have been used as excuses to drag up and repeat old news.

There’s nothing wrong with reporting what important figures in the sport have said, but building a story by getting a new quote every day and tacking it on is just tiresome. In fact, it doesn’t just report the dispute, it perpetuates it.

Boxingscene.com, one of the best news breakers in the business, did exactly that in the weeks after the negotiations fell apart. Time and again, they published a tidbit of news along with a lengthy rehash of the bad blood between the promoters. In one piece, a single new quote from Richard Schaefer was used to justify reprinting all the various utterances and statements of Leonard Ellerbe, Ross Greenburg, Oscar De La Hoya and Bob Arum.

Boxingscene was approached by RingTV.com but declined to comment.

Lance Pugmire, the Los Angeles Times’ boxing correspondent, took a different approach with his story about Golden Boy and Top Rank. Even though it was published a week after the events described in the other articles, Pugmire’s story had a new revelation at its heart; that Schaefer and Arum hadn’t spoken personally since January.

Pugmire spoke to both men at the time of writing the story and didn’t rely on previous statements or quotes.

“I know Arum disputes that he ever said: ‘I was lying yesterday but I’m telling the truth today,’ but things do change in this business. That’s why it’s important to check in on these guys as quickly as you can on a fast moving story like the Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiations,” said Pugmire.

Coverage of this puddle of spilled milk has also zeroed in on the personal war of words between Schaefer and Arum. The nasty things that promoters say about each other are eye catching, but if they don’t add anything to a story but bitterness, then journalists are contributing to the problem by choosing to report them.

Arum had some pretty nasty things to say about De La Hoya and Schaefer in an interview the day after Greenburg’s statement. By no means is this a one way street; Schaefer has also said spiteful things about Arum in the past.

A reporter’s obligation is to get the other side of the story, especially when malicious and insulting things are being said, so it’s questionable whether a Q and A format was appropriate for the Arum interview. Whether it was or not, it’s an example of media coverage prolonging what had already become a tiresome dispute.

In an environment where the only coverage of the two men is about their bad blood, and reporters shuttle back and forth seeking replies to the latest insults, a feud becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Pugmire can’t recall whether either Arum or Schaefer personally attacked the other while talking to him. If they did, he chose not print it.

“If it has something to do with the specific topic that I’m talking about, then I would use it. But to just let someone take a cheap shot at another individual, I don’t think that’s fair,” he said.

It’s not a boxing writer’s job, no matter how much they love boxing, to withhold information from the public ‘for the good of the sport’. Though choosing not to use quotes because they’re meaningless bile is a different matter. You don’t have to print something just because a promoter said it.

Top Rank and Arum declined to comment, but Golden Boy's Schaefer told RingTV.com that he generally attempts to avoid the media when negotiating fights.

"Through the media, fighters and promoters try to take a stand about an issue and often it becomes an ego play and that just isn't helpful,” he said. “In any negotiation when the ego becomes involved and you start developing this back and forth, it's not productive. It can kill a deal, not make one."

Schaefer admits that he sometimes gives information about fights in the works to the media, but tries not to get drawn in to wars of words like the most recent one.

He hasn’t been very successful. Schaefer also took aim at the culture of acrimony in boxing, which he thinks is perpetuated by some online boxing writing.

“The fact is that there are educated boxing journalists and then you have these other sites that are writing all these trashy stories,” he said. “These kinds of people would never have gotten a job at a newspaper, but online is much more flexible. I think that it doesn't help the sport of boxing.”

The former banker is probably right; some of the fault for the feud between the Golden Boy and Top Rank lies at the feet of the boxing media. But even at its worst, the media has only been a conduit between the promoters. Schaefer, Arum and the others would do well to remember that.

Alex McClintock is a free-lance writer in Australia. He can be reached at mcclintock.alex@gmail.com and @axmcc on Twitter.

Vivian Harris echoed the thoughts of many fans when he repeatedly questioned Victor Ortiz’s courage on a conference call Wednesday.

Ortiz, who faces Harris on the Shane Mosley-Sergio Mora undercard on Sept. 18 in Los Angeles, was criticized for quitting against Marcos Maidana last year and hasn’t lived it down in spite of three consecutive victories since.

“He don’t believe in himself ,” Harris said. “He don’t have courage. … I know that he knows that. And on Sept. 18, we’re gonna see it.

“I’m a fighter,” Harris added later. “I know about digging deep in there. Sometimes in the ring you feel you’re gonna die; you gotta dig deep. … I don’t think he has that kind of mental(ity) right now.”

Ortiz, not one to exchange trash talk, at first took Harris’ slights in good humor. He apparently was aware that Harris was trying to gain a psychological advantage by getting under his skin.

“I just find that a little funny,” he said. “To each his own. Everyone has his own opinion. I’m comfortable with me. I know what I’m capable of doing.”

And then, when Harris persisted, Ortiz seemed to grow weary of the of his opponent’s comments and spoke curtly.

“I’ll see you at Staples Center on Sept. 18,” he said directly to Harris.

Rolando Arellano, Ortiz’s co-manager, stepped in to defend his fighter.

“We’re the type of team that doesn’t focus on another fighter’s weaknesses,” he said. “… I know Vivian Harris has something to prove. I give him nothing but the utmost respect. We’re not here to talk about his weaknesses. By the mere fact they’re weaknesses, they'll be exposed.

“We’re here to figure out how to conquer Vivian Harris, to focus on his positive attributes. We’re not here to say he’s older or that he lost his last fight.”

Harris then seized that opportunity to continue digging at Ortiz.

“That’s what his team believes,” he said. “He has to believe that to get the victory. Once you don’t believe it, it’s not happening. Trust me; he don’t believe it.”

The irony here is that Ortiz (27-2-1, 21 knockouts) is the fighter on the rise and Harris (29-4-1, 19 KOs) is trying to hang on at 32.

Ortiz, 23, bounced back from the Maidana loss, a sixth-round knockout, to easily beat veterans Antonio Diaz, Hector Alatorre and Nate Campbell. He’s ranked No. 1 by two of the four major sanctioning bodies in one of the deepest divisions in boxing, junior welterweight.

He could land a big fight against another top 140-pounder within a year – if he beats Harris.

“That definitely is a good thing to look at,” he said, referring to his lucrative prospects. “Right now I’m looking at Vivian Harris. He’s a great fighter, a (former) world champion for reason. I can’t look past him. He’s definitely a danger.”

And then he got a little cocky when asked whether he’s prepared for a veteran who throws a lot of punches.

“Everyone has a game plan until they get hit,” he said.

And then Harris jumped in again, saying with a laugh: “I’m glad you know that.”

Clearly, Harris still talks a good game. But can he still fight?

The Guyana-born resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., hasn’t had a meaningful victory since he narrowly outpointed Juan Lazcano in 2007, after which he was stopped in seven rounds by Junior Witter in a title fight.

He has been in the ring only three times since then – a sixth-round KO of journeyman Octavio Narvaez in which he went down twice, a no-contest against Noe Balanos after he was cut by a head butt and a bizarre fourth-round KO loss to Lucas Matthysse in February in Mexico City. Referee Gelasio Huerta stopped the fight even though Harris, who had taken a few hard punches, seemed to be fine.

Thus, we don’t really know what the former titleholder has left – if anything. This is his chance to show that he remains relevant.

“I’m a different fighter from Maidana,” he said. “I hit harder than Maidana. I’m a different fighter from Nate Campbell. I’m a far different fighter from Nate Campbell. … I’m a sharp shooter. You know what I mean? My sharp shooting is definitely going to land.

“And I know once I land, he has to question himself. He better hope he doesn’t get flashbacks.”

Harris is definitely no quitter, at least when it comes to words.


Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com

An eye injury has forced super middleweight titleholder Mikkel Kessler to withdraw from the Showtime network's Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament.

Kessler, the favorite to win the unique 168-pound tournament when it was announced, was 1-1 in the Super Six. The Danish star lost a one-sided 11-round technical decision to Andre Ward last October and an entertaining 12-round decision over Carl Froch in April in bouts that saw him lose and regain alphabet versions of the 168-pound title.

Kessler (43-2, 32 knockouts), who was scheduled to defend his title against Allan Green on September 25 in Denmark in a Group Stage 3 bout of the tournament, expressed his disappointment in having to withdraw in a statement released by Showtime on Wednesday.

“This is the most disappointing moment of my boxing career,” Kessler said. “After defeating Carl
Froch, I was on the way to win the tournament, so pulling out now really hurts. The eye problem has
bothered me since the beginning of the Super Six in my preparation for the bout against Andre Ward. It also bothered me in the fights against Ward and Froch, and in my training for the fight against Green it has become unbearable.

"I have consulted leading experts in Denmark and Germany and they have advised me to take a break from boxing so that the problem can heal. I have been assured that it will heal completely and that I will be back in the ring next year. As a fair
sportsman, I do not want to delay the Super Six, which is still the best thing that has happened to
boxing for a long time. I wish my fellow contestants the best of luck - may the best man win. I will be
there to fight the winner in 2011.”

Ken Hershman, the executive vice president for Showtime and the mastermind behind the Super Six, says the tournament will go on.

“I commend Mikkel Kessler for his decision,” said Hershman. “He has made a wise choice in light of
his doctors’ recommendations and he is showing tremendous respect for his fellow competitors and
for the tournament format itself.

“We will publicly address how this turn of events affects the tournament in the coming days. I assure you we will make the best of this scenario. In fact, I have been aware of Mikkel’s situation for a few days and I have a vision for how we can proceed that will enhance the excitement of the tournament. First, I must have some internal discussions but mark my words, the drama of the Super Six will be unrelenting and we will crown a champion in the early part of 2011.”

Hershman and the promoters involved in the Super Six -- Dan Goossen, Gary Shaw, Lou DiBella, Mick Hennessey, and Kalle Sauerland, who represents Kessler and Arthur Abraham -- have to decide if they want to try to find a replacement for Kessler or simply proceed to the semifinals, which is basically a four-man single elimination tournament.

Therein lies the network's dilemma. There doesn't appear to be a worthy available replacement for Kessler and to go directly to the semifinals -- which pits the highest point holders against each other, in this case Abraham vs. Froch and Ward vs. Andre Dirrell -- Green, who was a replacement for Jermain Taylor and currently has zero points in the tournament, would have to be kicked out of the Super Six.

Perhaps a deal can be reached with Green and his promoter, DiBella, as the semifinal bouts are the fights that fans want to see.

Ronny Rios is the type of person who instinctively knows which role models to follow.

The talented junior lightweight was surrounded by wayward peers in his rough Santa Ana, Calif., neighborhood but emulated his older brother, Salvador, a hard-working kid who always wanted to make something of himself.

When Rios started boxing, he sensed that trainer and soon-to-be father figure Hector Lopez understood how to succeed in life and followed his lead.

The end product is impressive: A young man who works extremely hard at his craft and has his feet on the ground, the kind of kid who could serve as a role model himself for other boxers who grow up under difficult circumstances.

“Ronny was a very quiet, shy kid when I met him and not much has changed. And, from day one, he has worked his ass off,” said Lopez, whose protege faces Leivi Brea in the main event of the “Fight Night Club” card Thursday at Club Nokia in Los Angeles (televised on Fox Sports Net and streamed live on RingTV.com).

Rios’ father abandoned the family when he was a toddler. The void doesn’t seem to have been traumatic, though. An uncle served as a male influence and he had Salvador, his elder by three years.

The boy walked into the TKO Boxing Club in Santa Ana when he was 12 and immediately demonstrated that he was gifted: He won a national amateur title after only six fights. He also worked harder than the other kids from the start.

Where’d he pick up that habit? By watching Salvador. And he had special motivation: His mother, who cleans buildings and houses for a living with help from Sal and Ronny.

Rios remembers that, as a 10 or 11 year old who watched too many scary movies, he worried that something bad would happen to his mom when she cleaned alone at night. He would accompany her as often as possible “to protect her,” he said.

“My brother worked hard at everything he did,” Rios said. “He wanted to do everything perfectly. I got that from him. And I’ve always been motivated by my mom. She got into a car accident. I can see she has back pain. We never had the money to get her back adjusted or anything like that, though.

“I want to give my mom a better life. I remember thinking that even when first started boxing.”

Rios (11-0, 5 knockouts) appears to be headed in that direction, although nothing is ever certain in boxing.

The 20-year-old was one of the more-successful amateurs of his era, winning multiple national titles and losing to Olympian Gary Russell Jr. in the 2008 Trials. And he has won impressively as a professional, building momentum toward bigger and better things.

At his age, though, he must be moved slowly.

“He’s only 20,” Lopez said. “We want to challenge him without getting him in over his head. I think Ronny will be special. He’ll be one of those kids who wins the titles. But he’s a good two, three years away.”

Rios uses the word “if” he makes it big instead of “when,” another example of his level headedness. If he does, chances are he won’t squander his earnings as so many successful young fighters do. He got that from Lopez.

Lopez took a significant interest in Rios almost from the beginning. Rios always dreamed of winning championship belts, which was fine with Lopez, but the trainer had a stipulation: No boxing without at least a “B” average is school.

Rios thought his mentor “was crazy,” Lopez said, but the boy went along because he knew he was heading in the right direction. From there, Lopez, not a family member, would attend Rios’ school meetings and other functions normally required of parents.

“In our culture … they say, ‘Get a job and help the family.’ I said, ‘No, you gotta finish school.' To me, that was important,” Lopez said.

Lopez, who is in sales and marketing for a medical group, has taught Rios about finances, knowledge so few fighters have. Rios, who still lives with his mother, is saving money to buy a house and build an emergency fund. He spends frugally. For example, he bought a used Nissan 350Z instead of blowing his entire signing bonus on an expensive car.

Most of his relatively meager earnings at the moment go toward helping his mother.

“I always want to have a plan,” he said. “I never want to live paycheck to paycheck.”

Rios gives credit where credit is due. He is thrilled to be fighting in the main event on Thursday but is more excited that Sal is making his pro debut on the card. The two are very close. He is still motivated by the prospect of helping his mother, who asks her son to live at home because she can't bear for him to go.

And he doesn’t know where he’d be without Lopez.

“I know I wouldn’t be where I am now,” he said. “I would just be working with my mom, maybe going to community college. I wouldn’t be in this position. No way. I don’t think I would’ve gotten into trouble. I’m too nerdy. I don't drink or anything. I just like to play X Box and watch movies.

“Hector steered me in the right direction, though. He’s a good person to have in my life, a really good person. I love my life. I have nothing to complain about.”


Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com

Ronny Rios is becoming the dominant fighter in the “Fight Night Club” series at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, which is streamed live on RingTV.com and is televised on Fox Sports Net.

The decorated amateur star, who faces Leivi Brea in the FNC main event on Thursday, is 3-0 at the downtown night club (with two knockouts). Rios (11-0, 5 knockouts) is a polished boxer but also is aggressive, which makes him a crowd pleaser.

He faces Brea (18-8-3, 10 KOs) in a scheduled six-round lightweight bout. The Miami-based Dominican became a designated “opponent” for rising prospects in the United States – losing five fights here and one in Puerto Rico to Juan Manuel Lopez – but is 2-0 in subsequent fights in the Dominican Republic.

Also on the card, Salvador Rios -- Ronny's older brother -- makes his pro debut against Stephen Rubalcava (0-1) of Exeter, Calif., in a four-round welterweight bout.

"I'm excited about being in the main event but more excited that my brother is fighting on the same card," Ronny Rios said.

San Diego prospect Antonio Orozco (7-0, 5 KOs) faces Humberto Tapia (15-14-1, 8 KOs) of Culiacan, Mexico, in a six-round junior welterweight bout.

Sergio de la Torre (11-14-3, 1 KO) of Escondido, Calif., takes on Sergio Soto (16-16-1, 12 KOs) of Hermosillo, Mexico in a four-round welterweight bout.

And Jonathan Bobadilla (4-3) of Los Angeles faces Juan Figueroa (6-7-1, 3 KOs) of L.A. in a four-round lightweight fight.



Tickets, ranging from $19.75 to $250 (on stage), are available by calling TicketMaster at 1-800-745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com and at the Staples Center box office.