GBP 2010 Highlights:
Golden Boy’s end of year newsletter recaps all of their major events and highlights for the year that was in boxing for 2010, as well as looking ahead towards what 2011 holds for some of their biggest young names, like Saul Alvarez, Amir Khan, Abner Mares, Robert Guerrero and many others, legends like Bernard Hopkins and major events like Mayweather vs. Mosley…
NO REST FOR GBP
As boxing’s premier promotional company, there was no time for vacations or extended breaks this past year. Fans wanted fights and GBP hit the road to give them fights, with a hand in over 90 boxing events over the course of 2010. Included was May’s Floyd “Money” Mayweather vs. Sugar Shane Mosley event, which generated the year’s largest pay-per-view audience. GBP also brought boxing back to traditional boxing venues who had taken a hiatus from hosting boxing with the Tropicana Casino in Las Vegas and the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California getting back into the game.
GBP REACHES OUT TO CAPTURE BOXING FANS AROUND THE WORLD
Though based in Los Angeles, GBP understands that at its core, boxing is an international sport, and therefore it has made a big effort to make sure that fans around the globe get to see the best fights and fighters in the game. In 2010, GBP promoted or co-promoted events in nine countries (Argentina, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, The United Kingdom, The United States and Venezuela. BIG EXPOSURE ON THE AIRWAVES FOR GBP EVENTSThe company brought the sport’s top events live into living rooms around the world thanks to partnerships with numerous networks / internet sites including HBO, HBP Pay-Per-View, HBO Plus, SHOWTIME, TeleFutura, Fox Sports Net, ESPN2, Televisa, British SKY Broadcasting, Solar, UStream & Ringtv.com. WE CAN’T DO IT ALONEBringing the best in boxing to fans around the world would not be possible without the support of sponsors who have partnered with GBP in numbers not seen in decades. From in-store marketing activation leading up to fights to in-arena presence which add to the fan experience, our sponsors make sure the experience had at a GBP promoted boxing event is unlike anything a boxing fan has ever had before. Included in this group of 2010 sponsors are Cerveza Tecate, DeWalt Tools, AT&T, StubHub, Southwest Airlines, Corona, Coca-Cola (Powerade and Vitamin Water), McDonald’s, Lights Out, Diageo (Don Julio), Cien Años and Ustream.
TELEFUTURA’S “SÓLO BOXEO TECATE” RETURNS
Boxing fans were hit hard when the beloved weekly series “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” went off the air in December of 2008, but good news came in March of 2010 with the announcement that GBP and TeleFutura were teaming up in an exclusive partnership to bring the series back, bigger and better than ever. From late April to December, 22 shows took place across the United States from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New York, Puerto Rico and Texas with an additional seven airing from sites in Mexico and Argentina in conjunction with GBP and HBO Plus’ “Next Boxing Generation” series.
GBP INKS DEAL WITH TELEVISA
In another landmark deal, GBP signed a multi-year deal with Televisa to bring Mexico’s best fighters to fans across the country beginning in January 2011. The monthly telecasts will air on Saturday nights from sites throughout Mexico.
BOXING’S BACK IN BROOKLYN
East coast boxing fans, your time has come as GBP joined forces with Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment in July to promote a minimum of 12 boxing events a year at Brooklyn, New York’s Barclays Center beginning in 2012. Now, one of the most boxing-rich areas in the sport’s history will get the fight action it deserves.
GBP CONTINUES TO SIGN BOXING’S BIGGEST NAMES…
With an eye on the future, GBP continued to bolster its already impressive stable of fighters with the signing of exclusive promotional deals with WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Amir “King” Khan, unbeaten Mexican star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and former World Champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi.
…AND RISING STARS
But the company also continued to build for the future by bringing in an exciting crop of young prospects who many observers believe will be wearing championship gold in the future, including Frankie Gomez, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Sharif Bogere, Jamie Kavanagh, Eduardo Alicea, Manuel Avila, Alfonso Blanco, Randy Caballero, Michael Finney, Trevor McCumby, Fidel Maldonado Jr., Bastie Samir and Mikael Zewski.
“FIGHT NIGHT CLUB” HAS ANOTHER BIG YEAR
GBP and AEG’s “Fight Night Club” avoided the sophomore jinx by delivering another great season of fistic action at L.A. LIVE’s Club Nokia. Featuring the top young talent in the sport, fans at Club Nokia got to see Victor Ortiz, Abner Mares, Frankie Gomez, Gary Russell Jr., Jessie Vargas, Carlos Molina, Luis Ramos, Ronny Rios and many others in action in an intimate setting that brought new life to the live fight night experience. The crowds were packed with fans and some of boxing’s most popular fighters, including future Hall of Famer and GBP President Oscar de la Hoya, future Hall of Famer and GBP Partner Bernard Hopkins, Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard as well as current and former World Champions Amir “King” Khan, Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora, Daniel Ponce De Leon and Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi. Boxing’s elite weren’t the only ones taking in the action as stars from the sports and entertainment world including Barry Bonds, Will.i.am, Taboo, Mario Lopez, Audrina Patridge, Baby Bash, Aubrey O’Day and Tattoo were also ringside throughout the year. GBP and AEG promise to bring more of the same great fights and atmosphere in 2011 at Fight Night Club.
HBO PLUS FIGHTERS SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS IN 2010
In it’s second year, HBO Plus’ hit series “Next Boxing Generation” continued to showcase the best young fighters from Mexico and South America. Fighters featured on “Next Boxing Generation” events have soared to great heights, gaining exposure not only in Latin America but around the world. Several fighters that have appeared on the series stepped onto the big stage in 2010 including Saul “Canelo” Alvarez who made two HBO Pay-Per-View event appearances in 2010, Lucas Mathysse who battled Zab “Super” Judah on HBO’s Boxing After Dark in November, Vicente “Chente” Escobedo who faced Robert “The Ghost” Guerreo on the same November Boxing After Dark event, “Vicious” Vivian Harris who took on Victor Ortiz in September on HBO Pay-Per-View and Hector Saldivia who faced Said Ouali in May on the HBO Pay-Per-View televised undercard of Mayweather vs. Mosley.
GBP WARRIORS BATTLE IT OUT FOR FIGHT OF THE YEAR HONORS
With thousands of fights in the books, worldwide media members singled out three GBP promoted-bouts as candidates for 2010 Fight of the Year: the February slugfest between Antonio Escalante and Miguel “Mickey” Roman, the epic November battle that saw Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez rise from the canvas to defeat Michael Katsidis “The Great,” and the December war between Amir “King” Khan and the never-say-die Marcos “Chino” Maidana.
“MONEY” MAYWEATHER DOES IT AGAIN
Boxing’s best, pound-for-pound fighter, Floyd “Money” Mayweather has been dazzling fans around the globe since he turned professional in 1996. In 2010, Mayweather was in boxing’s biggest pay-per-view event of the year once again, and after an impressive 12 round victory over Sugar Shane Mosley in their May 2010 super fight, it’s clear that he’s still on top of his game.
HOPKINS…THE LEGEND FIGHTS ON
Boxing’s ageless wonder, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins continues to amaze in his mid-40’s, years after most fighters call it quits. In 2010, he kept on rolling with a win over long time rival Roy Jones Jr. in April followed by a stellar December performance against WBC, Ring Magazine and IBO Light Heavyweight World Champion Jean Pascal that was scored a draw, kicking off a firestorm of protests from fans and media who almost unanimously had Hopkins winning the fight in Pascal’s backyard in Quebec City, Canada.
ANOTHER “DINAMITA” YEAR
The finest Mexican warrior of this era, Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez continued on his road to the Hall of Fame with a repeat victory over Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz over 12 fast-paced rounds in July and finished the year with an epic ninth round TKO win over Michael Katsidis “The Great” in a fight which is on the short list for “Fight of the Year” honors. Marquez has sealed his spot in the boxing history books, but wants a chance at toping Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in a third fight with the Filipino superstar and hopes 2011 will be the year.
THE HAYEMAKER
Brash and exciting, WBA Heavyweight World Champion David “The Hayemaker” Haye continued his reign a top the heavyweight division with stoppages over former World Champion John Ruiz in April and countryman Audley Harrison in November. In 2011, “The Hayemaker” will look to add the names of the Klitschko brothers to his list of vanquished and unify the heavyweight titles.
KING KHAN’S REIGN CONTINUES
Just 24-years-old, Amir “King” Khan has already climbed his way to the top of the boxing world, but he is far from finished on his road to becoming the best of his era. In 2010 he was introduced to American fight fans in a big way fighting for the first time in the United States. He made a big statement with a win over Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi (TKO11) in Malignaggi’s backyard at Madison Square Garden in May and followed that win up with another against the always-tough Marcos “Chino” Maidana (W12) in Las Vegas in an epic fight that many are calling the Fight of the Year.
INTRODUCING “CANELO”
35-0-1 as a professional despite being only 20-years-old, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has emerged as the top young fighter to emerge from Mexico in years. In 2010 he kept his torrid pace going, impressing fans with five wins including victories over Jose Miguel Cotto, Carlos “Tata” Baldomir and Lovemore “Black Panther” N’dou.
ORTIZ AND ALVAREZ EXPLOSIVE ON MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND
Capping off GBP’s two-day celebration of Mexican Independence Day in September which included a Fanfest featuring mariachi performances, a live concert by legendary band Conjunto Primavera, sponsor exhibits and opportunities to meet and greet some of the biggest boxing stars of the past and present, an outdoor TeleFutura card was the explosive September 18 “200: Celebrate & Dominate” event at STAPLES Center featuring Sugar Shane Mosley vs. Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora. Making a big splash on the show were “Vicious” Victor Ortiz thrilling fans as he delivered a third round knockout of former World Champion “Vicious” Vivian Harris and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez scoring a sixth round knockout over iron-chinned Carlos “Tata” Baldomir, who had never been stopped before.
BEWARE OF “THE GHOST”
An inspiring young man whose story has captivated the world in and out of boxing, former Two-Division World Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero is rapidly closing in at another world title shot. After relinquishing his title in 2009 to care for his ill wife, Casey (who is now on the road to a full recovery from Leukemia), “The Ghost” got back to business in 2010, defeating Roberto Arrieta in April and Cuban legend Joel “Cepillo” Casamayor in July in back-to-back bouts before scoring a clear-cut decision win over Vicente Escobedo in November.
THE NEW “GOLDEN BOY”
Dubbed “El Nino de Oro” or “The Golden Boy,” Jorge Linares has plenty to live up to in the ring with that nickname, but the former Two-Division World Champion is doing just that. In 2010, he decisioned Francisco Lorenzo in 10 rounds before putting together wins over perennial contender Rocky Juarez in July and former World Champion Jesus “Matador” Chavez to close out the year in October.
MARES EMERGES
2004 Mexican Olympian Abner Mares broke out on the international scene in 2010, knocking out Felipe Almanza in March before engaging in a 12-round draw with then unbeaten IBF Bantamweight World Champion Yohnny Perez in May (which most in attendance thought he won). Undeterred, he got back in the ring and finished up the year with a stirring decision win over Vic Darchinyan in December to win the WBC bantamweight silver title and advance to the finals of SHOWTIME’s “Winner Take All” Bantamweight Tournament.
A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Whether you’re a World Champion, contender or prospect, if you’re on the Golden Boy Promotions roster, you’re among the best fighters in the world at your craft. GBP fighters compiled a 162-20-10 record overall in 2010 (nearly half of those losses coming when two stable-mates faced one another). It’s just another reminder that the best fighters in the world fight on the GBP team reinforcing the company’s slogan, “Making History Everyday!”
MAKING THE MAGIC BEHIND THE SCENES
The GBP roster is the best in the world, and to get these world-class athletes to the ring, you need a world-class team working behind the scenes. In 2010, GBP added significantly to its staff with return of the legendary Hall Of Famer Don Chargin and the addition of world-renowned veteran publicist Bill Caplan as consultants.
THE FUTURE IS NOW…GBP GOES SOCIAL!
One of the most important functions of any business in this day and age is its ability to embrace and implement new methods of reaching the masses and GBP kept pace with this year’s surge in new media/social networking. GBP delivered on all fronts with a newly designed interactive website and robust Facebook and Twitter accounts that bring fight fans closer to the action than ever before. You can visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing to see more.
THE ODLH FOUNDATION
With now 15 years of service in the community, the Oscar de la Hoya Foundation was created to bring a better quality of life to the people of East Los Angeles. Today, with the help of so many, the foundation serves thousands of people annually. In 2010, the foundation held its 11th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament, its 14th Annual Turkey Giveaway and participated in the 29th Annual Miracle on 1st Street Toy Give-away at the Hollenbeck Youth Center in Los Angeles.
