Connect with us

Articles of 2003

SUGAR RAY'S IN SOME VERY 'MESI' BUSINESS

Published

on

The 48th Round

This past week, heavyweight fighter Joe Mesi and Sugar Ray Leonard ended their legal dispute by coming to a settlement that allowed Mesi to seek other promotional offers and end his association with SRLB.

Mesi then reportedly signed a promotional agreement with Tony Holden.

Mesi had sought to get out of the deal because Leonard's organization had not made good on one component of the contract, which was to deliver a fight on HBO or Showtime by December 31 of last year. As it turns out, there was no December date being discussed, and though a fight was proposed to former heavyweight contender Michael Grant, it apparently was never brought up to Jack Mesi, Joe's father and manager.

Of course it wasn't, because one would have to wonder why in the world Mesi, who is not exactly the biggest heavyweight in the world, would consider a fight against a 6'7″ guy with some ring skills to be the optimum career move, especially as there were plenty of other people he could have fought.

A fight with Frans Botha was subsequently discussed, but SRLB was never able to deliver on that fight.

So Mesi decided to walk.

Both sides are compelled to stay silent about the settlement, but it looks like $100,000 was the price tag for Mesi's freedom.

That'll turn out to be a bargain.

We have written at length, both in “Operation Cleanup: A Blueprint for Boxing Reform” and this volume, about what we perceive to be the inherent dishonesty of Bjorn Rebney, president of Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing. None of the claims coming out of the Mesi camp sound foreign. And juxtaposing some of the clauses in the contract against what really happened serves to illustrate what has gone wrong in SRL's relationship not just with Mesi but in every fighter the company has dealt with.

Mesi's contract with SRLB not only guaranteed four fights during the calendar year 2002, but also what kind of fights they would be, and/or where they would be.

For example, the contract specifies that “Bout #2 shall take place on June 7, 2002 at the Turning Stone Casino during the Boxing Hall of Fame weekend on Sugar Ray Leonard Presents ESPN2's Friday Night Fights and shall be a ten (10) or twelve (12) round Main Event bout. The purse for this bout shall be a minimum of $30,000.00.”

Well, when he wrote this contract, Rebney, an attorney, had no guarantees or commitments from Turning Stone regarding the June bout. In fact, there were no substantive conversations. Besides, promoter Mike Acri had put on the show at Turning Stone during Hall of Fame weekend for the last six years, with the exception of 2001, when the Ali-Frazier women's fight took place. Did Rebney ever endeavor to contact Acri to place Mesi on this show? No, he did not.

Instead, what he chose to do, after Acri was in place, was to directly approach the Oneida Indian Nation, which runs Turning Stone, and demand a site fee of $118,000 for the ESPN show. He was politely turned down.

That led Rebney on a mad search for a site. The people of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina came to his rescue, with $75,000 in front money to serve as hosts for the June show, which was to include Mesi in the main event. Rebney never produced the card in Myrtle Beach, but never returned the money either, leading to a nasty legal entanglement, which includes a “cease and desist” order from the state of South Carolina.

The point is, though, that Rebney had no reservations (pardon the pun) whatsoever about guaranteeing a site for a fight that he could in no way assure anyone he could produce. Given those parameters, any misrepresentation is believable.

Under the Mesi agreement, the purse for Bout #3 “shall be $35,000.00 or the parties would split the net revenue generated by the event – 60% Athlete and 40% SRLB, whichever is greater (I had to add the punctuation).”

The problem is, it was Rebney's full intention that this “net revenue” would not include the television money realized from the fight – $52,000, or thereabouts, as per the company's contract with ESPN. Rebney told the camp, “Oh no, that's Ray's money”, which, translated, means – “We will be absolutely delighted to grab 40% of a live gate figure that Joe Mesi is 100% responsible for generating; an amount of money which, in fact, could have been attained with or without our involvement. In other words, a 40% 'tax' is a small price to pay for being associated with the great Sugar Ray Leonard, regardless of whether his presence means jackshit in the city of Buffalo.”

So what gives someone like Rebney the idea that he has that kind of leverage?

Well, perhaps that's something John McCain, the great protector of television interests in boxing, should be clued into. You see, SRLB's strength with Mesi resided almost completely in the fact that it appeared to be the most painless way for the heavyweight to get himself onto ESPN. Mesi, who was 21-0, drawing considerable crowds, and breaking into the rankings before becoming involved with Leonard's group, somehow could not get a date with ESPN on his own.

Instead, he was “encouraged” to get together with one of the promoters who was already “doing business” with the network at the time, i.e., Russell Peltz, Arthur Pelullo, and SRL/Bjorn Rebney.

For the uninitiated, that is NOT exactly analogous to walking into a room and being given the choice of sleeping with Heather Graham, Charlize Theron, or Denise Richards.

There's obviously something wrong with the picture. You can debate the actual abilities of Mesi all day long, but the fact is, he brings something to the table that most fighters don't – a “hometown” atmosphere and strength as a ticket-seller. As long as he was willing to fight opponents the caliber of Talmadge Griffis and David Izon, why SHOULDN'T the network have been willing to do business with him?

I can't answer that question. ESPN probably WOULDN'T answer that question. But no doubt, somewhere down the line, there's going to be a situation where a lawsuit ISN'T settled, and a question similar to it is going to have to be answered in a courtroom.

At that point, McCain, and the others who think like him, may very well get a taste of how foolish they've really been.

As if we haven't given them that already.

Copyright 2003 Total Action Inc.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles7 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles5 days ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles1 week ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles6 days ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles1 day ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles1 day ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles5 days ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles6 days ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles7 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles1 week ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending