Goossen Promotions Is Rebooting, Not Retiring

When Dan Goossen, the stout and universally respected foundation for Goossen Promotions,  passed away in late September, questions filtered through the boxing world if the Van Nuys-based boxing organization would continue. Would the survivors retire the famed boxing organization?

“There was never a thought in our mind of quitting,” said Craig Goossen, Dan’s son, who immediately picked up the gauntlet from his father. “Very good things are falling into place.”

Since the early 1980s the Goossens brought boxing first to the San Fernando Valley, then to the entire world with the likes of Michael Nunn, Gabe and Rafael Ruelas, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, Roy Jones Jr., James Toney, Terry Norris, David Reid, Chris Arreola, and Josesito Lopez to name a few.

If you know the Goossens at all, you realize they’re a large tight-knit family who pull together for events big and large. In the Goossen boxing history the promotion company –that has gone through several names including Ten Goose Boxing, America Presents, Goossen-Tutor Promotions and Goossen Promotions- has butted heads with the largest boxing promotions in the world to find their space.

One of Goossen Promotions viable assets is matchmaker Tom Brown, who has been the right arm of the promotion company through their various morphs.

“Tom is working overtime,” said Craig Goossen, adding that they had to put together a large boxing card last week in Studio City that featured ex-Olympian Shawn Estrada.

Until September, Goossen was back at his job working with a wine distributor. But despite not reporting to the office, the eldest son was still working with his father at most of his boxing events.

“I wasn’t really away from it. I was just working in a different capacity,” Goossen said.

Goossen Promotions next show will be on Dec. 11, at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in the Inland Empire. For years the area that encompasses, Riverside, Corona, Indio, Big Bear and Pomona and Temecula has been a target area for many boxing shows put on by Goossen Promotions.

Arreola was pulled from the card due to an injury that was surgically repaired but has not healed completely. His last fight was a loss to Bermane Stiverne for the WBC heavyweight world title last May.

“We’ve always believed in Chris Arreola,” said Goossen, who talked to his father many times in the past about the Mexican-American heavyweight contender. “My dad really believed and liked Chris as a person.”

Heavyweight Arreola and welterweight Lopez have fought many times in the I.E. and for a reason.

“It’s been a haven for new fighters and we’ve done very well there,” said Goossen, adding that one other promotion company, Thompson Boxing Promotions, has benefited from the strategic locale. “We’re going to continue going to the I.E.”

A slew of former world champions, like Austin Trout and Sergio Mora, will participate on the fight card that currently is scheduled for 13 bouts in Temecula. It’s a lengthy boxing card that rivals some of the old fight cards that legendary promoter Don King would put on occasionally.

The saga continues for Goossen Promotions, and at the helm is Craig Goossen, who is very optimistic about two of their other fighters.

“Malik Scott and Vanes Martirosyan are two guys that won big fights,” Goossen said. “Either one could be fighting for a title.”

They’re very achievable goals.

So it looks like Goossen Promotions is not retiring, but rebooting.

“We’re all moving forward,” he said.

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