50 Cent's Top Boxer James Kirkland Is Leaving His Boxing Promotions Company Leading To The Rapper Dodging His Calls

That's Not Professional 50 Cent!

50 Cent posing in front of an economy car after filing for bankruptcy

An attorney for boxer James Kirkland has made public the pugilist's desire to leave SMS boxing promotions, the company owned by rapper 50 Cent. Kirkland's attorney Mike Miller stated to the Boxing Scene website, "We're just trying to get in touch with 50's bankruptcy attorney. He won't return our phone calls to figure out what plans they have for James Kirkland. Our contract is un-assignable so he can't assign our contract to a new company or anybody else. Really I don't know what leg they have to stand on to retain our contract. I don't want to waste a hundred twenty days to find out. I'm trying to get some dialogue going to see if we can reach a mutual agreement that Kirkland goes his way and 50 goes his way and we both move on."

50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, recently filed for bankruptcy on two fronts. 50 Cent filed for personal bankruptcy, as well as for his fledgling company SMS. This means boxers could experience significant difficulties getting paid by SMS, if at all, as bankruptcy protection can wipe out some debts, such as what 50 Cent's company owes fighters. They could end up fighting and not getting paid the purse or not receiving money due to them for past fights.

Canelo Alvarez, 50 Cent and his boxer James Kirkland

Hanging around Floyd Mayweather, who is the richest boxer in the world, had 50 Cent thinking the boxing industry is easy with huge paydays all over the place. However, the actual reality of the sport is it requires years of hard work, patience, skill and a keen understanding of the business. It is not an easy one.

Promoters also need good instincts, not just for business, but in fight making. Not only should you be able to scout and sign great talent, you also do not put your boxer in fights they are clearly not ready for. I love boxers, God bless them, they are brave and fearless, but sometimes some pugilists will be on the "I'll fight anybody, anywhere at any time" vibe and you kindly look at them and think, "No, boo boo, you're not ready yet (LOL)." It's not an insult, it's skill matching, paired with assessing the mental and physical state of your fighter at the time.

50 Cent

A good promoter can tell such things. A novice will not be able to tell. And 50 Cent is a novice, as he put Kirkland in with boxing beast Canelo Alvarez and it damaged his career and confidence, when the latter unleashed a potent knockout. However, Kirkland and Alvarez are great fighters and it is not an insult to either. Sometimes boxers are at a bad place in their personal lives and or struggling with injury and it negatively impacts their performance in the ring. Kirkland was experiencing personal problems, changes and injury. He didn't need such a huge fight after all those problems and a layoff.   

In closing, if you're a boxer and have the opportunity to sign with a big, experienced boxing promotions company such as Top Rank, Golden Boy, Mayweather Promotions, Matchroom or Frank Warren or get the chance to work with a veteran manager like Al Haymon, do so. Make sure you sign with people who know boxing or you will have problems and not reach your full potential in the ring or at the bank. 

Side Bar: Why doesn't Lennox Lewis have a boxing promotions company. He was world champ, knows how to win and made a fortune as a boxer. He knows the ropes (pardon the pun).

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Floyd Mayweather’s Promoter Sued By Manny Pacquiao's Promoter For $100,000,000 Alleging Bribery, Sabotage, Monopoly And Antitrust Practices

The Gloves Come Off

Al Haymon (center) and Floyd Mayweather (right)

Bob Arum, the promoter of boxer, Manny Pacquiao, under the Top Rank company, has sued, Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions. Haymon is a promoter and manager for the world's highest paid boxer, Floyd Mayweather, among other top pugilists. Haymon used to be a top music promoter in the entertainment industry, responsible for many lucrative R&B and rap concerts in the 1980s and 1990s.

Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao

Arum is accusing Haymon of engaging in a boxing monopoly, anti-trust violations and sabotaging other promoters and boxers, as well as issuing payola type bribes in the sport. Recently, Haymon launched the Premier Boxing Champions series on the NBC network in America, allowing the public watch boxing matches for free, features stars such as Adrien Broner and Shawn Porter. However, another top boxing promotions company, Golden Boy, also sued Hayon alleging the very same thing - he is running a monopoly and violating U.S. anti-trust laws.

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao

In all honesty, I have been enjoying the Premier Boxing Champions show on NBC. It is interesting and entertaining. However, if Top Rank and Golden Boy lay out sufficient evidence of a monopoly and anti-trust violations, with the matter properly proven and it reaches the SEC and FTC, Haymon could face charges and a whopping fine from the government. At the end of the day, we all want a clean fight inside and outside the ring.

STORY SOURCE

Al Haymon Sued by Top Rank Promotions: Latest Details and Reaction

July 1, 2015 - Embattled Premier Boxing Champions promoter Al Haymon is readying for another legal battle, as Top Rank Promotions filed a lawsuit against him Wednesday. Attorneys at Kramer, Levin, Naftalis and Frankel representing Haymon released a statement regarding the Top Rank lawsuit, (via Wil Esco at BadLeftHook.com).

The lawsuit filed today (Wednesday) by Bob Arum and Top Rank is entirely without merit and is a cynical attempt by boxing's old guard to use the courts to undermine the accessibility, credibility and exposure of boxing that the sport so desperately needs. "The Premier Boxing Champions series makes boxing free again, by bringing championship boxing to free TV, with a fighter-first promise and a commitment to the fans to restore boxing to the luster of its heyday. The continued success of this effort will far outlast this baseless lawsuit.

Haymon has become arguably the most prominent promoter and manager in boxing in recent years, but Bob Arum and Top Rank Promotions are looking to put a stop to that. According to Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, Top Rank is suing Haymon for more than $100 million in damages due to the notion that he is attempting to create a boxing monopoly by taking on multiple roles...

The lawsuit also claims Haymon is intentionally losing money for now in order to gain the upper hand over other promotions. In order to stifle legitimate promoters from competing against PBC, Haymon has obtained exclusivity commitments from broadcasters. Between these predatory 'payola' payments and the expenses of promoting each televised match, Haymon and Waddell & Reed are operating at a significant short-term loss in the millions of dollars. This 'loss leader' strategy ... has allowed Haymon to gain unfair advantage in the promoter market to the severe detriment of legitimate competitors like Top Rank...

Such accusations are nothing new for Haymon, who was sued by Golden Boy Promotions for $300 million in May due to alleged violations of antitrust laws, according to ESPN.com's Dan Rafael. Haymon was also accused by California Boxing Commission Commissioner John Frierson of sabotaging other promoters by reserving both the Forum and the Staples Center in Los Angeles in an effort to prevent competition from holding events, per Ivan G. Goldman of BoxingInsider.com...

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