Amir Khan contract clause inserted to Maidana-Cayo fight

[Chambers2]

"By Rick Reeno

This past Tuesday, I broke the news regarding an agreement being reached for a junior welterweight slugfest between WBA interim-champion Marcos Maidana and unbeaten Victor Cayo, which is scheduled for March 27 on HBO.

I received a shocking phone call Wednesday night from promoter Gary Shaw, who is currently in Mexico for this Saturday's Showtime card that features Edwin Valero vs. Antonio DeMarco. Shaw wanted to know if I had heard, or had any information, regarding the industry chatter with respect to the contract terms for the Maidana-Cayo fight. Prior to Shaw's phone call, I heard strange rumblings about the contract terms in question.

Shaw made a very good financial offer to Golden Boy for a fight between Maidana and WBC champion Timothy Bradley and they turned it down. He found the entire situation strange because there was good money involved, and a major title, but his curiosity was really poked when he, like me, began to hear some very strange rumors throughout the day.

From what Shaw had heard from several friends in the industry, there is a very interesting contract clause connected to the Maidana-Cayo fight. What is the clause you ask? Basically the winner has to stay away from WBA 140-pound champion Amir Khan for a period of twelve months or three fights - whichever comes first.

I'm sure some people are asking - "Why would the winner agree to that?" Well, there is a good answer for that. Several sources told BS the winner would receive a guarantee for a certain number of future HBO appearances and they don't come easy these days.

I decided to call several people insiders, and sure enough, everyone had heard the same exact thing.

One major promoter told BS.com - "I can't believe HBO is negotiating step-asides for Amir Khan. Are they a network or a promotional company?"

Another major promoter said - "Why are you surprised? Do you really think Golden Boy Promotions and HBO want Khan to lose any time soon? Look at Khan's fight with Marquez. Both of them are with Golden Boy and you can see the favoritism for Khan to win in their comments to the press. They did the same thing to Barrera and that's why he left."

Shaw doesn't know if the industry chatter is true, but everyone is talking about it. From my end, I called several promoters and well-connected managers and all of them had knowledge of these rumors. You know the old saying - where there's smoke, there's fire.

"It's very strange. I tried to make a fight for Bradley with Maidana and Amir Khan. They both refused which is highly unusual because there was good money involved and they would fight the number one junior welterweight in the world for the WBC title. If this is supposed to be HBO's next superstar [Khan], then how does he turn down a fight with the best 140-pounder in the world? If they don't want to fight Bradley, Vic Darchinyan is available," Shaw said"

Amir's definately from the Hatton school of matchmaking (i.e. avoid trade fights at any cost).

[whiskey]

Puts you off boxing doesn't it? this kind of crap.

[Datsue]

Without wishing to denigrate the bearer of this "news", this is something that GARY SHAW -- I'll repeat that, GARY EFFING SHAW -- has "heard" from "someone".

Much like Teddy Atlas's wonderful repeat of the "Tim Smith says that someone said that allegedly someone else heard that their mate believes that an insider found out that Pac asked what'd happen when he gets caught using drugs" exclusive, talking about stuff like this means that down the line it gets reported as verbatim by innernetz lunkheads, when the odds are it's drivel. Utter drivel.

As I wrote in the "Khan/Marquez" thread:

I am beginning to lose all interest in this bizarre merry-go-round rumour-mill thingie, & propose a moratorium until the matter is settled, particularly on who's ducking whom, who is & isn't a fraud, who is taking advantage of whom et cetera et cetera...

& I see no reason to change my opinion based on the contents of the above Shock Exclusive. There's some very complex negotiations/shenanigans (delete according to IQ & paranoid conspiracy looniness level) going on around Khan, Katsidis, Marquez & Maidana, & we're on the outside looking in, trying to guess the shape of the elephant from examination of various of its bodyparts. S'all a bit silly, really.

BTW: can anyone get a glorified whingeing press release tarted up as an "exclusive" on BS or Badlefthook, or do they only do that for Gary Shaw?

[Autobarn]

sadly it seems the complex negotiations and terms - whatever they are - are all to keep maidana away from khan.

[Nightmare Roy]

sadly it seems the complex negotiations and terms - whatever they are - are all to keep maidana away from khan.

From a business point of view you canny blame GBP, Lord knows how much they paid Khan as a signing on fee, but they certainly don't want to see him starched in his first fight for them, which REALLY could happen. It sucks but thats the way it works.

[Autobarn]

absolutely, look what happened with victor ortiz vs the same opponent maidana.

at least if khan avoids maidana, then khan won't be calling himself a "world champion" any more.

many are talking this fight down. maidana is crude. maidana lost to kotelnik. maidana is unknown. maidana is no superfight. well he also hits very hard, he is a different test to kotelnik, he won one of the best fights of 2009 on HBO. and he's a credible challenger, especially for khan's 2nd defence.

[Rob Magic]

Shame Shame. Just when I thought Khan would start fighting genuine challengers now that he holds a "cough cough" world title something like this happens. Never mind, things like this you expect from Amir Khan.

[Exoddus]

People keep throwing around the fact that Maidana lost to Kotelnik who Khan has already beat. The real fact is, Khan has fought one puncher in his 23 fight career and was totally destroyed. Boxing fans what to see how Khan will handle a puncher now he's been under Freddie Roach. allegedly and co had no confidence in Khans chin. When they finally put Khan in with a puncher it was lights out.

GBP and Roach don't seem to have any confidence in Khans chin either. It's Warren and Co all over again, albeit on a higher level.

[WildWaylon]

Boxing politics makes me sick. All we want is the best to fight the best, but it isnt that simple.

[martin_g91]

This is really bad. Whats next, all opponents have to sign an agreement before the fight promising not to hit him on the chin ?

[jimglen]

and they wonder why the sport is Near Dead!

these _uckers will never change... I personally think that by rebuilding the SPORT with ligimate contests, Elimination Tournaments, defences and contendership placement and Rights...

these same _uckers (Promoters, HBO's and Co, Fighters and the like), could still make great money, especially with a revived boxing and the 'average' sport fan returned to it!

Give Us Back the SPORT of Boxing!!!

[dondada]

That's a great story from the chap...wonder how Khan feels about this stuff - or if he even knows? I can't see him being happy about this.

[Autobarn]

is it all true then?

i can't believe it. he can keep his title AND duck his mando.

[gobbles]

People keep throwing around the fact that Maidana lost to Kotelnik who Khan has already beat. The real fact is, Khan has fought one puncher in his 23 fight career and was totally destroyed. Boxing fans what to see how Khan will handle a puncher now he's been under Freddie Roach. allegedly and co had no confidence in Khans chin. When they finally put Khan in with a puncher it was lights out.

GBP and Roach don't seem to have any confidence in Khans chin either. It's Warren and Co all over again, albeit on a higher level.

That Maidana lost to Kotelnik, who was beaten by Khan, is a "real fact" as you put it, to say Khan has only fought one puncher in 23 fights is an opinion.

[charlieb]

Whether it's Shaw spouting shite or not, it sounds entirely believable. It was bad enough that Roach had expressed a desire to not have Khan face Miadana, even worse when Maidana was announced as Khan's next in line, then replaced with JMM.

Whether it's protecting an investment or building up a fan fight into an HBO PPV-worthy fight, it's still making Khan look like a plum in the process.

I'd like to think it was GBP keeping Maidana away from a loss so that Ortiz can set the record straight, but that seems unlikely as Cayo's being talked up as a likely candidate to get the job done against Maidana.

Maybe the rumour of a 140lb HBO super six equivelant's being set up with some strategic matchmaking in order to keep the entrants on track.

I'm reaching though, it's just a case of GBP wanting to avoid another Prescott for Khan's debut.

I don't think Khan should be derided as a result of all of this, he didn't leave Wazza in order to avoid Maidana, it's more likely that Wazza threw Maidana into the mix because he knew Khan was about to get shot of him. It's not that surprising that his new owners want to avoid a potentially bad style match-up for his first fight on the books, I'm sure Khan himself wouldn't have any objection to Maidana, if he was calling the shots.

[CheckHook]

This is still just a rumor doing the rounds though isn't it? It's pretty obvious Khan and the people around him would prefer someone other than Maidaina for there first fight over seas. That said, the fact that we all already know this makes a rumor like this really easy to sell. It's not even like there is a source, the closest we can get to a source from the article is a nameless friend of Gary Shaw. That really doesn't fill me with confidence, especially considering Bradley is in direct competion with Khan for 140lb supremacy, Shaw is the last guy I'd expect to be above board when talking about Khan. Even the article goes on to say Shaw tried to get both Maidana and Khan for Bradley but was turned down, and we're still supposed to believe what his friends have said about Khan?

[gobbles]

Marquez, if it is him, is a vastly better fight for Khan than Maidana next, for plenty of reasons. He's a much bigger name, it's a greater opportunity to make a statement worldwide and, in particular, in the US and it's a fight that can potentially headline in Las Vegas, whereas a Maidana fight now would end up in some casino reservation somewhere.
I think there is also every reason for Khan to be allowed to take a voluntary defence in between two mandatories. Just as Valuev got to fight Haye instead of Ruiz who, like Maidana, got his shot directly after losing in a previous title shot.
That, however, does not mean he should avoid Maidana indefinitely. If he fights Marquez, or whoever, next, Maidana should be given his chance by the end of the year.

[Autobarn]

nacho beristain is sticking his nose in, feels his fighter marquez is being exploited and used as a stepping stone for khan (shame he didn't feel that way about the mayweather fight). this could be a problem, when the great trainer makes decisions (or tries to) re his fighters career moves. perhaps stalling for more money, perhaps worried about where his best fighter's career is going.

[tonyevs]

Well I guess its official now then. Maidana has signed to leave Khan alone for atleast a year ... ample chance for GBP to get maidana beaten and out of the picture.

Khan is a fraud and a joke. Not even his biggest cheerleaders can honestly say any different now.

[overhand_right]

Have they insisted on a 'no hitting Amir on the chin' clause yet?

Laughable, terrible, humiliating for Khan, boxing at its most crooked.

Enough to make you say 'b*llocks to this sport. I'm glad it's off mainstream TV'

[gobbles]

Well I guess its official now then. Maidana has signed to leave Khan alone for atleast a year ... ample chance for GBP to get maidana beaten and out of the picture.

Khan is a fraud and a joke. Not even his biggest cheerleaders can honestly say any different now.

Wow, you really believe everything on this forum, don't you?

[yiddo14]

Why all the hate?

Khan at age 23 is getting grief for lining up JMM as a possible defence...

He is still very young, therefore he has enough time to get "exposed" by those who think he is a fraud.

[tonyevs]

Well I guess its official now then. Maidana has signed to leave Khan alone for atleast a year ... ample chance for GBP to get maidana beaten and out of the picture.

Khan is a fraud and a joke. Not even his biggest cheerleaders can honestly say any different now.

Wow, you really believe everything on this forum, don't you?

What makes you think I got the info from this site?

overhand_right. Totally agree :(

[tonyevs]

Why all the hate?

Khan at age 23 is getting grief for lining up JMM as a possible defence...

He is still very young, therefore he has enough time to get "exposed" by those who think he is a fraud.

If Khan was the number 1 contender for the title, then I`d be agreeing with you .. but he is supposed to be the world champion. Doesn`t that mean he is meant to be more than able to fight the best in that division?

[Autobarn]

Have they insisted on a 'no hitting Amir on the chin' clause yet?

Laughable, terrible, humiliating for Khan, boxing at its most crooked.

Enough to make you say 'b*llocks to this sport. I'm glad it's off mainstream TV'

well, they had "no shouting, no intimidating" or whatever it was for the michael gomez weigh in and press conference.