By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Legendary promoter, Don King, told FanHouse on Sunday that in order to sign Floyd Mayweather, he would be willing to work with both the fighter's adviser, Al Haymon, and Golden Boy Promotions, the organization that has handled the unbeaten, six-time titlist's past four bouts.
King said that he has worked with Haymon in the past, such as with former heavyweight world champion, Lamon Brewster, that he has attempted to contact Haymon and that he would do so again on Sunday.
"I tried to contact him about two weeks ago. I've been trying. I'm going to make another attempt to contact Al Haymon today. It shouldn't be a question," said King. "That's the strange part about this situation. This is is the strangest thing that I've ever seen that we can't pick up a phone and grab each other and say, 'hey, man, let's go.'"
The 79-year-old King has been wooing Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts) recently for the chance to make a mega bout with seven-division champion and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao, something that Haymon and Golden Boy Promotions were not able to accomplish twice during failed negotiations with Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank Promotions.
Golden Boy Promotions has had a hand in Mayweather's past four victories comprised of those over Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley, for which the boxer "has made over $120 million," according to Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions.
"I don't know about replacing Golden Boy Promotions. 'Replacing' would be the wrong word. But I believe that I could work in addition to," said King.
"You got a nice banker in [Golden Boy CEO,] Richard Schaefer, who has done a nice job in his capacity and working with the fighters that he has had. And [president] Oscar De La Hoya, you can't knock that," said King. "I can work with anybody, it don't matter who they are, where they come from, what color their skin is, I can work with anybody. We don't have to like each other, it's about working together to accomplish a goal."
King said that he spoke to Mayweather when the fighter called to wish him a happy birthday on his 79th birthday on Aug. 20, and that he is expecting to speak with the fighter again over the next few days.
"Floyd is okay. Floyd is doing good," King said from his his Florida home, adding that Mayweather "will be down here," and, "I'll be talking to him again," in addition to, "I can make the Pacquiao fight with [Top Rank Promotions CEO] Bob Arum in a blink of an eye."
In the meantime, Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) is scheduled to pursue his eighth title in as many different weight classes on Nov. 13 against ex-titlist Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) at the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium in their clash for the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt.
"There shouldn't even be a question of what we can do with Floyd if everybody means to do the right thing. It shouldn't be a case of you have to leave somebody to come to somebody. It should be that we should be able to work together," said King.
"It's indicative that you know that I'm the best promoter out there, and I say that humbly and with humility and not bragging. It's just a fact," said King. "But here we are with two guys -- one a fighter and one an adviser that I'm trying to transcend earthly bounds with. The other one [Haymon] should just jump on board and, say, 'Okay, let's do it,' especially since we know each other."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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