Publicist Defends Don King -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Saying that he takes "umbrage," for what he called, "a cheap shot," by Golden Boy Promotions' CEO, Richard Schaefer, Don King's publicist fired back at Schaefer's assertion that his promoter focused more on Floyd Mayweather than his own fighter, Devon Alexander.

In relation to developments that have resulted in a clash over the unbeaten Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts), King has been wooing the five-time titlist Mayweather with the goal of matching him against Top Rank Promotions' seven-division king and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt-holder Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) in a mega bout, possibly in the spring.

King invited Mayweather to his Florida home last week for a lavish dinner, and brought the unbeaten fighter to ringside for last Saturday night's HBO-televised main event featuring Alexander's WBC and IBF junior welterweight (140 pounds) title- retaining unanimous decision over former WBA king Andriy Kotelnik at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

Schaefer was critical of the move.

"I think that Don King would be better served to take good care of the fighters that he actually has, such as Devon Alexander," said Schaefer. "If I were Devon, and if I had to read all week long about how Don King bought Floyd Mayweather a $500 lobster at his house, I would be insulted and upset because this was supposed to be Devon Alexander's week."

Those comments chafed Alan Hopper, King's director of public relations.

"Richard Schaefer and Golden Boy Promotions can only dream about the type of publicity that Don King garnered for an HBO Boxing After Dark event. Don was whining and dining Floyd the week before the fight week in St. Louis, where Don arrived in the Gateway City on Monday and promoted Devon Alexander all week long," said Hopper.

"That was evidenced by a Fox Sports Midwest 30-minute television special on Devon Alexander, which aired during fight week, as well as multiple stories most days in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and, features in national publications like the USA Today and The New York Times," said Hopper.

"If the Schaefer missed all of that, I'd also like to tell him that U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, from Missouri welcomed Devon home on a Sunday night event that kicked off fight week," said Hopper. "And Missouri governer, Jay Nixon, accepted Don's invitation to sit with him at ringside along with his two sons. They sat with Mr. King and 'Money' [Mayweather.]"

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com