SCHAEFER PULLS OUT, ARUM SAYS THERE'S SOMETHING FISHY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 10 Dec 2009
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer pulled out of a planned trip with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and HBO Sports Ross Greenburg to Dallas to meet with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to discuss his bid to stage the super fight between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and former No.1 Floyd Mayweather Jr at the $1.2 billion state-of-the-art Dallas Stadium.
The fight for the ages which has drawn incredible worldwide interest is scheduled for March 13 after Pacquiao signed-off on the deal during a meeting with Arum at the New World Hotel in Makati City last Friday, following a quick trip to the Philippines.
An obviously annoyed Arum told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that Schaefer "called me last night to cancel the trip because he didn’t want to do the fight in an outdoor stadium." But Arum pointed out that the Dallas Cowboys stadium which has a 100,000 capacity has a roof that locks into place at the threat of rain and there was no problem.
Arum said "this is crazy. He told me I’m not going to Texas." Arum promptly called Greenburg and said "if he (Schaefer) doesn’t go why will I go. Is Pacquiao going into the ring by himself? So we canceled the trip."
Arum described Schaefer’s move as "the ruinous, worst thing. We are so embarrassed."
Asked why he thought Schaefer would do that, Arum replied "it's something only he can answer. But something is fishy."
Arum said "I am not going to allow my fighter (Pacquiao) to be deprived of revenue because of some nonsense that Schaefer has schemed up. I don’t think Mayweather is a part of this. Maybe there’s some side deal or something like that. It smells. At least go there and give the man (Jones) some respect. Isn’t that logical?"
He also revealed that Schaefer had sent him a new draft of a contract which says "the site of the fight shall be the MGM Grand unless Golden Boy decides otherwise. Are they crazy? Even if the fight went away how would you sign that contract? Why should Golden Boy and MGM Grand be mentioned as the site."
Arum said "I understand that the Dallas deal is $10 million better. That’s $5 million for Manny." He ended our conversation by saying "that’s where we stand today."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026