Boxing Scene reports of a possible tie between a boxing promoter and the World Boxing Association where the promoter sent money to a company that works “closely” with sanctioning bodies. The transaction appears to be a payment made to a sanctioning body for the purpose of creating influence to give his fighters better fights.
The information came out in a lawsuit filed by Clifford Mass against Greg Cohen and his promotional company for an alleged investment agreement where Mass put $250,000 into Cohen’s company but did not see a return.
In a deposition related to the lawsuit, Boxing Scene uncovered a piece of testimony under oath in which Cohen paid a consulting firm $17,250 as part of a fight involving one of his clients. The company identified, Sports Consulting Services, is owned by people with ties to the World Boxing Association. If this is correct, it would seem that the promoter is purchasing a ranking from the promotion in order for their fighter to get a prime fight.
Navigating fight promotions in boxing is unique in that it seems to be more politics than achievement and rankings can determine whether a fighter represented by a manager gets a big fight/big money deal or be mired in mediocrity. It would appear that there was some impropriety in this instance in which Cohen sent payment to an entity in order for his client to get a fight.
The allegations, if true, would be a violation of the Muhammad Ali Act which was introduced to protect the rights and welfare of boxers.
Payout Perspective:
While the revelation is ancillary to the actual lawsuit between Cohen and Mass, the news affirms the rumors of ‘pay for play’ business models where a promoter works with a sanctioning body on behalf of their fighters. It’s an obvious conflict and against what the Muhammad Ali Act was made to protect. In another lawsuit, Mahmoud Charr accused the WBA and its president Gilberto Mendoza, Jr. of conspiring to work with promoter Don King to remove the boxer from the WBA heavyweight title picture.
It’s unknown what will become of the information from Cohen’s deposition. It could demand an investigation from the state or U.S. Attorney General to determine violations of the Ali Act.
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