"BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD"
BY STEPHEN S. JOHNSON

(IB-January 14, 2009) The demise of a Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight has resurrected some of the same old names that Golden Boy Productions somehow links to "keeping the sport alive".

On Tuesday, Golden Boy Productions signed heavyweight journeyman John Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KO's) to a contract after Ruiz' affiliation with Don King Promotions had expired and no attempt was made by Don King to keep Ruiz in the fold.

The signing of Ruiz by Golden Boy Productions is not out of character.

Oscar de la hoya has continued the "recycle route" by contracting fighters who are members of the "senior circuit". John Ruiz being signed by Golden Boy Productions, with not even a whimper from Don King who still controls the heavyweight division, lets you know of Ruiz' box office potential.

Says Ruiz, "I look forward to being a member of the Golden Boy Family for many years to come. I have many years left in boxing and this signing gives me the best opportunity". Are we to believe that Don King offered Ruiz no opportunity?

John Ruiz, the first Hispanic fighter to ever win a heavyweight title, is another GBP "long in the tooth" fighter who believes GBP has his best interests at heart.

GBP could give less than a damn about John Ruiz. Ruiz is just another in the now long line of Latino boxers de la hoya contracts when they are on the downhill side of their career. Should GBP be able to carry John Ruiz into 2010 with the thought that his career has "many more years", that would be a victory.

No specifics of the contract were divulged.

Julio Cesar Chavez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and now John Ruiz have all been billed as "the future of Golden Boy Productions", when in fact they were the beginning of "Golden Boy Productions Retirement Home". 

Barrera and Chavez have both stated they feel de la hoya misled them, before parting company.

The idea that Don King would let any heavyweight fighter leave him without negotiations is very relevant.

Controlling the heavyweight division currently is who Don King Productions IS. It would be absurd to think John Ruiz would walk away from Don King unless King no longer sees Ruiz as a viable heavyweight box office draw.

Are there some heavyweight's out there that GBP is able to match against Ruiz who ANYONE would pay to see? Not very likely. The grabbing, holding and overall boring John Ruiz had no other option but to join the GBP Retirement Home. His last several fights have all been in Europe because he has no following here in the United States. Somehow Oscar de la hoya and GBP are going to change this?

My prediction: GBP will soon sacrifice John Ruiz to the UK's David Haye (23-1, 21 KO's) who currently holds the WBA version of the title Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Yesterday afternoon, GBP CEO Richard Schaefer was all gooshy when announcing the contract signing of Bernard Hopkins (50-5-1-1, 32 KO's) who turns 45 years old tomorrow, and Roy Jones, Jr. (54-6, 40 KO's) who himself celebrates his 41st birthday this Saturday, to fight.

The contract allegedly stipulates that the purse will be split 50/50 with, in the event of a knockout, the spilt would be adjusted to 60/40 for the winner. Not a bad idea...if you're Bernard Hopkins. 

The fight will probably be scheduled for sometime in mid-April at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. THAT undercard should be very interesting since Schaefer announced the fight would be a Pay-Per-View event. Can they (GBP) possibly believe that this "event" will attract enough interest to make PPV viable?

December 2, 2009 saw both Hopkins and Jones, Jr. fought in what were to be mere "tune-ups" for a PPV match that, at that time, could've probably attracted enough attention to make a Hopkins vs Jones, Jr. fight one that may have possibly been entertaining.

Bernard Hopkins entertained his home-town folks in Philadelphia by taking apart unheralded 29 years old Enrique Ornelas (29-6, 19 KO's). Roy Jones, Jr. traveled to Australia to battle 36 years old Danny Green (28-3, 25 KO's) and was shockingly knocked out in the first round.   

The fight between Hopkins and Jones, Jr. was at that point dead. Bernard Hopkins offered these thoughts: "I thought the fight was stopped too soon. That's why I don't go over there and fight. You're always gonna have some silly shit happen". 

REALLY?

Roy Jones, Jr. is one of the greatest boxers of all time. He completely dominated the middleweight division for a solid 10 years and then moved up in weight to add lightheavy and heavyweight titles to his resume. That being said, Roy Jones, Jr. is no longer the threat or entertainer he once was. But then, who is?

Danny Green is talented in his own right. Strong with good punching power. The EXACT kind of fighter that some 8-10 years ago, Roy Jones, Jr. would have destroyed. So why would anyone in their right mind believe that Jones, Jr. vs Hopkins could rekindle any kind of flame?

On January 30th we have Andre Berto and Shane Mosley kicking off the 2010 year in boxing.

On March 13, 2009 in Dallas Texas we have Manny Pacquiao vs Joshua Clottey.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will be doing battle against the ever-dangerous TBA (to-be-announced), sometime in the same month (allegedly).

Next up, Bernard Hopkins vs Roy Jones, Jr. where you can count on Golden Boy Productions adding their newly acquired John Ruiz bringing his "huggy bear" impersonation to the undercard, and the 1st quarter of 2010 boxing will be in the books. 

The absence of a young bantamweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight or even light heavyweight being mentioned as a contender for a Pay-Per-View event, is where the problem remains.

Sure, there are many good fighters in all the above mentioned weight classes, but the same (excuse the pun) "old names" are at the forefront of the majority of fight cards.      

Until Oscar de la hoya (Golden Boy Productions), Bob Arum (Top Rank) and Don King (Don King Productions) are all held accountable for their promises of "bringing fresh, talented faces to the sport of boxing we are left with only one thing as sure. 

It's the title of a song by the R&B group THE WHISPERS where they say, "AND THE BEAT GOES ON"...

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