Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
US boxing giants look for expansion
Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer has announced that a United Kingdom version of the successful US boxing brand could be launched across the Atlantic
in time for a spring debut show.
The promotional company, spearheaded by former fighters
Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins, began operations in 2001 and has quickly
become a driving force in the sport from it’s Los Angeles base.
Schaefer is now hopeful of signing some of the UK’s brightest
stars to the project before they announce their maiden show, and could be ready to
draft in Amir Khan as a co-owner, according to some recent speculation.
"We want to sign up some of
those fighters who represented Britain at the Olympics,” Schaefer was quoted by
The Mirror. "It would not necessarily be those
who won medals and we want those fighters with the right talent and charisma.
"I will be spending a
lot of time in the UK and I would personally take these fighters under my wing
and nurture them, which is something I have not done before.
"The idea will be to
showcase them here in the US as well and we would put on four fights a year in
the UK with them and four in the US. We would hope to stage our first show in
the UK in the second quarter of 2013."
Former world champion Ricky Hatton has also had close ties
with Golden Boy throughout his career fighting in America, but may now face
competition from his US promoters as he continues to build his own Hatton
brand.