PENSACOLA, Fla. (April 21, 2009) – One of the sport’s most highly respected executives, Bob Goodman, has agreed to join Square Ring Promotions as Chief Operating Officer, it was announced today by Chief Executive Officer John S. Wirt..
Goodman will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y. on June 14, joining his legendary father Murray Goodman as a member. He has been a matchmaker, promoter, publicist and manager over his 50 some odd years in boxing.
“We’re very proud to have Bob Goodman on our team,” said Square Ring President Roy Jones, Jr. “He’s a great addition and shows how serious we are about the future of our Company.”
Goodman, who will turn 70 on June 8, was the Vice President of Boxing Operations and Public Relations for Don King Productions for many years at his last post. He was also the head at Madison Square Garden Boxing, where they developed many champions, including, James “Buddy” McGirt, Kevin Kelley, “Poison” Junior Jones, Aaron “Superman” Davis, Tom “Boom Boom” Johnson, Tracy Harris Patterson, Lonnie Bradley, Julio Cesar Green and Hector Acero Sanchez.
“We are honored that Bob has joined Square Ring,” said Wirt. “As a future Hall of Famer, he brings unprecedented depth, insight and experience. Having previously worked with him for over ten years, he is one of the most admired and respected professionals in the industry and will be an invaluable member of Square Ring.”
“I’m happy to join Square Ring, headed by such a great champion as Roy,” said Goodman from his home in New Jersey. “This is a great opportunity and challenge for me to do what I love with people I like and respect. I’m excited about being with this young dynamic company and the prospects for the future.”
About Square Ring:
Pensacola-based Square Ring, Inc. is a global promotional company that is majority-owned by boxing legend Roy Jones, Jr., an eight-time world champion in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions in addition to being the first former middleweight champion to win a world heavyweight crown in over 100 years. Square Ring has promoted some of the largest pay per view boxing event in the world and over the past decade has promoted or co-promoted boxing events in crowded arenas throughout the United States and on pay per view, premium, cable, satellite and terrestrial television networks throughout the world.
About Roy Jones, Jr.:
In addition to being an eight-time world champion boxer in four different weight classes, the multitalented Roy Jones Jr. is a boxing promoter, a hit music performer and manager, and a television and motion picture actor. After winning the light middleweight Silver Medal for the United States at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea by way of a controversial decision and being named the 1988 Olympic Games’ most outstanding fighter, Jones embarked on an extraordinary boxing career that ultimately resulted in him being voted “Fighter of the Decade” for the 1990s by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Manfredo looking Green (towards Duddy)
PROVIDENCE (April 23, 2009) – As he heads back to the middleweight division, former world title challenger Peter Manfredo, Jr., rejuvenated by his impressive seventh-round knocked out of Walid “Tempete de Sable” Smichet last Saturday, has his sites set on “Ireland’s” John Duddy.
The 28-year-old Manfredo (32-6, 16 KOs), star of The Contender, Season I, is unable to attend Duddy’s fight tomorrow night (Apr. 24) in Newark, but he’ll be represented there by his promoter, Jimmy Burchfield (CES president), and father/trainer, Peter Manfredo, Sr.
“I was very happy getting a big win against Smichet, especially coming off my defeat to (Sakio) Bika,” Manfredo, Jr. said. “I boxed well, used my head and the knockout came at the end. I’m not where I want to be, yet. A couple of more wins and I’ll be ready for any middleweight. I’m a fighter, that’s what I do. I’ll fight anybody my promoter (Burchfield) and manager (Larry Army) put in front of me. Not too far down the road I want John Duddy. Knocking out Smichet, something Duddy couldn’t do was a plus for me. He’s a great guy and good fighter. We can make some money together. More importantly, though, it’s a fight that fans want and boxing needs; Italian versus Irish between two tough, exciting fighters.
“The last three years I fought as a super middleweight but I should have been fighting as a middleweight. The top super middleweights were just too big for me. When I lost the second fight to (Sergio) Mora – I really didn’t lose that fight – I felt that The Contender people would go with him and I wasn’t going to be their man. I thought moving up to super middleweight would be better for my career. I had good fights against (Scott) Pemberton and (Joey) Spina, then the call came to fight (Joe) Calzaghe for the world title. I got use to fighting at that heavier weight. But I want to be world champion and that’s why I’m going back to 160 pounds.”
The tentative plan calls for Manfredo to have two or three more fights before a high-profile bout against Duddy or, if he can’t get the Irishman into a fight, possibly Canadian champion Sebastien Demers. “We’d take a fight against Duddy right now,” Burchfield explained, “but it makes more sense to wait until after a couple of more fights for both of them. I’ve believed in Peter all along and I’ve never left his side. Some doubters felt he was all done after the Bika fight but he proved himself with a devastating knockout of Smichet. Some have said Peter can’t punch but that (Smichet) may be the Knockout of the Year. It was a tremendous confidence builder. I couldn’t have written the script better than it turned out against Smichet.
“Peter’s next fight will be at 163-164 and then 160. I think Manfredo-Duddy can be like Gatti-Ward or, even though it wasn’t the same ethnic-type fight, Paz-Haugen. Boxing wants to see fights like Manfredo-Duddy – it’s what boxing is about.”
Manfredo, Sr. liked what he saw from his son in Montreal. “He showed his boxing skills and that he was willing to listen,” he added. “He stopped a tough guy. Peter looked good and his defense was much better. He’s strong at this weight and will be even stronger at 160. Duddy’s a good fighter but we believe Peter is better. I like the potential Gatti-Ward comparisons; good for boxing and both camps. Everybody can come out on the plus side. It will be a barnburner, action-packed, one the public wants and needs.”