FROM ALI TO PACQUIAO, MURAD MUHAMMAD IN HIS OWN WORDS PT. 8: PROMOTING, THE WAY IT IS AND THE WAY IT WAS

"That's why you have problems today because now it's broken. You have men who are aging. They call themselves promoters, but anytime the money is not on the table, they can't create the money. Anytime they don't have someone that can sell the gate out, they don't know how to sell the gate out… But I learned and I got my feel for boxing the hard way because I worked for it. They charged Gil Clancy with CBS for giving Murad Muhammad favoritism because when they started Saturday and Sunday afternoons, I had 2 shows on Saturday and Sunday…That's when boxing was big because the networks didn't play favoritism. The networks took men that delivered the right fights for the right money," stated promoter Murad Muhammad as he spoke more about how boxing has changed from the days when it was still on network TV. Don't miss this behind-the-scenes look into the history of the sport as Murad himself tells his story in his own words. From Muhammad Ali to Manny Pacquiao, he has worked alongside some of the biggest names in boxing and you don't want to miss more of his extremely revealing tales. Check it out!

So then I get a call from an HBO executive. His name was Ross Greenburg. He was the Executive Producer and he said, "Murad, do yourself a favor. You like to do original things. Go to Conseco Fieldhouse and then tell me what you think." I flew into Indianapolis and went to Conseco Fieldhouse and when I walked into the arena and stepped into the building, I said, "This is my place!" I brought Roy Jones Jr. there to fight and it was sensational. Sold out crowd! The only reason it wasn't sold out to the maximum is because we were waiting for the Pacers to come back from Philadelphia, but it was a rain storm and they couldn't make it, but they helped me a great deal and sold that place out. I called their arena second to Madison Square Garden. They gave Madison Square Garden a run for their money because that place is a gorgeous place. That's what I do. All you gotta do is show me something that seems to be impossible and I will get it done.

That's why you have problems today because now it's broken. You have men who are aging. They call themselves promoters, but anytime the money is not on the table, they can't create the money. Anytime they don't have someone that can sell the gate out, they don't know how to sell the gate out. African Americans have a problem in selling the gate, so you gotta come up with new ideas to put those assets in the building. None of these African Americans can sell, but they can fight. So what happens? It's no longer the best fighters is a great fighter; it's who can bring the most money. It's all about money today and if you cannot sell out my gate, if you can't bring the ratings, then they not putting you in a fight. Well, that was not my way. My way was I would go get all the rejects, all of the ones that you said cannot fight. Eddie Mustafa had no heart, but he was one of the best light heavyweights in the world. Dwight Qawi was too short, but he was the best 2-time world champion in the world. Saad Muhammad took a licking. I said, "Yeah, but he keeps on ticking." Donovan Razor Ruddock had one arm. I said, "Yeah, but he's got an educated one arm." They knocked everything that I had. They said this one couldn't fight and that one couldn't fight and they all became world champions. They became world champions because of the right trainers, the right motivation, determination and the ability to create. They left me with one rule that I live by. I don't beg anybody in this business for anything. I do not beg for a world title fight. I work my way to the #1 mandatory challenger. Now you've got to fight me, like it or not. You've got to either fight me or give up that belt. Guess what? We win and if we don't win, we fight strong enough to make you think that we a winner. Mike Tyson said this man [Ruddock] punches harder than a mule kicks and that he would never fight that man again. But it grossed Razor Ruddock 14 million dollars. He would have never made all of these millions if he wasn't this tough guy. That's another story and one day we will talk about it.

People ask me, "Is it racism in boxing?" Is it racism in boxing? Oh my God, yes! Donovan "Razor" Ruddock was prevented from fighting for the world title. We took on Lennox Lewis; we finally got there. We should have been number one and shouldn't have had to fight Lennox Lewis, but we were number two, so we had to fight Lennox for the number one spot. We shouldn't have had to do that. Of course, he got beat. He should have been fought Evander Holyfield, but they were skillful enough to keep me out of the ranking and not let my kid go high. When my kid got to number six, next thing you know, he's number nine. By the time you cry about him moving down and they put him to number six again, everybody done moved ahead of him. So I went through all of that.

People think that I had an "in" with the IBF. That is a lie because I never really did too much business with the IBF for years because my assistant, Marian, became a secretary and an assistant to Bob Lee, so I stayed away from the IBF. I had moral support from the WBA. President Sulaiman treated me like a son as long as I didn't go against Don King. I didn't have to go against Don King, so I got a lot of respect from Mendoza and the WBO, at that time, did not exist. But I learned and I got my feel for boxing the hard way because I worked for it. They charged Gil Clancy with CBS for giving Murad Muhammad favoritism because when they started Saturday and Sunday afternoons, I had 2 shows on Saturday and Sunday. They said, "How can that be?" Gil Clancy said, "Because he beat Don and he beat Arum; not because of favoritism, but because he delivered." That's when boxing was big because the networks didn't play favoritism. The networks took men that delivered the right fights for the right money. Dr. Ferdie Pacheco said, "Murad won this fight on my network because, let me tell you my formula. I ask a promoter how much do you want for the fight and I write it down. Surely he can't see through that folder. I'll be damn if he don't hit it on the head. He either hit it on the head or he's always under, but he never goes over and that's why he gets the deal."  USA [Network], before they went out of this business [of boxing], they used to call me and say, "Murad, we need you." I say, "Why?" They go, "Because we need a fight in a week and a half." I go, "Well why you call me?" They said, "Because you can pull miracles." I used to deliver fights for USA without even talking to Brad Jacobs. They used to call me and go, "Murad, I need a fight for next Friday. Call me back." I call back and ask what they want. He says, "We looking for a good 12-round fight. You got it?" Yes I do. I got so and so and so and so. This is all messages left on voicemails. He calls me back and asks how much I want? I call him back and tell him and I don't see him or talk to him until we are at ringside. These are the things no one says.

BE SURE TO CHECK BACK FOR PART 9 AS MUHAMMAD REVEALS MUCH MORE ABOUT ROY JONES JR. AND HIS YEARS AS A PROMOTER

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