"Ricardo Mayorga is a colorful guy. Nothing he does surprises me. This wasn't the first time something like this had come up. We have always advised him, since our representation began in 2001, that he has a legally binding contract designating Don King Productions as his sole and exclusive promoter...This man, Ricardo Mayorga, has fought for me for a long time and he owes me money. Why would I support him fighting for someone else that has had nothing to do with his gaining of fame, acclaim and notoriety? This promotional firm was attempting to steal the investment I have made in this man, something the agreement I have with Mayorga strictly prohibits. I was simply protecting my rights," stated legendary promoter Don King as he talked about the injunction he won which prevented Ricardo Mayorga from participating on a Shine Fights MMA card this past weekend. Check out what he had to say about legal victory, Ricardo Mayorga's future plans and much more.
PC: It's an honor to conduct this interview with you. I know you are a very busy man, so I will keep it short. When you first heard of Mayorga fighting MMA, and that Shine Fights had scheduled a fight for him, what was your reaction?
DK: Ricardo Mayorga is a colorful guy. Nothing he does surprises me. This wasn't the first time something like this had come up. We have always advised him, since our representation began in 2001, that he has a legally binding contract designating Don King Productions as his sole and exclusive promoter.
PC: I see a lot of MMA fans are ticked with you, but I don't think McDonald's would let Burger King borrow a few workers for a couple of days, right?
DK: I can understand their disappointment if they wanted to watch Ricardo fight in MMA. I get blamed for everything; the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, the Johnstown Flood, the American Civil War, you name it. I'm also black in America, so being blamed for something that was not of my making is part of our history.
This man, Ricardo Mayorga, has fought for me for a long time and he owes me money. Why would I support him fighting for someone else that has had nothing to do with his gaining of fame, acclaim and notoriety? This promotional firm was attempting to steal the investment I have made in this man, something the agreement I have with Mayorga strictly prohibits. I was simply protecting my rights.
PC: How important was it for you to get the injunction from the judge before Mayorga set foot inside of that cage on Saturday night?
DK: We tried to get the MMA promoters to come to their senses well in advance of the event and before they wasted any more of their time and money, investing in a doomed event. I had hoped a lawyer would come along and let these people know they were headed for trouble. I guess if a bull frog had wings, he wouldn't jump from lilly pad to lilly pad.
PC: Will you pursue any other legal action against Shine Fights or is the fact that they didn't go through with the fight satisfaction enough for you?
DK: I'm just happy we won on Saturday with justice prevailing.
PC: Not only was Mayorga's fight scrapped, but the commission scrapped the entire card. Was that your intent or was your intent simply to get your fighter off of the bill?
DK: This is where the blame game I was talking about earlier comes in. I had no intention of preventing these people from doing business. In fact, I support them. That's what America is all about. They infringed on my rights with one of my fighters and I couldn't stand by and let that continue. I wish them and their fighters well in the future.
PC: I knew you were still a powerful guy, but to front $1 million in cash within a couple of hours is just...well...how we say where I'm from, gangster! Will we see Ricardo Mayorga inside of the ring again soon? And how do you just go and get $1 million from the bank (laughing)?
DK: There wasn't no banks open on Saturday afternoon, my man! The judge was under the impression I could post a bond in this amount with a couple of phone calls, but the bondsmen we were talking to are licensed to post bonds in criminal matters, which isn't what this was. With only two hours to post bond, I had to do what I had to do. I was like Clint Eastwood in a movie, racing down the freeway with a fistful of dollars. But I wasn't going to win the injunction and then lose my rights over not being able to post the bond the judge required. I haven't been in this business this long and come this far to lose. When I say cash is king, I mean it!
As for Ricardo, I've got work for him and he says he wants to fight, so look for him to be back in a ring soon doing what he does.
PC: I appreciate your time Mr. King. Best of luck to you and DKP for all upcoming events and projects. Is there anything you would like to say in closing?
DK: Only in America!
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]