Michael Marley
6/20/2007

The only winners are the highly-paid lawyers on both sides. Their meters are running hot and heavy and the billable hours are piling up.

 

 Boxingconfidential.com has learned that the court-ordered mediation in the continuing legal battle to be the promoter of Pinoy ring idol Manny Pacquaio has come to a screeching halt. Although Top Rank’s Bob Arum had predicted there would be some news of a resolution without going to a trial with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, it doesn’t look that way now.

 

Arum has told me he thought there might be a breakthrough in the settlement talks late Tuesday or sometime Wednesday. Now we’re going into Friday and the talks are at a standstill.

 

“You can’t speak to Golden Boy because their arrogance is overwhelming. It is arrogance on top of arrogance,” a source familiar with the discussions between the two giant promotional companies said. “On the other hand, Oscar’s guys, particularly Richard Schaefer, don’t want a settlement because they it as waving the white flag of surrender. Schaefer wants a knockout and his legal team has advised him they should be able to win this case before a judge and or a jury. Schaefer seems to feel a settlement would make Golden Boy look weak.”

 

I have contacted the “Boxing Banker” Schaefer by phone and email without response. In fairness to him and to Top Rank, both sides were ordered by a judge to keep quiet about the mediation talks.

 

There could be discomforting moments for both sides in regards to key witnesses. Once they get far, all the dirty linen will be on display.

 

A source close to Arum and TR president Todd duBoef said he would not be surprised to see the company announce that Pacman will fight in Vancouver, Canada, against TR’s Humberto Soto Oct. 6. The source said that TR would wait until next Monday or Tuesday to announce the fight at a press conference in the British Columbia metropolis because it does not want to overshadow the Ricky Hatton-Jose Luis Castillo co-promotion it has Saturday in Las Vegas with Art Pellulo’s Banner Promotions and the UK’s Dennis Hobson-led Fight Academy group.

 

Pacman peace? It doesn’t seem to be anywhere on the horizon.

 

And why no sensible settlement? Why don’t clear the decks the way HBO wants, the way Golden Boy fighters Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Joan Guzman want so they can get in the ring and get properly paid by fighting the charismatic Megamanny?

 

I’ll say what the Vichy Captain Renault said to Rick Blaine after Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) shot and killed Nazi robot Major Strasser at the airport in film classic "Casablanca."

"Round up the usual suspects."

HOW IT UNFOLDED THAT FOGGY NIGHT IN CASABLANCA:

Renault: I suppose you know this isn't going to be very pleasant for either of us, especially for you. I'll have to arrest you, of course.
Rick: As soon as the plane goes, Louis.
Strasser: What was the meaning of that phone call?
Renault: Victor Laszlo is on that plane.
Strasser: Why do you stand here? Why don't you stop him?
Renault: Ask M'sieur Rick.
Rick: Get away from that phone!
Strasser: I would advise you not to interfere.
Rick: I was willing to shoot Captain Renault, and I'm willing to shoot you.
Strasser: Hello?
Rick: Put that phone down!
Strasser: Get me the Radio Tower?
Rick: Put it down!
Gendarme: Mon Capitaine!
Renault: Major Strasser's been shot. Round up the usual suspects.
Gendarme: Oui, mon Capitaine.
Renault: Well, Rick, you're not only a sentimentalist, but you've become a patriot.
Rick: Maybe, but it seemed like a good time to start.
Renault: I think perhaps you're right. It might be a good idea for you to disappear from Casablanca for a while. There's a Free French garrison over at Brazzaville. I could be induced to arrange a passage.
Rick: My letter of transit? I could use a trip. But it doesn't make any difference about our bet. You still owe me ten thousand francs.
Renault: And that ten thousand francs should pay our expenses.
Rick: Our expenses!
Renault: Uh huh.
Rick: Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

FADE TO BLACK

 

(mlcmarley@aol.com)