Ali vs. Wolfe: RPM Boxing Response to Matchmaker For Absoloot Entertainment

(OCT 13) Waco, Texas – In response to matchmaker Chris Middendorf’s recent comments, RPM Boxing said that they were in general agreement with him that the three fight deal between Laila Ali and Ann Wolfe was a great plan to build the two fighters towards worldwide recognition.  RPM also agreed that the fights would generate “some real money.”

Chris Middendorf said, “be careful here, Yahya is the type of person where once he decides something then that is it, and you are putting the whole fight into jeopardy.”

RPM said it never put the fight in any danger or “jeopardy”.  RPM said they were looking out for the safety of their own camp.  It is true that RPM Boxing promoter Brian Pardo was working on other business transactions while attempting to finalize contractual provisions with Absoloot Boxing.  Pardo informed Johnny McLain that he was not going to sign off on anything until he researched the entire Nigerian event thoroughly.  McLain assured Pardo in a conference call that there was no danger to travel to Nigeria despite the US Department of State warnings to the contrary.  McLain responded that he had hired a security firm headquartered in South Africa to provide security for everyone involved.  However, McLain was never able to name this firm nor did he want RPM Boxing to talk to anyone other than him.  In protecting the safety of his camp, Pardo decided to have everything checked out first by calling the Nigerian representative himself.

Pardo said the Nigerian representative; Billy Nwoyne was very helpful in alleviating concerns over the event.  Further, Mr. Nwoyne explained to RPM Boxing that he had been negotiating this particular event with McLain since January of this year, but McLain made RPM Boxing aware of it only about two weeks ago.

Prior to making RPM Boxing aware of the Nigerian event Johnny McLain asked for and received a forgiveness period on the 120 day contractual provision in the umbrella agreement because McLain stated that he was negotiating a fight between Laila Ali and Ann Wolfe on HBO.

RPM Boxing said that only about a week after obtaining forgiveness on the 120-day period McLain abruptly advised RPM Boxing that the negotiations with HBO were over because a fight venue’d in Nigeria had “just dropped into their lap.”

RPM Boxing categorically states that it did not “go behind the promoters back” to negotiate a better deal for themselves in contrast to the statements made by Chris Middendorf.

Brian Pardo, President of RPM Boxing, said that he believes the fight fell through for the simple reason that Laila Ali is afraid to fight Ann Wolfe.  Pardo said however that under the provisions of the umbrella contract Laila Ali must fight Ann Wolfe before she fights any other opponent.  RPM Boxing said that it is recalculating the amount of days passed in the first 120-day period minus the forgiveness period, and it will give the new date to Johnny McLain very shortly.

RPM Boxing said Laila Ali must fight two bouts with Ann Wolfe the first within the 120-day period and the second within a 150-day period following the first fight.