Documentation: Ali vs Wolfe – Matchmaker Speaks Out! 2003

By Sue TL Fox – October 11, 2003

(OCT 11) On October 9, 2003, WBAN posted a story on the Laila Ali vs. Ann Wolfe fight being canceled for the December 6th that was to take place in Nigeria.

After posting that story, matchmaker Chris Middendorf contacted WBAN and Middendorf said the following:

I read your piece with interest on the falling apart of the Ali-Wolfe deal and fight and wanted to add several thoughts.  As I had explained to Dana Yarborough, RPM representative, my goal at the outset, when I made the agreement for Ann Wolfe for three fights, was to create a situation where both fighters came together as champions, fought a great fight that would propel each of them to greater recognition and world reknown, and then went on to a great rematch.

I also added that the point of this exercise was also to make both fighters, and in particular in this case Ann Wolfe some real money. Laila Ali has made lots of money and will continue to make lots of money, in boxing and outside of boxing. But these fights with Laila would hopefully make Ann extremely well known and allow her to make some good money. Later on in the process, I said to the Wolfe camp, “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”. Yahya is not a man who vacillates; he establishes the position that he is taking and then that is it. The Wolfe camp held us off and did not return a telephone call to the promoter of this fight for thirty-six hours because “Brian is involved in a deal for 350 million dollars and just does not have a moment to deal with this”. And that is the real shame here. Management of Ann Wolfe had better things to do as far as they were concerned (although they did have the time to go behind the promoters back and try and negotiate a better deal for themselves). And what is truly sad here is that I doubt Ann ever knew what was happening. Did she know that her management team was so fixated on another deal that they put her $100,000 at risk? Did she know that in the end they felt that they were right regardless of what the promoter said and therefore let their fighter lose an opportunity to earn $100,000.

Plus possibly another $100,000 in bonus money if certain PPV incentives were reached? Of course she did not. And that is what strikes me as so sad. For all the perceived arrogance that people criticize Yahya for,  Absoloot’s goal was synonymous with Ann Wolfe’s-fame and fortune for both camps and a great fight, as it would bring on a second fight. But the real arrogance and selfishness was that which was represented by the Wolfe camp for not listening and not realizing that they were putting their needs, their concerns, and their egos, in front of their fighter’s opportunity to earn as much as $200,000. and establish herself as a major force in boxing. That to me is the real story here and it is a sad one.  Chris Middendorf -Absoloot  entertainment Related Links:

RPM Boxing’s Response

(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.  11, 2003