Exclusive: McClain Talks about the Promotion of the Ali-Martin card
By Sue TL Fox
August 25, 2003
(AUG 25) WBAN interviewed "Yahya"
Johnny McClain one on one about the latest promotion that he was involved in
with the Ali-Martin card that was held on August 23, in Biloxi,
Mississippi.
I spoke to McClain about the August 25th article on Fightnews.com that is
entitled, "Promoters Spar After Ali-Martin."
McClain said that in regards to that article, that “it is not true.”
McClain went on to explain, “Brian Young (Prize Fight Promotions) did not
speak to me after the fight or any other time regarding those matters….AND
if we did ‘spar’---I would kick his ass.”
McClain also talked about the remarks made in that article about him
removing the Prize Fight Banner at the Post Fight Conference.
McClain said, “I DID remove the sole banner, because he (Young) had the
audacity to have put it there in the first place as it was the only
banner that was posted at the conference. In fact, my wife (Ali)
was the one who showed me the banner when we first walked into the post
press conference, and so I took it down, and did not say anything to
anybody.”
McClain said that they are “Ticket Scalpers.” I asked him to clarify
what he meant. McClain said that they have nothing to do with the
fighters----but they have finances that enable them to make a deal with
the venues and the promoters, leaving them with tickets to sale.
McClain also talked about the contract between Laila Ali and Christy
Martin and Absoloot Boxing. He said that Martin signed the
contract---and that Prize Fight was not on that contract. McClain
said, “At the time of the negotiations of the contract there was no
mention as to Prize Fight Promotions, and that at this time he does not
know for a fact that she (Martin) is actually under their promotion.”
McClain added, ”If Prize Fight WAS the promoter, then they are not the
smartest, because I didn’t see any television prize fight signage
anywhere other than the local signage that I allowed prize fight to have
for their involvement in selling the tickets.”
McClain commented about Martin's remarks that she thought that Prize Fight
Promotions was the promoter. McClain said, “As far as
Christy saying that Brian Young is the promoter, I am sure that she did
think that, because Brian was in her dressing room before the fight and
sold her some big dreams. If that is all that Martin can think
about is whether or not Brian Young is the promoter or not----it is no
wonder that she got her ass whipped the way she did.”
McClain concluded the interview in saying, "Everyone knows Laila Ali does
not fight for ANY Promoter, other than "Yours Truly." (Absoloot Boxing.)
AND this fight was no different, this was an Absoloot Boxing promotion."
