He’s Still Learning the Ropes in Sport of King

Boxing promoter Cedric Kushner, who enjoys eating a big meal almost as much as closing a big deal, once ordered lamb in an upscale Las Vegas restaurant.

When the main dish came, it consisted of two round pieces of meat the size of doughnuts.

“Excuse me, sir,” Kushner told the waiter in his South African accent, “but when one orders lamb, it is expected that one receives a piece of lamb.”

A reasonable expectation.

Kushner had another reasonable expectation. He figured that when a promoter has two of the hottest fighters in boxing, he can expect to receive a just reward for years of development and marketing.

He should have known better. Ordering lamb is one thing. Keeping away the wolves that hound boxing is quite another.

After 15 years in the sport, Kushner appeared to have finally clawed his way to the top, having become the promoter of the linear heavyweight champion, Hasim Rahman, along with welterweight Shane Mosley, genuinely considered, along with Felix Trinidad Jr., one of the world’s two best fighters.

But like that lamb, Kushner’s chances of success are rapidly shrinking.

Rahman: Gone for a King’s Ransom

Kushner was king of the promoters after Rahman, a 20-1 underdog, knocked out Lennox Lewis last month in South Africa to win the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation heavyweight titles.

Ten days ago, Kushner had in hand offers of between $16 million and $18 million for his fighter to either grant a rematch to Lewis or to fight Mike Tyson.

But, suddenly, Kushner found himself knocked out of the picture when Don King offered Rahman a briefcase containing $500,000 and a check for $4.5 million, part of a $75-million package.

Rahman accepted King’s offer, which included the $5-million signing bonus, an additional $5 million to fight little-known and less-regarded Brian Nielsen of Denmark on Aug. 4 in China, $15 million to fight the winner of the John Ruiz-Evander Holyfield World Boxing Assn. heavyweight title fight, $20 million to face Lewis and $30 million to fight Tyson.

The matter is now in U.S. District Court in New York. Friday, Judge Miriam G. Cedarbaum granted a June 11 trial date on suits by Kushner, who is suing King and Rahman, and Lewis, who is claiming Rahman is contractually bound to give him a rematch within five months.

After 15 years in boxing, preceded by a career as a music promoter, Kushner can’t be shocked at the thought of a promoter stealing a fighter, but he refuses to blame the sport’s nature.

“There is a suggestion by the cynics, of which there are many,” Kushner said, “that in boxing, this kind of conduct is normal. That is absolutely not true. The fact of the matter is that it is normal only when Don King is involved. Boxing is no worse than the music business or any other business. One dominant character creates all this confusion and has done so for 30 years and that is Don King. What boxing has to do is to get rid of Don King.”

King, on a tour of China, was unreachable for comment.

He and Kushner are longtime adversaries. In a three-year-old case headed for the U.S. Supreme Court, Kushner has charged King with racketeering in an earlier dispute over the rights to Rahman.

“I am confident,” Kushner said, “that the previous case will show a pattern that will help us in this case.”

Kushner acknowledges the latest case has hurt him deeply.

“I’ve been with Hasim for seven years,” he said. “I didn’t deserve this. This makes me very bitter because I’ve worked so hard for this particular young man.”

Yet, Kushner is willing to forgive Rahman if he agrees to return?

“Absolutely,” Kushner said. “I don’t blame him for being coerced by Don King. King is very, very glib, very sophisticated and has, for 30 years, conducted himself this way.”

Mosley: Looking for King’s Ransom Kushner has Mosley under contract for two more fights, but Kushner may be hard-pressed to keep the Pomona fighter after that.

When he won a split decision over Oscar De La Hoya last June, Mosley and his father/manager/trainer Jack rightfully expected to inherit the Golden Boy’s mantle.

Indeed, Mosley should be boxing’s new Golden Boy. He not only has the talent, but the looks, personality and scandal-free past to complete the package. And unlike Trinidad, Mosley speaks English.

But since beating De La Hoya, Mosley has fought only Antonio Diaz, in a 5,000-seat theater in New York, and Shannan Taylor, in a 3,000-seat ballroom in Las Vegas. Mosley made only $1.7 million for his last fight.

Now with a July 21 date coming up for Mosley, a suitable opponent has yet to be found. One possibility, Hercules Kyvelos of Montreal, was rejected by HBO because of a lack of appeal.

To be sure, the field is bleak. Mosley could fight Vernon Forrest, who beat him as an amateur, or Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis, the WBA champion who looked ordinary in his last bout.

But neither is going to send the HBO ratings soaring.

It appears the fight will be held in Indianapolis rather than Las Vegas, which will further diminish it in the public’s eyes.

Kushner must do better if he hopes to fight off the expected wave of suitors, who will come calling on Jack Mosley when the contract is up.

Kushner must make his last fight with Mosley a blockbuster, a pay-per-view bonanza. It has been nearly a year since the last big Mosley fight.

But with Trinidad at 160 pounds and planning to move up, there is only one big opponent out there for Mosley. His name is Oscar De La Hoya.

But De La Hoya, set to fight Javier Castillejo on June 23, seems set on making his next opponent Fernando Vargas.

Where does that leave Kushner?

Watching in agony as his meal tickets disappear.

Quick Jabs

Thursday’s main event at the Arrowhead Pond will match bantamweights Carlos Madrigal (15-2, 10 knockouts) and Miguel Angel Granados (19-12, 8). First bell will be at 7:30 p.m. . . . Lightweight Francisco “Panchito” Bojado (4-0, 4), the 2000 Mexican Olympian from East L.A., will be facing Ernesto Fuentes (9-3-1, 5) on the undercard of tonight’s Charles Brewer-Antwun Echols match for the vacant North American Boxing Assn. super-middleweight title at 10 on Showtime.