Boswell Gets Rich Quick

The contracts have been signed, the hype has been elevated, the training has been intensified, tickets have been sold and predictions have been made.

But until the most important man was heard from, Saturday’s Lennox Lewis-Vitali Klitschko heavyweight title fight at Staples Center was not a done deal.

That man was Cedric Boswell and he has finally given his approval, removing the last obstacle from this fight, barring a last-minute injury.

Before the Staples Center boxing merry-go-round made its final stop, Boswell had a signed contract to fight Klitschko. That was when Lewis was fighting Kirk Johnson, before a partially torn chest muscle knocked Johnson out.

Boswell’s promoter, Dan Goossen, has negotiated a settlement that includes $150,000 in step-aside money, equaling the size of Boswell’s purse, and a verbal agreement with HBO that Boswell will get a slot in some future card.

Goossen could have thrown a legal wrench into the proceedings but says he never had any intention of doing so.

“Lewis-Klitschko is too big to legally interfere with,” Goossen said. “This fight is good for the industry. On the other hand, it was important to get some satisfaction for Cedric.

“I thought it made all the sense in the world to have Cedric move up and fight Lewis and keep the proposed Lewis-Klitschko pay-per-view fight for November intact, but the Lewis people obviously thought Klitschko would be easy pickings for Lewis compared to Cedric.”

Goossen says he’s not concerned he doesn’t have a written agreement for future Boswell bouts with HBO.

“They understand what we could have done,” Goossen said. “When the opportunity presents itself, I feel confident we will get a date for Cedric. No, it’s not in writing, but I’ve had written guarantees in this business where I had to sue.”

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Lewis and Klitschko will weigh in Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Star Plaza outside Staples Center. Former International Boxing Federation junior-lightweight champion Diego Corrales and Damien Fuller, his opponent in Friday night’s main event at the Home Depot Center in Carson, will weigh in at 1.