THE "REAL" REASON BEHIND KATZ' MAGNIFYING GLASS

To say that New York Daily News boxing columnist Michael Katz and promoter
Bob Arum are "good friends," is akin to Ken Starr and Bill Clinton sharing
a bong together.

FEUD IS LONG AND STORIED

Katz is one the nation's best, and most widely read boxing scribes in his
role as columnist de pugilistica for the New York Daily News. To say he is
a journalistic bulldog would be an understatement, as there are few writers
who will work somebody as thoroughly and with such bluntness as Katz.

MEET MASTER BOB

As President of Top Rank, Inc., the promotional group he has headed for
almost three decades, Bob Arum is a former U.S. Attorney in the
administrations of both President John Kennedy, and his successor Lyndon
Johnson. He is also Jewish.

YOM KIPPUR HOOKER

That's what Katz said in a Daily News column. To be as exact as I can,
Katz, also a Jew, had wrote that Arum was a "Yom Kippur Whore" for
conducting business on the most holy of Jewish holidays.

ARUM FILES SUIT

Master Bob then files suit against Katz and the Daily News for among other
things, the defamation of his character. Katz would be forced to a hire a
mouthpiece to fight Arum has a slew of shysters on retainer.

LEGAL FUND STARTED BY HAUSER

Famed Muhammad Ali author Thomas Hauser then stepped up to the plate and
kicked in some cash in order to help the besieged Daily News columnist with
Legal fees.

OTHERS TOO

As word of the law suit spread throughout the business, the survey said
that Arum was a loser in the world of public opinion, and most likely in a
court of law.

But others were ready to come to Katz' aide, as most of us realized that
this suit if tried, would test the very heart of the U.S. Constitution.

RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH

This is what separates the United States from a lot of places. And that is
you can't neuter the opinion of the Press.

CHRISTIAN HO?

Why would it be wrong to call Pedro Fernandez a "Christmas Day Whore" if I
was conducting business in my offices on the 25th of December? You know, it
wouldn't!

SUIT DROPPED

The Top Rank Skipper dropped the frivolous suit when both sides agreed to
cover their own legal bills in a settlement.

DIDN'T APOLOGIZE OR LET UP!

Katz was not forced to put forth any time of type of apology. "I didn't say
I was wrong, or that I was sorry." Nor did he retreat from frying Arum's
ass in print whenever the need arose.

PAYBACK TIME

When Katz traveled across the continent to El Paso, TX in June to watch
Oscar De La Hoya destroy Patrick Charpentier, he wasn't laughing after
arriving at the stadium. Arum had issued him a Media credential, but Katz'
assigned seat was in the very last row of the bleachers.

BEEN THERE

Having been in that same position before for my telling the truth, I can
tell you that being seated way up there is a badge of honor.

LATEST "LAST" LAUGH

Ten days after Oscar De La Hoya had claimed a cut suffered in sparring
would not allow him to face Ike Quartey on November 21, Oscar, Shane
Mosley, Michael Grant, and a host of other fighters were brought together
November 10, by light heavyweight champion Roy Jones and HBO to raise money
for ex-champion Gerald McClellan (see story by Thomas Gerbasi dated last
week at fighters.com).

THE "MAGNIFYING GLASS" INCIDENT

When Katz produced the magnifying glass at the gathering, it was generally
accepted that he like everybody else, was looking for the "alleged" cut the
Golden Boy had supposedly suffered.

KATZ, KING OF ONE LINERS!

"I wasn't looking for any cut on Oscar. I was looking for his balls," said
Katz.

TRAVESTY, "NOT" FANTASY SPRINGS HOSTS HBO CARD

There is nothing worse than having some buffoon look you right in the eye
and then lie to you. Especially, when you know beyond any doubt that the
orator is speaking with a "Crooked Tongue."

RING TALK SATURDAY, "LIVE FROM INDIO

That was the plan as hotel reservations were made for myself and fellow
scribe "Dangerous" Dan Buntin. Before we left via car from San Francisco, I
had a telephone conversation with Fantasy Springs P.R. aide Laura Ortiz.

SHE CALLED!

I explained to her that I would be doing my show from ringside on Saturday,
and that I need an incoming phone line and 110 watt power in order to do
so. I explained to Ms. Ortiz the importance of the phone, and if there was
a chance on it not being available, that I'd instead do my regular
broadcast from the Imperial Palace Hotel in Las Vegas.

"NO PROBLEM"

She said and hung up.

LONG TREK

After driving the 500 plus miles, and checking into the five star Hyatt
Esmerlada, it was time to get something to eat. We end up at a recommended
pizza joint. And after ordering a medium salami-mushroom, I am stunned to
hear our #37 being called just ten minutes later.

WRONG COMBO!

That's what we both discovered as we ripped pieces from the steaming pie
and threw them on our plates. Realizing the error, we heave the two slices
back on top of the pizza and bring it back to the cashier at "All Pro
Pizza" on Country Club Drive in Palm Desert, CA, a city which shares
borders with Palm Springs and Indio.

"ALL PRO" NOT TOO PROFESSIONAL

As Dan and I await our combo, we were keeping on an eye on the pizza that
we had just manhandled and returned. To my astonishment, the cook simply
put the detached pieces back in place, waited two minutes and then called #
36. An unknowing lady then came to claim the tainted pie.

ARENA TIME

After a nap and a bath, it's time to go set things up for the broadcast.
Upon my arrival ringside, I checked the appropriate tables for the two Ring
Talk seats and phone line Ms. Ortiz had assured me one day and 512 miles
prior, would be there.

NO PHONE!

When I finally locate Ms. Ortiz, who recently had taken over for longtime
Fantasy Springs P.R. Director Greg Cervantes, she told me she couldn't get
the phone.

GET OUT THE BOOTS, 'CAUSE HERE COMES THE SPIT

Ms. Ortiz at first tried a tactic that has little chance of success with
myself, and that being the bum's rush. "I'm sorry, but our phone guy said
he had never put a phone line out here and that he won't do it."

She then attempted to walk away.

DON'T DO ME THAT WAY!

That kind of crap doesn't sit to well with me and I let Ms. Ortiz, and
everybody within the immediate area know that I was taking offense at her
calling me a liar as well as her failure to honor our agreement.

I had repeated to her that I had broadcasted my show from ringside from her
venue on a number of occasions over the past few years, and that their P.R.
department even has a tape of one of the shows.

LEAVES, BRINGS BACK "MAN WITH CROOKED TONGUE"

Enter Ben Fernandez, a P.R. chieftain with the Cabazon Indian Tribe which
runs Fantasy Springs. Not only does this clown totally disrespect me and
act like a passhole, it seems my namesake would also try and get tough with
me.

SEE MY SIDE, IF YOU WOULD?

Here, I had just traveled seven and a half hours by car to do a radio show
with no strings attached. In other words, I wasn't getting a site fee, free
food, nothing! I was footing the entire bill myself.

VIOLATION OF ORAL CONTRACT

Seeing Ms. Ortiz, a person of authority had quite clearly stated that there
would be two seats and a phone available for our broadcast, and there
wasn't, I knew was being professionally injured by not having the agreed
upon ringside hookup.

When I tell Fernandez that I had done four shows with Greg Cervantes at
Fantasy Springs, he told me that he had talked to Greg and that I hadn't.

Knowing he was lying through his Coke bottle glasses, the little weasel
began to squirm when I began to assert my position orally. That's when he
tried to intimidate me by nodding to a security guard who had an even
looser belly than him.

ASK THE QUESTION, PETE!

"Who in the **** do you think you are pointing at?" I said to Fernandez as
he poked my Cashmere coat more than once with his finger. At that point, is
when he tried the Gestapo tactics with the guard.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS...

That maybe the Cabazon Indian Tribe could just be the kind of group that
I've read about involving Indian Reservation Gambling. You see, there have
been incidents in California where those empowered with money on
reservations have went so far as to use violence to intimidate their
reservation foes.

IN CLOSING,

Unless I receive a full written apology from the Chief, as well as some
type of compensation, I will forever refer to Fantasy Springs as Travesty
Springs!

Because to treat the Walter Winchell of boxing in this manner is nothing
short of a travesty!

AND, OH YEAH...

I thought it was only the White man in the old western movies that
possessed a crooked tongue? Not so, as Indian Ben certainly has that trait.

FINALLY,

I ended up broadcasting from inside the Tribal offices. Some of the guests
that would stop by included #1 pound for pound fighter Shane Mosley, WBC
Prez Jose Sulaiman, Wayne McCullough, and Rafael Ruelas.

UCLA ATTENDEE!

That's right, Rafael is taking business courses at UCLA and is working
towards a Degree. As for his boxing career, it is on hold after losing by
KO to Kostya Tsyzu in September.

MOVE OVER BILL GATES!

Rafael has a wide range of Stocks that he has invested his seven figure
ring earnings in. "All my stocks have done incredibly well. It's important
that you make your money work for you after you earn it."

Reports say that as of closing time Friday afternoon on Wall St., Rafael
Ruelas' portfolio was worth close in excess of $4 million. Congrats!

GOODMAN RUNNING DKP SHIP

At Don King Productions, Bobby Goodman has been promoted in 1998 from
Matchmaker to Vice President in Charge of Boxing. This new role supposedly
has him taking a more active role in the Don King Publicity Department.

WHAT FIGHT?

Recently DKP under Goodman's direct hand promoted the rematch between
Ricardo Lopez and Rosendo Alvarez at the Las Vegas Hilton. One would think
that seeing their first matchup in March, was dramatic to say the least,
that this was an event that could easily fill the 2,000 seat Las Vegas
Hilton Theater.

WRONG!

Not only did the house not fill up, tickets for the fight were not even
available (on sale)11 days prior to the event.

MATCHMAKER BONANI

Goodman brought in Al Bonani of New Orleans fame to replace him. As the
matchmaker, it is your role to make sure that all the contracts are signed
and ready to be put before the Athletic Commission.

BLAME THE MATCHMAKER

When the overrated and overpaid Christy Martin pulled out of the Friday the
13th card, at the last minute by claiming she was ill, King was left
looking foolish on TV.

The truth of the matter is that Martin had never signed a contract to fight
on November 13. Therefore, technically she cannot be disciplined for
failing to honor a commitment to fight because she hadn't signed one..

Having been a matchmaker myself, I now the truth of the matter is that you
never send a fighter airline tickets without already possessing a signed
(faxed) contract.

MARLEY JERKY, BUT GOOD AT HIS JOB

Former DKP Publicity Director and NY Post scribe Mike Marley was adept at
getting the word out on DKP shows out to journalists all over the world.
Since he was forced out, DK brought in Greg Fritz who is based in L.A.,
while the DKP offices are in Florida.

CALLS UNANSWERED "THE NORM"

Try and get some information on any of King's fighters or events, and you
will find that the task is an impossible one. When it comes to booking DKP
fighters on Ring Talk, I go straight to the individual. If I didn't, I
wouldn't have had one DKP promoted pug on the show since Marley left.

ROSA, HUNTER GONE!

Longtime P.R. aides Gladys Rosas and Vegas aide Jim "Catfish" Hunter have
been shown the door at DKP in recent months.

GLADYS "HISPANIC" MEDIA CONNECTION

The role of Gladys Rosa and Associates has been filled by Goodman crony
Ricardo Salazar. A former pug with some ability, Ricardo was forced to quit
after suffering five broken jaws in the ring.

BEEN STOPPED TWICE LATELY

Salazar is probably most widely known for being TKO'd in recent years by
both this writer, and by trainer turned TV analyst Teddy Atlas.

SALAZAR IN OVER HEAD...

And it is to no fault of his own! Being a media ambassador for a promoter
is something you have to learn, preferably by working as a subordinate
before being put being the wheel of the car.

TIME TO REBUILD, NOT TO EXPERIMENT

As King streamlines things at DKP, he should realize that at a time when he
is attempting to rebuild his dynasty with Felix Trinidad, that as the Don
he can ill afford unqualified help in the highly competitive world of
promoting professional boxing.

PUBLICITY PRESCRIPTION

I think Don should go out and steal somebody else's Public Relations wiz!
He can hire them away from a P.R. firm or a competitor with a nice cash
carrot. This would solve his problems, at least in the Media Relations
Department.

DIVA RETURNS IN JANUARY

Dana Jamison, the longtime DK right hand has been on a leave of absence and
is expected to return. She is a lot of the "nuts and bolts" of DKP, and
should make a difference in the overall picture.

BEST CUBAN DROPPING DOWN

Joel Casamayor is an undefeated junior lightweight with a 13-0, record with
11 stops. He is considered the "soundest" prospect to attain world
championship status of the Cuban contingent.

GOOSSEN DROPPING HIM IN WEIGHT

The #1 rated IBF 130 lb. contender is dropping down to the featherweight
division (126 lbs.) according to AMERICA PRESENTS COO Dan Goossen. On
Tyson, "Big Bird" Goossen was coy in when he will announce Mike's fight on
January 16, against Frans Botha.

COURT BEFORE ANNOUNCEMENT

I think AMERICA PRESENTS and SHOWTIME are holding back their announcement
of the fight until Tyson pleads No Contest (Guilty) to assaulting two men
in August later this week.

SLAMMER TIME?

Mike could conceivably get time in either Indiana, where he is on Felony
Parole for Rape, or by the presiding Maryland Judge that will take his
plea.

OSCAR MANIA

The 18 year old accusing Oscar De La Hoya of Rape did in fact report the
alleged Sexual Assault to Mexican authorities. But that was six months
after the incident was to have taken place and they found her less than
credible also.

SETTLEMENT? I DON'T BELIEVE IT!

While in Indio, a press aide told me that Ms. Credibility's attorney Lisa
Maki, had stated that she had "turned down a $5 million settlement offer
from Oscar's lawyer." Although I find it hard to believe, this person did
say this in front of a number of people in the Media Center. Therefore, I
feel it is important that I at least tell you.

WHAT IF?

So, what if Oscar is a deviate as this bimbo is claiming? If this is true,
getting kinky is not something one does just once. So, it will be
interesting to see if other women come forward and claim Oscar has an S. &
M. side to him.

THE MARLBORO MAN?

World lightweight champion Shane Mosley said he "had smelled cigarettes on
Kennedy McKinney's breathe while the pair were training in Big Bear, CA.
So, it wasn't a shock when AMERICA PRESENTS on site P.R. guy Akbar Muhammad
told me later he too had smelled ciggies on Mac earlier in the evening.

SHADES OF ARQUELLO

Former three time world champion Alexis Arquello smoked everyday of his
adult life. While few people knew about it, Alex admitted that it was a
habit that he couldn't quit.

GOOD SIGN OF THINGS TO COME?

Speaking of tobacco, I was shocked to learn that smoking among college
students is up 22%. Which brings forth the revelation that universities
all across America are filled with dummies!

WERE YOU THERE?

If you caught the Sunday night edition of Ring Talk last night, you heard
HBO analyst Larry Merchant discuss the important fights coming up before
Christmas. His full interview will be published later this week at
fighters.com

SUNDAY, RING TALK IS AN HOUR, BUT ON SATURDAY!

The Saturday night edition of Ring Talk is a two hour affair that has aired
for 12 years on the Talk America "1" Radio Network.

SUNDAY, SAME TIME, DIFFERENT NETWORK

On Sunday, the one hour Ring Talk show is aired on the "Deuce" aka the Talk
America "2" Radio Network.

LIVE IN 160 COUNTRIES ON "THE NET" BOTH NIGHTS!

You can listen to both shows LIVE on the Internet by downloading the audio
feed at www.talkamerica.com

BE ADVISED

Both Talk "1" and the Talk America "2" Radio Networks have separate LIVE
Internet audio channels at www.talkamerica.com


Pedro Fernandez

The writer has his own site at www.fighters.com and can be reached at
flash@inow.com

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