By Craig Daly: Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya questions why Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis’s ex-promoter Leonard Ellerbe was at the final press conference on Thursday because he’s NOT one of the promoters of the event this Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
(Photo credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions)
For some reason, Mayweather Promotions CEO Ellerbe was allowed to speak to the media at the podium and give an expletive-filled rebuttal to De La Hoya’s comments about the two weight stipulations and the late weigh-in that Gervonta’s management stuck in the contract to give their fighter an edge against Ryan Garcia on Saturday.
Unfortunately, Ellerbe didn’t have any real excuse for why Tank Davis’ team added the weight stipulations to the contract for the fight other than to say, “That’s how A-side carries itself.”
In other words, if you’re the A-side, you can stick rehydration clauses and catchweights into a contract to weaken your opponent and game the system to ensure your fighter stays on top. It’s pathetic.
It’s not sporting when you think about it, but it reinforces what De La Hoya said about Tank Davis’ team not having confidence in their fighter. Hence, the weight stipulations.
Tank isn’t with Mayweather Promotions any long, so it was unclear why Ellerbe, the company’s CEO, was allowed to speak at the podium, air his views on the fight, and give his thoughts about De La Hoya.
It looked out of place, particularly when Ellerbe mentioned how they “took all your fighters.”
In hindsight, there should be rules in place that limit people on the actual teams to take part in speaking at the podiums during press conferences because unless they’re part of the promotions, they shouldn’t be permitted to pontificate as we saw with Ellerbe on Thursday.
“There was no back & forth between me and Ellerbe. It was just support. I told him exactly what is happening. I don’t even understand why he’s even there. He’s not a promoter. So I have no clue what he was doing,” said De La Hoya to Fighthype, questioning why Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe was present at the final press conference and given time to air his views.
Leonard Ellerbe: “We believe in Tank 1000 percent. 1000 percent! We’ve been the A-side in this situation, and that’s how the A-side carries itself.
“You’ve been asleep under the f***ing wheel for many, many years. That’s exactly why we took all your fighters, and Floyd beat them all while you’ve been asleep under the wheel. It’s going to be no different this Saturday night. Tank Davis by KO; like I’ve been saying, and it might be early.”
