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(FEB 24) WBAN received an open letter from noted matchmaker Chris
Middendorf, who commented on the latest news that Ann Wolfe is planning to
fight a male boxer.
Chris told WBAN, "I read with real sadness that RPM has decided to totally
devalue their fighter and the sport of women's boxing by turning Ann Wolfe
into a Tonya Harding-like circus act and having her face a male fighter. I
do not know whether it is outright stupidity on the part
of every member of the Wolfe team, desperation because
they do not have a clue how to manage and promote one
of the best female fighters, or once again the
overwhelming arrogance that they, and they alone have
it all figured out, but to me it is the saddest day in
women's boxing.
That a top female fighter has to fight a male fighter
in order to get recognition, a payday, or whatever
sort of publicity is an embarrassment to not only Ann
Wolfe, but to the sport of women's boxing.
Having been the matchmaker for some of the sports most
respected world champions, Isra Girgrah and Laila Ali,
and having had the pleasure of working with several of
the best past and present champions including Valerie
Mahfood and Laeticia Robinson, and having regularly
put female fights on television and on club shows for
many different promoters, I have always maintained
that all the sport needed was more time.
It is not that the sport is not lead by many quality fighters,
it is that there is not the depth of talent emerging on club shows that
could really bring strength as well as more broad based popularity to
women's boxing. I have always hoped that as long as there were a sufficient
number of great female fighters out there showing off their skills and
maintaining fan bases, that there would be a new generation of female
fighters that would come along in greater numbers and every increasing
skills. Quality will continue to emerge as long as the sport is treated
seriously by all those that are involved. But for RPM and Ann Wolfe to feel
the necessity to do this in order to keep her in the public eye at best or
at worst use the fight as
a money making venture is downright pathetic.
I actually should not have included Ann's name in that
last sentence. I think that as RPM is writing her
checks and she has a family to support, that she just
does not know any better. Maybe she should not be
blamed for anything other then being foolish enough to
once again rely on a management team that has proven
itself throughout all of the Laila Ali negotiations to
be the most devious and underhanded pack of liars who
clearly do not care one iota for Ann Wolfe's future.
With this disgusting choice they have proved
themselves once more to be more concerned with their
own pockets then anything semblance of integrity as
manager and/or promoters of a top athlete. Shame on
them." |
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