Zahir Raheem "Get me a fight or release me" Top Rank screwing another fighter

http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article10310.html



There was a time when the 1996 Olympic teammates of Zahir Raheem were at the forefront of boxing, but when the talk turned to Raheem, the question became, "Where is Zahir Raheem?" It took a long time before he came into the public spotlight, and believe it or not it was a loss that put him there. After a dropping a disputed decision to 2000 Olympian Rocky Juarez, everyone became interested in Raheem. The fight led to him resigning with Nevada-based promoter Top Rank. Everything looked good for Raheem. Top Rank immediately got him a fight with a superstar, Erik Morales. No one gave Raheem much of a chance, but he dominated Morales to set up a fight with Manny Pacquaio, or so Raheem thought. Instead Raheem watched as his promoters set up a second fight between Morales and Pacquaio, a fight in which Morales was knocked out.


Raheem was still waiting when finally a shot at a world title, WBO, materialized against Acelino Freitas. In a very close fight, Raheem lost a split decision. since that time he has been waiting, puzzled as to why his promoters have not gotten him other fights, puzzled as to why he is not being promoted properly, and also puzzled as to why after his loss to Freitas he was dropped so far in the rankings while Erik Morales, who has lost two straight, is still the number one contender and is facing Pacquaio for a third time.


So why does this type of thing happen to a guy that dominated one of the best fighters of this era? Raheem has gone over that in his head ever since the Freitas fight. "All I know is that I have some handlers that are not standing behind me. I signed with Top Rank and [manager] Cameron Duncan and they are not standing behind me. Even after beating Morales they just put me in where they can. I fought Freitas in basically his own backyard. I know he is Brazilian, but he has fought most of his fights in Connecticut, so it is like his home. I thought I did enough to win that fight, plus I got cut in that fight and was placed on suspension. I mean after the Morales fight, I have been basically on ice. Top rank as not found anything for me. The Freitas fight came up because of my ranking. The only thing Top Rank offered right after the Morales fight was a non-televised fight for no money on the under card of Diego Corrales."


After beating Morales, Raheem thought he had finally arrived as a top-division pro but felt that by Top Rank was taking him in the wrong direction. "After the Morales fight, I thought I was going to get the fights that I desired," states Raheem. "Nothing was happening and then the Freitas fight pops up and I lose a split decision and was placed on suspension for the cut. While I was still on suspension Top Rank offered me a fight with Juan Diaz because his opponent must have fallen out, but they knew I could not take the fight because I was on suspension and could not fight. These guys are not standing behind me. That was in May and now it is November and I still have not had a fight. I was offered a fight two weeks ago to fight Jose Cotto in Puerto Rico for 15 thousand dollars, I mean he has never lost in Puerto Rico and has only one loss against Juan Diaz and he did not win a round in that fight but if it had been in Puerto Rico he would have won every round." That fight never happened.


The problem that Raheem is finding is that because these fights are being offered and turned down for what ever reason, it allows Top Rank to continue there relationship with Raheem, who still has one more year left on his contract. Raheem says the contract requires three fights per year, but in two years has only fought a total of three times.


"My hands are tied," says Raheem. "My attorney is talking about litigation, but you know this is my livelihood, this is what I have dedicated my life to and these guys are holding up my career. So now I am going to basically be fighting off-TV, because they will not get me these fights. They will not give me a release, they act like they just want to hold me and keep me down. I just need to keep busy. I need to fight. It is not about the money, I am not demand big dollars, but I need to be treated fairly. All I can do now is take fights to stay busy so I will not lose my ranking. I am at the point that we are talking litigation because my career is at a halt because Top Rank has buried me and I do not know why. I do not understand why this has happening."


After the Morales fight, many felt that Raheem had spoiled Top Rank's plans by defeating Morales. For Raheem, it was just the next step to get to where he wanted to be in his career, but looking back he questions what were the motives behind that fight. "I did not know I was supposed to lose the Morales fight," Raheem says laughing, "but it is obvious now that I was not supposed to win. After the fight I was put on ice, I mean no one was offering me fights, no one was taking my calls when I was trying to find out what was going on. I mean, I have not done anything to anybody, and it is terrible that they would do this to some one and I do not know why they are doing it to me. I mean look at the Freitas fight. It was in Connecticut because [Freitas’ promoter] Art Petullo wanted it in Connecticut. Bob Arum did not get that fight in Philadelphia, it was not in Vegas. That is why I get the idea that they just want to put me wherever. The bad part is I just want them to give me a fight.

At this point I do not care. I need to fight, I mean what does it matter. After the Morales fight, they buried me. They did not build me up, did not promote me the way I should have been. They were mad at me because I beat him, but look at what it did. It was supposed to be a tournament with the winner to face Pacquaio and the loser still got the rematch. I mean right after I beat Morales, Top Rank starts promoting the Morales-Pacquaio rematch. Even leading up to the Morales fight, I asked for tapes on Morales and Top Rank would not even give me help to train."


Top Rank is not the only thing bothering Raheem, he also has issues with the WBC and Jose Sulaiman. "After my fight with Freitas," states Raheem, "The WBC and Jose Sulaiman, who has close ties to Top Rank and Bob Arum, dropped me to number 13 in the WBC, but at the same time Erik Morales, who has now lost back-to-back fights, is still ranked number one. Look at the rankings, how does this happen. Someone please tell me how can a guy I beat, and he has lost two in a row, be ranked number one and I lose a close split decision and drop to 13? Yet they tell me I am being promoted properly. Tell me how this happens. If Arum has that power to get Morales at number one for this fight with Pacquaio, why is he not promoting me like that? Why did he allow me to drop to 13. These are questions that I need answered."


In the end it comes down to a few choices for Raheem. He has one year left on his contract, so one choice is to wait it out, but by doing so, how much damage will be done to his career. If he goes that entire year without a fight then he is basically retired. Another option is to stay in the gym the way he is doing and be ready to accept anything that comes up. If nothing else in this option he stays busy. The third option is litigation against Top Rank and Bob Arum that could lead to a longer inactivity period and cost him more than that in the long run. However, for Top Rank the choices are simple, get Raheem fights, release him, or prepare for litigation.


"I honestly do not understand why they signed me to bury me and destroy my career," stated Raheem. "I mean I do not have any animosity towards Bob Arum or anyone at Top Rank. Even HBO asked me on air if I felt I was being promoted improperly and I did not say a bad word against them. People tell me all the time that they are destroying me, yet I have never thrown any dirt at Bob Arum, Top Rank, Cameron Duncan, or anyone there. Release me or give me a fight, just be fair do not treat me like a guppy for your piranhas. That is what they thought when they signed me to fight Morales that I was the fish to be fed on, but they were wrong. After I won all they had to do was stand behind me and they have not done that. That is the bad thing that goes in my mind, it is like they want to use my ranking to push there other guys."


"I do not have a problem with anyone there, I just want to know why they are doing this. I just want to fight. Look Arum has a deal with Versus, why can I not get a fight on there. I mean Kelly Pavlik has fought twice, Kid Diamond, Brian Viloria, why can they not put me and Anthony Thompson on the same card in Philly. We both are from Philly, why not make a show there with both of us. You put on a Versus show every month. All I need to do is fight. I need to stay busy. I trained with Floyd Mayweather Sr. for five months for a fight that never happened and he even said it is a shame as to what they are doing to my career. I am staying in the gym, I just want to fight, just give me a fight."



yet again a messed up promoter situation. Zahir Raheem has said since the Morales fight that Arum and Top Rank have been treating him different since he beat Morales as if he wasn't supposed to win. Then he losses that close decision against Freitas and they can't get him a fight. Thats true bull in boxing. He should sign with Golden Boy. That will put him closer to Mayweather Sr. Raheem seems like a good kid. It's a shame that Top Rank and Bob Arum are wasting a talent like that to keep their big 3 up there. This is the sort of thing that kills boxing.

Opinions?

I feel for Raheem too,he beat Morales and I have heard the Juarez fight was a total robbery and then Jaurez gets his ass beaten by Soto and is rewarded with 2 shots at MAB????(and yes I dislike JUAREZ,HE IS AN ASS AND i HOPE vALERO ktfo ROCKY)

As for Raheem,I feel for him. Regardless of the outcome of the Freitas fight,it was close and he has shown he can hang with the elite so yeah,maybe he should try to change promoters but he obviously needs to do something or he is just going to dissappear. If that is true about the rankings,Jose sucks ass bigtime. This kind of thing is thing is annoying!

He had his shot with both Freitas and Morales.

Please save me from crying.
I need a Pretty Boy Handkerchief! haha

He'll get his fight, Top Rank already has done him a big favor in Freitas.
Most fighters never get a chance at the title, even deserving... and Raheem got
his chance in his last fight. So save the sob story for someone else.

It's not Top Rank, it's his style. He had the style that bores the hell outta un-purist fans.
He needs a belt, like a Winky Wright, to get fights to start him off big.
Well he had his chance and he didn't press the issue with Freitas. Neither
did Freitas but we're not talking about him... Raheem should have fought his *ss
off to earn legitimacy, instead of a boring/timid fight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gyrokai

He had his shot with both Freitas and Morales. 

Please save me from crying. 
I need a Pretty Boy Handkerchief! haha

He'll get his fight, Top Rank already has done him a big favor in Freitas.
Most fighters never get a chance at the title, even deserving... and Raheem got
his chance in his last fight.  So save the sob story for someone else.

It's not Top Rank, it's his style.  He had the style that bores the hell outta un-purist fans.
He needs a belt, like a Winky Wright, to get fights to start him off big.
Well he had his chance and he didn't press the issue with Freitas.  Neither
did Freitas but we're not talking about him...  Raheem should have fought his *ss
off to earn legitimacy, instead of a boring/timid fight.

---

::**  They were forced to give him the Freitas fight. They've been trying to keep him inactive and it has nothing to do with his style. Is that all you got from that read ???

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Majesty

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gyrokai

He had his shot with both Freitas and Morales.

Please save me from crying.
I need a Pretty Boy Handkerchief! haha

He'll get his fight, Top Rank already has done him a big favor in Freitas.
Most fighters never get a chance at the title, even deserving... and Raheem got
his chance in his last fight. So save the sob story for someone else.

It's not Top Rank, it's his style. He had the style that bores the hell outta un-purist fans.
He needs a belt, like a Winky Wright, to get fights to start him off big.
Well he had his chance and he didn't press the issue with Freitas. Neither
did Freitas but we're not talking about him... Raheem should have fought his *ss
off to earn legitimacy, instead of a boring/timid fight.

---

::**

---

That's the one thing I hate about Forums. There is no convincing.
SURE, I can be convinced, but most everybody else just sadclicks hahaha.

Can you understand though?? Did Raheem fight like he WANTED the belt?

He didn't, he has to realize that. So next time he gets a shot, he won't mess it up again.

Personal Honesty is the hardest thing for a boxer or a person.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gyrokai

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Majesty

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gyrokai

He had his shot with both Freitas and Morales.

Please save me from crying.
I need a Pretty Boy Handkerchief! haha

He'll get his fight, Top Rank already has done him a big favor in Freitas.
Most fighters never get a chance at the title, even deserving... and Raheem got
his chance in his last fight. So save the sob story for someone else.

It's not Top Rank, it's his style. He had the style that bores the hell outta un-purist fans.
He needs a belt, like a Winky Wright, to get fights to start him off big.
Well he had his chance and he didn't press the issue with Freitas. Neither
did Freitas but we're not talking about him... Raheem should have fought his *ss
off to earn legitimacy, instead of a boring/timid fight.

---

::**

---

That's the one thing I hate about Forums. There is no convincing.
SURE, I can be convinced, but most everybody else just sadclicks hahaha.

Can you understand though?? Did Raheem fight like he WANTED the belt?

He didn't, he has to realize that. So next time he gets a shot, he won't mess it up again.

Personal Honesty is the hardest thing for a boxer or a person.

---

No I wrote more in my post then that edited it I think right before you responded.

I saw the Freitas fight and did Freitas fight like he wanted the title?

I think it was a bad style matchup tbh.

But no matter how bad you want to pick that fight no fighter deserves what he is going through right now

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Majesty

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gyrokai

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Majesty

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gyrokai

He had his shot with both Freitas and Morales.

Please save me from crying.
I need a Pretty Boy Handkerchief! haha

He'll get his fight, Top Rank already has done him a big favor in Freitas.
Most fighters never get a chance at the title, even deserving... and Raheem got
his chance in his last fight. So save the sob story for someone else.

It's not Top Rank, it's his style. He had the style that bores the hell outta un-purist fans.
He needs a belt, like a Winky Wright, to get fights to start him off big.
Well he had his chance and he didn't press the issue with Freitas. Neither
did Freitas but we're not talking about him... Raheem should have fought his *ss
off to earn legitimacy, instead of a boring/timid fight.

---

::**

---

That's the one thing I hate about Forums. There is no convincing.
SURE, I can be convinced, but most everybody else just sadclicks hahaha.

Can you understand though?? Did Raheem fight like he WANTED the belt?

He didn't, he has to realize that. So next time he gets a shot, he won't mess it up again.

Personal Honesty is the hardest thing for a boxer or a person.

---

No I wrote more in my post then that edited it I think right before you responded.

I saw the Freitas fight and did Freitas fight like he wanted the title?

I think it was a bad style matchup tbh.

But no matter how bad you want to pick that fight no fighter deserves what he is going through right now

---

Who cares about Freitas. hahaha
Raheem is the topic here. He just needed to show up, and he didn't.
Sure he's going through bad times, but that's partly his fault.
Did he expect to be treated like a king after THAT performance at the championship level?

cc though for being a good sport.
I'm just hard on that guy because he didn't show up... he was afraid.
I've seen that look on a fighter, he looks scared.
And I'm thinking... "You have so much talent... wtf are u afraid!"

He definitely did not have the eye of the tiger... there were long pauses throughout the fight.
I'm not saying go all out, but "box" your way to a victory.

Ahh forget it!!! ... he doesn't deserve simpathy. haha
There are plenty other more deserving fighters working their way up in mystery.

Let me just say Ali had a bad style up in Doug Jones once. And he fought his way out of that.
He looked horrible for "Cassius" but you could see it... that he wanted the win by the way he fought back.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gyrokai

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Majesty

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gyrokai

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Majesty

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gyrokai

He had his shot with both Freitas and Morales.

Please save me from crying.
I need a Pretty Boy Handkerchief! haha

He'll get his fight, Top Rank already has done him a big favor in Freitas.
Most fighters never get a chance at the title, even deserving... and Raheem got
his chance in his last fight. So save the sob story for someone else.

It's not Top Rank, it's his style. He had the style that bores the hell outta un-purist fans.
He needs a belt, like a Winky Wright, to get fights to start him off big.
Well he had his chance and he didn't press the issue with Freitas. Neither
did Freitas but we're not talking about him... Raheem should have fought his *ss
off to earn legitimacy, instead of a boring/timid fight.

---

::**

---

That's the one thing I hate about Forums. There is no convincing.
SURE, I can be convinced, but most everybody else just sadclicks hahaha.

Can you understand though?? Did Raheem fight like he WANTED the belt?

He didn't, he has to realize that. So next time he gets a shot, he won't mess it up again.

Personal Honesty is the hardest thing for a boxer or a person.

---

No I wrote more in my post then that edited it I think right before you responded.

I saw the Freitas fight and did Freitas fight like he wanted the title?

I think it was a bad style matchup tbh.

But no matter how bad you want to pick that fight no fighter deserves what he is going through right now

---

Who cares about Freitas. hahaha
Raheem is the topic here. He just needed to show up, and he didn't.
Sure he's going through bad times, but that's partly his fault.
Did he expect to be treated like a king after THAT performance at the championship level?

cc though for being a good sport.
I'm just hard on that guy because he didn't show up... he was afraid.
I've seen that look on a fighter, he looks scared.
And I'm thinking... "You have so much talent... wtf are u afraid!"

He definitely did not have the eye of the tiger... there were long pauses throughout the fight.
I'm not saying go all out, but "box" your way to a victory.

Ahh forget it!!! ... he doesn't deserve simpathy. haha
There are plenty other more deserving fighters working their way up in mystery.

Let me just say Ali had a bad style up in Doug Jones once. And he fought his way out of that.
He looked horrible for "Cassius" but you could see it... that he wanted the win by the way he fought back.

---

Some people think he won. And I think Raheem was as frustrated with the holding of the fight as you were, but I think Freitas did his share, so much so that Raheem threw him down because of it ;)

I thought Raheem beat Freitas by a couple rounds. He started poorly, lunging for a couple rounds seeming a bit over eager but he settled down and dominated the middle rounds.

Freitas made a fight of it come the end but I felt Raheem did enough to hold on.

I like Zahir, he's got a good style, the Freitas fight wasn't the best showcase for him but he's still a huge factor in the 135 division. He should be fighthing the likes of Juan Diaz really.

I agree. He does. And he needs a new promoter

Zahir is a good fighter...they need to let him go, ESPECIALLY with the division the way it is...I'd give him a very good shot at 135 vs any of the top guys!

You gota feel abit sorry for Raheem cuz after he owns Erik the Mexican goes onto get two superfights meanwhile hes been left out in the cold since Freitas . Id like to see him fight the Morales - Pac winner and he probably beats em both

zahir was screwed from the beginning. after he owned morrales the right thing would have been to give him PAC fight. i pretty sure zahire would have spanked PAC also. that would have been two major wins and he would be on top of boxing right. probably even rival PBF from P4P status based on the fact that he'd would have beaten two top fighters. we all know boxing is a what have you done for lately sport.

on a side note i'd love to see zahir fight corrales. there both comming off loses.

I've seen bad matchups before. Ruiz who fights anybody. Calvin Brock's previous previous fight.
Byrd's previous previous fight (Not Wlad fight).

Hell, I even blamed Erik Morales for his performance against Zahir Raheem.

The best example of what a fighter should do against a "bad" matchup is do what Cassius did to
Doug Jones. Doug made Clay look like dooky, but "Ali" man'ed up and fought back even though
he looked bad doing it.

Zahir didn't do that on fight night. And I and everybody here SHOULD know that IF Raheem didn't
look good or PRESS THE ISSUE against Freitas, that he'd be hidden again. Because Raheem is the
type of fighter won needs a belt for Other fighters to accept a fight with him. Also Because WE fans treat
Raheem like shyte. We are to blame.
Is Raheem's next fight audience going to sell out?
Helll no!!! Is anyone going to drive over 10 hr's a day to see a Raheem performance?
Hell no!!! Why? Because Raheem's syle is just not entertaining lets face it. He's a Winky
Wright of his division. And Winky finally got what he deserved, a belt and it gave him the opportunity
for great matchups. And Raheem desperatelyneeded THAT belt. He didn't FIGHT for it.
Now he's hidden away again, and we got people
here WONDERING why? haha It was an UGLY fight with two fighters Freitas and Raheem not
wanting to fight. Freitas won a controversial decision on an UGLY fight, where people were
forced to score a round based on a few punches.

I'm just speaking from the TRUTH here.

So don't give me cool c's for speaking the truth. You and all of you Pretty Boy fans keep
giving me sad clickies to try to stop me!
:badass: And maybe you will. ;)
"Me, I always tell the truth. Even when I lie. So say good night to the bad guy! Come on. The last time you gonna see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you. Come on. Make way for the bad guy. There's a bad guy comin' through! Better get outta his way!"

...

If I recall correctly he had trouble with Freitas and showed he is very beatable..... He should have made the best of that fight instead he showed no hunger in that fight...IMO

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gyrokai

I've seen bad matchups before. Ruiz who fights anybody. Calvin Brock's previous previous fight.
Byrd's previous previous fight (Not Wlad fight).

Hell, I even blamed Erik Morales for his performance against Zahir Raheem.

The best example of what a fighter should do against a "bad" matchup is do what Cassius did to
Doug Jones. Doug made Clay look like dooky, but "Ali" man'ed up and fought back even though
he looked bad doing it.

Zahir didn't do that on fight night. And I and everybody here SHOULD know that IF Raheem didn't
look good or PRESS THE ISSUE against Freitas, that he'd be hidden again. Because Raheem is the
type of fighter won needs a belt for Other fighters to accept a fight with him. Also Because WE fans treat
Raheem like shyte. We are to blame.
Is Raheem's next fight audience going to sell out?
Helll no!!! Is anyone going to drive over 10 hr's a day to see a Raheem performance?
Hell no!!! Why? Because Raheem's syle is just not entertaining lets face it. He's a Winky
Wright of his division. And Winky finally got what he deserved, a belt and it gave him the opportunity
for great matchups. And Raheem desperatelyneeded THAT belt. He didn't FIGHT for it.
Now he's hidden away again, and we got people
here WONDERING why? haha It was an UGLY fight with two fighters Freitas and Raheem not
wanting to fight. Freitas won a controversial decision on an UGLY fight, where people were
forced to score a round based on a few punches.

I'm just speaking from the TRUTH here.

So don't give me cool c's for speaking the truth. You and all of you Pretty Boy fans keep
giving me sad clickies to try to stop me!
:badass: And maybe you will. ;)
"Me, I always tell the truth. Even when I lie. So say good night to the bad guy! Come on. The last time you gonna see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you. Come on. Make way for the bad guy. There's a bad guy comin' through! Better get outta his way!"

---

if you want to compare Raheem to Wright then was Freitas hsi Vargas ???

Not as exciting but most of the time Freitas didn't hold him he clocked Freitas.

I think Raheem won that fight, and being that Freitas isn't doing anything with his opportunity(retiring and unretiring) let Raheem have it

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CutMeMicK

If I recall correctly he had trouble with Freitas and showed he is very beatable..... He should have made the best of that fight instead he showed no hunger in that fight...IMO

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After watching the fight,I'd have to agree and although I said earlier that he is very difficult,he can be beaten imo and his excessive holding was HORRIBLE to watch!! He still deserves a shot at the other champs but he comes across as high risk and low reward..

you guys are forgeting that freitas is some what of akward fighter. he not a bum by means and his skills should be respected.