Chavez Still Quite Critical Of Bob Arum

Although he tempered his remarks somewhat, six-time world champion Julio Cesar Chavez on Monday reiterated critical comments concerning Top Rank Inc. promoter Bob Arum.

Chavez, one of boxing’s greats, faces Tony Martin of Philadelphia on Saturday in Las Vegas in a 10-round non-title bout on the undercard of the Michael Moorer-Vaughn Bean International Boxing Federation heavyweight title fight.

Chavez, 34, of Culiacan, Mexico, recently called Arum a “liar and a racist” during a conference call.

“All he did was use me,” Chavez said on the conference call. “He took advantage of me because I needed somebody at that moment. He wanted to pay me peanuts to fight (Oscar) De La Hoya (in a rematch).”

Chavez, 98-2-1 with 83 knockouts, has fought for Don King Productions for many years, but his last three bouts, including a loss to De La Hoya last June 7, were fought for Top Rank.

“Yes, I did say that,” Chavez said through an interpreter when asked if he had called Arum a liar and a racist. “Arum’s been saying I didn’t want to fight De La Hoya again. That’s not true. I felt Arum put me down. Maybe (he’s) not so much of a racist, but he talks down to you. I’ve talked enough about it. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“It’s a joke,” Bill Caplan, publicist for Top Rank, said of the comments. “Chavez made more money with Bob Arum in one year than he has his entire career with Don King. He earned $12 million by fighting three times for Arum.

“He testified against King at his wire-fraud trial (that ended in a hung jury). That was all about money King didn’t give Chavez for training expenses. I’m confused. Arum gave him $12 million. Who’s the hero and who’s the villain of this melodrama?”

Chavez will be fighting for the second time since De La Hoya stopped him in the fourth round - the first time Chavez has ever been stopped. Chavez stopped Joey Gamache on Oct. 12 at the Anaheim Arena.

Scope of King trial broadens

Prosecutors added Don King’s boxing promotion company to the criminal case against him Monday in New York, alleging the company also committed insurance fraud after a 1991 bout was cancelled when a boxer was injured.

The new charges were contained in a superseding indictment returned by a grand jury. The indictment named King and Don King Productions Inc.

A jury couldn’t reach a verdict at King’s first trial.

Recently, U.S. District Judge Lawrence McKenna approved a second trial when he said there was sufficient evidence, but he added the case seemed built “almost entirely on inferences.” No trial date was set.

“Obviously, the prosecutors have no confidence in their case against Don King and are hoping for some kind of jury compromise,” said King’s lawyer, Peter Fleming Jr. “No other reason explains why they have waited three years to name Don King Productions as a codefendant.”

Prosecutors say King faked a contract with Lloyd’s of London to collect $350,000 in nonexistent training expenses for the canceled bout between Julio Cesar Chavez and Harold Brazier. If convicted of nine counts of wire fraud, King would face up to 45 years in prison and a $2,250,000 fine.