Norwood, promoter trade jabs

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Sept. 7, 2000 | 10:39 a.m.

Freddie Norwood has never lost a professional fight. He's 37-0-1 and is the reigning World Boxing Association champion at 126 pounds.

The Las Vegas resident will be defending that title Saturday in New Orleans on a pay-per-view card headlined by light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr.

That's it for the good news, because Norwood -- before leaving for Louisiana Wednesday -- ripped into his promotional firm and made it clear he's an unhappy man when it comes to his lack of exposure and a lack of respect he feels is evident in his paychecks. Conversely, Todd duBoef of Top Rank Boxing Inc. put Norwood in his place with a diatribe of his own.

"To be honest with you, I've kept a lot of things to myself over the years because I wanted to get paid," Norwood said. "But I've had enough of that. I haven't said anything bad about Top Rank before this, even when Floyd (Mayweather Jr.) was telling the truth about them and people were asking me for a comment.

"But I'm so frustrated with Top Rank I can't put it in words. I haven't been treated fairly at all."

Norwood, who takes on Derrick Gainer in New Orleans, is under the impression that this will be his final fight with Top Rank. But duBoef said that isn't the case and pulled out Norwood's contract to prove it.

"The contract's valid," duBoef said. "It's ridiculous for Freddie to think otherwise. It's good until 2002."

Adding to Norwood's angst is the fact his trainer, Kenny Adams, also has a bone to pick with Top Rank, and that his attorney, Marc Risman, is equally perplexed as to why Norwood isn't attracting greater interest.

"I don't know if it's Top Rank or HBO or who, but considering the fact that Freddie is a legitimate world champion he's been beaten down," Risman said. "He's deserving of mention when you're talking about guys like (Naseem) Hamed, yet Freddie isn't getting big fights or anything like the attention that's even thrown at the recycled guys around 126 pounds."

Gainer, 34-5, is one of those recycled guys.

"It's tough getting Freddie fights and he's only on this card because Gainer is a friend of Jones," duBoef said. "We've turned the arms of people at HBO to get Freddie chances and they've made it clear they don't want anything to do with him."

Norwood is getting a career-best $175,000 for taking on Gainer but he's not the least bit satisfied with that amount.

"I don't know if they're prejudiced or what, but Top Rank has had me on the back burner ever since I beat (Juan Manuel) Marquez (a year ago at Mandalay Bay on HBO)," he said. "Bob Arum told me to my face that if I beat Marquez, he'd get me a fight with Hamed. But look what's happened: I'm getting a buck-25, a buck-50, a buck-75 for my fights and there's no sign of Hamed.

"I guess Arum lied to me and I know Todd doesn't like me."

If duBoef doesn't care for Norwood, he feels his reasons are legitimate.

"We had a lot of hope for Freddie when we signed him," he said. "At times he can be a gentleman and sound appreciative. But something changed after he became a champion. He kind of felt he was the king of the world and our relationship with Freddie became a one-way street.

"You know the number of times he's been in trouble. We're also out $150,000 just in giving him extra money when he asked for help. Obviously he feels we're disposable at this point in time."

Norwood not only thinks Top Rank is disposable, he seems to be counting on it.

"My contract is up with them Sept. 24," he said, although that obviously conflicts with duBoef's view. "Man, I wouldn't re-sign with Top Rank for nothing. They'd literally have to give me a million dollars.

"Not only that, I want to fight every Top Rank guy they can put in front of me. I'm going to be a champion for a long time and I want to put all their guys down.

"(Erik) Morales, (Diego) Corrales ... bring 'em on. The only way I want to deal with Top Rank is by beating their guys."

If Norwood is feeling betrayed by Top Rank, duBoef suggest he look in the mirror.

"This is the sad story of someone who has a ton of ability as a fighter, who, unfortunately, is a little messed up," he said. "He thinks everyone is looking to get him but the only person he should be angry with is himself.

"He's burned a lot of bridges -- ask the Las Vegas police department."

Norwood is presently on probation in Clark County (resulting from gross misdemeanor charges) and is awaiting resolution of an assault charge in California that stems from a roadside incident in which his mother has already been jailed.

"He's out on bond," Risman said of the California situation. "He was involved in a fight on the side of the road. It's a serious charge but it shouldn't interfere with his boxing career.

"But Freddie knows he's walking a thin line. He can't spit on the sidewalk."

Risman said the assault charge "is no different from what (IBF junior middleweight champion Fernando) Vargas went through" and that Norwood's occasional brushes with the law reflect his difficult upbringing.

"No excuses, but Freddie had a tough time growing up (in St. Louis)," Risman said. "It helped make him the fighter he is today, but it contributed to some of the problems he has today."

Norwood agreed.

"Yeah, I f--- up sometimes," he said. "I've had my share of screw-ups on the street, but I was born and raised on the streets, so what do people expect?

"I'm going to keep trying to grow."

As part of that growth he retained Adams even though he claims duBoef told him to fire the respected trainer.

"Todd told me straight out: 'Norwood, if you don't get rid of Coach Adams the buck is going to stop,' " he said. "But I told him I wasn't going to do it. I'm not fighting without Coach Adams."

Adams said it wasn't the first time Top Rank had steered a fighter away from him, mentioning Corrales by name.

"I'm thinking of suing someone," Adams said. "Right is right and I'm angry about this. I don't know if it's politics or vindictive people or what, but the people in that office have been spreading venom about Norwood and myself and I don't like it."

DuBoef denied Adams' accusations and offered a somewhat flippant response when apprised of his comments.

"He's been spending too much time with Norwood," he said.