mano a mano combat

Earlier today, legendary boxing promoter, Don King, issued a cease and desist order to MMA fight promotional company, Shine Fights, stating his fighter, Ricardo Mayorga, was intending to fight Din Thomas in an MMA bout with Shine Fights on May 15th, 2010.

Typical Don King, right? This is a man who usually seems to feel that once he represents a boxer he OWNS them, body and soul. King’s version goes like this:

Don King Productions has become aware that an entity known as Shine Fight Promotions recently announced their intention to present a match showcasing former three-time world champion Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga

Don King Productions has a valid promotional contract granting the right of exclusive representation of Ricardo Mayorga and has advised Shine Fight Promotions accordingly.

Shine Fight Promotions’ conduct constitutes tortious interference with Don King Productions’ agreement with Ricardo Mayorga, and Don King Productions has requested they immediately cease and desist promoting Ricardo Mayorga at one of their events to avoid the need for legal action in this matter.

At this time, Mayorga is under an exclusive promotional contract with Don King Productions; consequently, King has threatened legal action if Shine Fights did not immediately stop promoting Mayorga for the May 15 fight.

Shine Fights has supposedly issued the following “official response” to the cease and desist demand, released just moments ago, as follows:

SHINE FIGHTS PROMOTER DISMISSES DON KING THREAT

“King is Mayorga’s boxing promoter. We are his MMA promoter.”

NEW YORK, NY (May 5, 2010) – Despite demands from Don King Productions to “cease and desist” promoting Ricardo Mayorga, Shine Fights Promotions CEO Devin Price is assuring fight fans that the May 15th MMA event “WORLDS COLLIDE: MAYORGA VS. THOMAS” will go forward “without a doubt.” Price also added:

“Shine Fights has a valid and exclusive promotional contract with Ricardo Mayorga for mixed martial arts. We are pleased to offer both MMA fans and boxing fans a great night of MMA action on Saturday, May 15th.”

“When we announced this fight I said that we think Mayorga’s fans are just that, his fans, and that they will follow him to MMA,” said Price. “Our target is to convert many boxing fans into fans of both sports.”

So this one will most likely be left up to the courts for interpretation, either before the fighters battle in the ring or after, because we all know Don King’s hair won’t let him lie down for anyone…

Of course, this could all be a setup and just a way for King to get some love, because he’s mentioned he does want to get into the MMA promoter biz. What better way to start than by getting down and dirty in the center of the ring?

Shine Fights is currently promoting their upcoming May 15th pay-per-view event, “Worlds Collide: Mayorga vs. Thomas.”

“ WORLDS COLLIDE” will be headlined by a 160-pound catch weight main event between former boxing champion Ricardo Mayorga and MMA veteran Din Thomas, and the co-main event will feature a fight between former EliteXC Middleweight Champion Murilo “Ninja” Rua and Canadian warrior Travis “The Gladiator” Galbraith.

Additionally, a welterweight contest between MMA veteran Nick “The Goat” Thompson and Brazilian star Eduardo Pamplona is also scheduled. Shine Fights promises a surefire ground war will take place at 175 pounds between 2009 ADCC Absolute Champion Braulio Estima and former Olympic Judo competitor Rick Hawn, and grappling specialists Alexandre “Cacareco” Ferrara and Jamal “The Suit” Patterson will also do battle.

The event will take place at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, NC. Fans can watch via PPV on cable and satellite in the United States and Canada (available for $29.95). The good news? The event will be broadcast in High-Definition (HD), and it will be available in both English and Spanish (where available). The broadcast will start at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, and will include a 30-minute countdown show prior to the live event at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT.

If you want to attend in person, you can get tix through Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420, or online, or in person at the Crown Coliseum Box Office. For box office hours and more info, please call (910) 438-4100.

For more information on Shine Fights or “Worlds Collide,” you can follow Shine on Twitter, Myspace, YouTube, or become a fan on Facebook. Looks like the people over at ShineFights have been busy getting in on the social networking, right?!