Joe Donofrio has a vision for professional boxing, and the rest of the world gets a peak on Dec. 17 as he presents ‘The Night of the Olympians? at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
‘I want to bring boxing to a different level,? said Donofrio, who resides in the Clarkston area. ‘I want to build a new mentality of boxing. My whole thing is respect.?
Seeking a return to forgotten or abandoned principles, Donofrio wants boxing to reclaim glory tarnished over the years by scandal, lawsuits and watered down fights.
‘I am going to put on good quality fights, good quality shows. I don’t manage any fighters, most promoters manage fighters, so what they do is they only put together shows where their fighter is going to win,? Donofrio said. ‘Because I don’t have an interest in any fighters, I match them up with people they are competitive with.?
‘The Night of Olympians?? main event features current IBA Continental Junior Welterweight Champion, IBA Continental Welterweight Champion, and WBC Welterweight World Champion, Mary Jo Sanders 18-0-0 (5 KO’s). Also in separate co-main events Mickey Bey Jr, 3-0-0 (2) and his younger brother Cortez, 2-0-0 (2) continue their fledgling but highly touted careers.
Mickey is a two-time National PAL Champion, 2002 National Golden Gloves and two-time US Jr. Olympic Champion and was a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. Cortez was a 2002 Jr. US Olympic Champion.
‘In this business, if you want to make money you have to get into a title fight and then you are talking millions of dollars. In order to get there, you have to be 20, 25, 30-0. And you get to that point by matching your fighters up with people that they can beat. It is what it is. I don’t have an interest in fighters, so I match them up with who they are capable of fighting,? Donofrio said.
With his fight revue just a little more than a week away at the time of his interview, Donofrio’s eyes tell the story of the past three plus months. Dark circles belie early mornings setting up advertisers and late nights talking to fighter’s managers on the west coast. But the long hours spent on his ever present and seemingly constantly pulsating cell phone have not affected the childlike gleam in his steely hazel eyes when he talks about the sport he loves.
‘What I enjoy is the charisma of boxing. It is like no other sport. It is a Superbowl-like event, every major title fight,? Donofrio said. ‘I want to return boxing back to the glamour of what it once was. Back to the glamour of Hollywood, because boxing is Hollywood, it really is. It’s showtime,? Donofrio said.
‘The Night of the Olympians,? is Donofrio’s first solo promotion, having worked with Emanuel Steward on three fights at the Palace in years past. With his moment alone in the sun only a few days off, Donofrio shares his story like a man home from a long voyage at sea ? he is happy to tell the tale, but just retelling the lengthy process is exhausting.
‘You start with the availability of the venue, then you look for the main event, and if the main event is available that day. You get a letter of intent from your main event. Then you try find a worthy opponent. That’s where you start, the venue and the main event,? Donofrio said.
After Sanders, the feature fighter of ‘The Night of Olympians? was locked in, Donofrio went about choosing the fighters for the undercard. At this stage of the process, no matches have been made and only one side of the fighting roster is known. Some of the other fighters to be featured on Dec. 17 include Anthony Dirrell 6-0 (6) and Waterford’s Tyler Cantu 5-5-1 (5).
‘So then you have seven fighters who agree they are going to fight, not each other, but they are going to fill out one side. Then you start the promotion. Radio, TV, interviews, advertising,?
The promotional blitz usually begins 60 days from the date of the fight.
‘Then comes the difficult part ? the matchmaking. Here’s why you have a problem: Every manager, fighter, trainer, will only take fights they feel they can win. They will not step into a ring knowing they are going to lose. They are there for one reason, to promote their career, to improve their record. So, you have fighter A, you call fighter B and they agree. So fighter B agrees, you go back to fighter A and he says ‘No I’m not fighting him.? You go back to fighter B, tell him ‘Nope, he won’t take the fight,? and start all over again. You go back and try to find another fighter. You’ll go through 20 people that are possible, then they will finally agree on one. Then you have to contact the fighter that he agrees upon and see if he’ll take the fight, usually he won’t, and then you have to start all over again,? Donofrio said. ‘This could take 90 days alone to match up (fighters) and eight hours a day on the phone. Eight hours a day, seven days a week on the phone, only for matchmaking, for 90 days, only for matchmaking,?
Once the fighters are paired off, negotiations for the purse, contract language, accommodations, food, transportation, airfare, complimentary tickets, HIV and hepatitus testing, and state approval of the bouts still have to be taken care of.
‘The state will not approve a guy who is 1-0 against a guy who is 12-5,? Donofrio said.
But even with less than a week to go before the big night, the ominous cloud of ‘card subject to change? hangs over head.
‘Fighters backing out at the last minute is very common, even though you have them under contract. I will have the boxing done by Monday, by Wednesday I will be looking for two boxers,? Donofrio said.
While ensuring healthy competition and entertainment, Donofrio has not forgotten that the little things make an evening memorable.
From the program book, to the musical entertainment he promises to a ‘world class level.?
One special guest appearing at ‘The Night of Olympians? is Jackie Kallen, recently seen on TV on ‘The Contender? and who was portrayed by Meg Ryan in the biopic motion picture ‘Against the Ropes.?
Kallen presence not only represents Donofrio’s standing in the boxing community but also his past in the sport.
Born in Detroit and growing up in Madison Heights, he boxed as an amateur fighter from the time he was 10-years-old to the age of 15. He moved to Rochester Hills though at 15 and later attended Oakland University, from which he worked in management of Hilton Hotels.
‘I worked for Hilton Hotels for 14 years and was reintroduced to boxing in 1980 by Jackie Kallen,? Donofrio said, recalling how he and Kallen set up sparring sessions at the Hilton Hotel in Troy during the early 80’s.
In 1985, Donofrio opened up a restaurant and nightclub in Greektown, where he met Emanuel Steward, the hall of fame trainer.
?(Emanuel and I) had always spoke about something together, finally after 15 years of talking about it, we decided we were finally going to do something together. We did three big fights at the Palace and (now) our careers have gone in different directions,? Donofrio said. ‘This is my first lone venture. The Palace for whatever reason, has already granted me two more dates without even the first show going up.
Donofrio has big plans for his next two cards.
‘I am working on a heavy weight title fight for Superbowl weekend. I can’t give out any names, but Saturday Feb. 4 at the Palace. It’s just a matter of me putting together the card,? Donofrio said.
For his third engagement at the Palace, Donofrio plans to showcase a title fight featuring and rising star, Detroit native Damian Fuller, 25-4-1 (11), in March.
Though a path seems laid out before him, Donofrio knows the sweet science to have a sour side, but his passion for the sport grants him providence.
‘This business is unbelievable. It is the most ruthless business in the world,? Donofrio said. ‘I really want to bring boxing to a different level. And if fail and I leave the business I know I tried my hardest.?