|
|
  - PROELITE BLOCKING FREE AGENCY FOR JAKE SHIELDS
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - by Tom Hamlin - MMAWeekly.com
The remaining representatives from near-defunct fight promotion ProElite are doing what they can to stop EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields from leaving the fold.
Shields’ manager and father, Jack Shields, on Monday told MMAWeekly.com that an unnamed lawyer representing ProElite informed him on Saturday that his son was not a free agent.
The elder Shields, along with several fight managers under the ProElite umbrella, in late October sent the company a “notice of breach” letter asking them to fulfill their promotional and payment obligations within 30 days or their contracts would be abandoned.
ProElite responded to the letters on or around Nov. 3, stating they were in the process of “downsizing” and said they planned to continue promoting in early 2009. They also stated that EliteXC fighters needed express written consent to fight for other promotions.
According to Shields, the same lawyer contacted him on Nov. 12 to discuss the company’s standing, and claimed it had righted problems with the California State Athletic Commission. On Nov. 6, former CSAC Executive Officer Armando Garcia suspended the promoter’s license of ProElite in one of his last actions at the agency.
“He said the athletic commission suspended the license when they heard the news reports of ProElite going out of business, but they were reinstated now,” said Shields.
MMAWeekly.com on Monday confirmed with new CSAC Assistant Executive Officer Bill Douglas that he had indeed reversed the suspension and that ProElite and King of the Cage both had their promotional licenses reinstated.
It is unclear whether the lawyer promised legal action if Shields continued to pursue opportunities for his son. He is currently consulting with a lawyer to verify the legality of the decision to field offers from other fight promotions. Until then, he remains where most ProElite fighters do – in a holding pattern.
Nevertheless, Shields sounded optimistic he could free the champ.
“I want to try and get him in a good situation,” Shields said.
BACK TO THE NEWS
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Related Articles :
- - BILL DOUGLAS APPOINTED BY CSAC (Monday, November 24, 2008)
The California State Athletic Commission on Monday announced that Bill Douglas, a staff analyst of three years for the CSAC, has been formally promoted to Assistant Executive Officer...
- - CSAC APPOINTS INTERIM LEADERS IN GARCIA'S WAKE (Tuesday, November 18, 2008)
he California State Athletic Commission on Tuesday began the search for a new Executive Officer in the wake of Armando Garcia’s sudden resignation from the post...
- - SHOWTIME CANCELS AUCTION OF PROELITE ASSETS (Friday, November 14, 2008)
As of Friday morning, ProElite's fighter contracts are off of the auction block, according to a statement released by Showtime Networks...
- - CAN KING OF THE CAGE RISE ABOVE ELITEXC'S DEMISE? (Monday, November 10, 2008)
While all has been doom and gloom surrounding EliteXC's recent demise, King of the Cage president Terri Trebilcock believes that it is not out of the question the CBS, ProElite, and King of the Cage could emerge from the wreckage...
- - CSAC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GARCIA TO RESIGN (Sunday, November 09, 2008)
Armando Garcia, Executive Director of the California State Athletic Commission, will resign from his post on Nov. 18 at a public commission meeting...
- - PROELITE MAY GO TO COURT TO BLOCK AUCTION (Saturday, November 08, 2008)
Despite everything pointing to its demise, ProElite, Inc. could possibly go to court in an attempt to stave off a public auction of its assets...
- - ELITEXC RESPONDS TO NOTICE OF BREACH (Monday, November 03, 2008)
MMAWeekly.com on Sunday learned that ProElite, Inc., parent company of Elite XC, has notified several fighter managers the company still intends to promote mixed martial arts events.
- - DANA WHITE COMMENTS ON THE SPOILS OF ELITE XC (Monday, October 27, 2008)
From name recognition alone, Elite XC’s Gina Carano and Kimbo Slice are money in the bank. But at the post-fight press conference for UFC 90, UFC president Dana White said ....
- - THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE ELITEXC COLLAPSE (Saturday, October 25, 2008)
JT Steele started his career at ProElite, Inc. as an intern when the company was first formed in November of 2006 and worked his way into an executive position, until the company collapsed earlier this week...
- - ELITEXC INVESTIGATION CLOSED, SUSPICIONS LINGER (Thursday, October 23, 2008)
Though many suspicions and outright accusations have been voiced, the Florida State Boxing Commission on Thursday closed it's investigation into the Kimbo Slice vs. Seth Petruzelli fight, finding no wrongdoing...
- - CAGE RAGE'S DAVE O'DONNELL TO FORGE AHEAD (Tuesday, October 21, 2008)
Despite the downfall of ProElite, Inc., the parent company of Britain's Cage Rage promotion, co-founder Dave O'Donnell vows that the promotion he started will move forward in one form or another...
- - ELITEXC INSIDER DETAILS COMPANY'S DOWNFALL (Tuesday, October 21, 2008)
In an interview with MMAWeekly.com Monday evening, Icon Sport founder T.J. Thompson said crisis management, or lack thereof, brought Pro Elite down.
- - CBS RATINGS NOT ENOUGH, ELITEXC CLOSING UP SHOP (Monday, October 20, 2008)
Various industry sources have confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that ProElite, Inc., the parent company of EliteXC, King of the Cage, Cage Rage, and others, is set to cease operations this week...
Copyright 2009 MMA Weekly LLC. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of MMA Weekly content is expressly prohibited without expressed written consent of MMA Weekly. MMA Weekly will not be liable for any errors in content or any action taken in reliance thereof.
|
|
|
|
