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Pearson to sign pro contract and debut Nov. 26 in Cincinnati
Chris Pearson, the heralded amateur middleweight boxer from Trotwood, will sign a professional managerial contract this weekend with Al Haymon, the behind-the-scenes power broker whose stable of top-flight fighters includes Floyd Mayweather Jr., Jermain Taylor, Antonio Tarver, Andre Berto and Paul Williams.
The California-based Haymon also has promoted and marketed national tours for superstars like Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, M.C. Hammer, and Boyz II Men.
“We’re signing a 5-year deal with an option for two more if Chris is ranked in the top five,” said Milt Pearson, Chris father, who along Dayton attorney Ralph Wilcoxson will be involved in the managerial duties.
Chris’ first fight will be Nov. 26 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. It will be on the undercard of Adrien Broner’s bid against a yet unnamed opponent for the recently vacated WBO super featherweight crown. The 21-0 Broner is from Cincinnati.
“I’m pretty sure Chris’s fight will be on TV,” Milt Pearson said.
Haymon’s fighters seem to have a pipeline to HBO exposure and Milt sees the same thing happening for his son, who was the U.S Middleweight National Champion and made a strong, but unsuccessful bid three months ago to make the U.S Olympic team for the 2012 Games in London.
“They are putting together a brand and marketing strategy for Chris,” Milt said. “They said he’s a natural for TV because of his story and the type kid he is. They are tired of all the arrogant kids and think he could be a breath of fresh air.”
Pearson said Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions will be involved in the promotion of some of his son’s fights. Chris will be trained in California by Los Angeles-based Manny Robles, who worked with him over the past year. Ron Daniels, Chris’s long-time trainer from Dayton, will fly in to help work training camps and fights.
For the time being Pearson said his son will be on a monthly allowance worth a few thousand dollars and that the five-year deal has the potential of earning him $2.5 million.
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