Semi-retired as promoter, Schaefer stays active as adviser

A familiar face appeared at the MGM Grand’s media center Thursday for the news conference promoting Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions card.

Richard Schaefer, the former chief operating officer of Golden Boy Promotions who helped form Oscar De La Hoya’s company in 2002 and left in June, was in Las Vegas. And for the first time since he and Golden Boy settled their dispute a couple of months ago, he was free to talk about his life.

“I’m helping (adviser/manager) Al Haymon as an adviser,” Schaefer said. “But I’m retired as a boxing promoter for the time being.”

Schaefer recently started a residential real estate business in Los Angeles, and he said boxing occupies about 10 percent of his life.

“I love the role I have with boxing for now,” he said. “There’s a whole world out there outside of boxing and a lot of nice people outside of boxing.”

Schaefer said he and Haymon talk once or twice a week and that he’s more of a sounding board for Haymon, who launched his latest endeavor Saturday on NBC.

“I spend more time remodeling my backyard than I do with boxing,” he said with a laugh.

Schaefer said he was pleasantly surprised to see the May 2 megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao finally get made.

“If I was a betting man, I would have bet it didn’t happen,” he said. “But as a boxing fan, I’m thrilled it’s going to happen.”

■ PBC ON SPIKE — Haymon’s PBC venture heads to Ontario, Calif., this week for a card Friday on Spike TV.

Shawn Porter and Josesito Lopez will be two of the featured attractions. Porter will meet Roberto Garcia, and Lopez will face Andre Berto in 10-round welterweight bouts.

“We want to show up and show out,” said the 27-year-old Porter, a former International Boxing Federation welterweight champion who lives in Las Vegas. “We want to stay busy and stay in the public’s eye.”

Porter (24-1-1, 15 knockouts) is coming off the first loss of his career — a 12-round majority decision against Kell Brook on Aug. 16 that cost him his title. Porter said he didn’t do a good job following the instructions of his father and trainer, Ken Porter, thus allowing Brook to hold him and not let him use his boxing skills.

“I processed what my dad said,” Porter said. “I just didn’t do a good job of executing the adjustments.”

Porter said he’s not going to let the loss gnaw at him and is looking to bounce back against Garcia (36-3, 23 KOs).

“I can deal with it,” he said. “It’s one fight. It’s not the end of my career. It’s not the end of my life.”

Lopez (33-6, 19 KOs) has won three straight since losing consecutive fights to Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana. He said he won’t be intimidated by Berto (29-3, 22 KOs).

“He should bring out the best in me,” Lopez said. “This is the most excited I’ve been in a long time.”

Lopez said he’s winning again because he’s fighting guys more his own size.

“I’ve been fighting bigger, stronger guys,” he said. “It took a lot out of me. But I took some time off after Maidana, and I came back fresher and stronger.”

The telecast on Spike (Cox Channel 29) begins at 9 p.m.

■ SAM’S TOWN CARD — Middleweights Wes Capper and Tony Hirsch will meet in the main event Saturday at Sam’s Town on a card promoted by the Pochiro Brothers.

The co-feature matches flyweights Damien Vasquez and Edwin Reyes for the NABF Junior championship. The first bell is scheduled for 6 p.m.

■ McCARTER ON BKB — Las Vegan Layla McCarter will be part of Big Knockout Boxing’s first female fight, facing Diana Prazak of Australia on April 4 at Mandalay Bay for the lightweight championship, scheduled for seven rounds.

McCarter, 35, is 36-13-5 with eight knockouts in traditional boxing. Since turning pro in 1998, she has won world titles at lightweight, junior welterweight and super welterweight. Prazak, 35, is 13-3 with nine knockouts.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.