GOOSSEN ADDS `MAGIC' TO HIS STABLE.

Byline: ROBERT MORALES BOXING

Dan Goossen has promoted the likes of Michael Nunn, Gabriel Ruelas, Rafael Ruelas, Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins and James Toney, to name a few, during his 25 years in the business.

But when he recently signed Floyd Mayweather Jr. to a promotional contract, it marked the first time Goossen had in his stable the consensus pound-for-pound champion, someone who could go down as one of the greatest ever.

Goossen, president of Goossen Tutor Promotions, admitted this week that having Mayweather on board is special. Mayweather next Saturday will challenge Carlos Baldomir for his World Boxing Council welterweight belt at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. HBO pay-per-view will televise.

``If you are the owner of the Dodgers, or the general manager of the Dodgers or the manager of the Dodgers, it's not enough just to have winning teams,'' Goossen said. ``What you want is that World Series ring, that NBA championship, that Super Bowl.

``And what Floyd Mayweather Jr. brings to the table is that special athlete, that Magic Johnson, who defied all the odds.

``To be able to do what he accomplished on the basketball court ... including the time that stands out in my mind when Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) went out with an injury and Magic had to play center against the 76ers (in the 1980 Finals) and ended up dominating.''

To Goossen, Mayweather is to boxing what Magic was to the NBA.

``It's kind of the way that I reflect on Floyd, because he is not just a fighter, or a champion,'' Goossen said. ``He is one of the greatest fighters of all time. And when you're associated with someone of that ilk, that's where it starts creating the differences from what you have done before -- although it's been on big levels and the world stage -- this is with one of the greatest of all time.

``It allows you the ability to not only think of today, meaning (next Saturday), but as the future keeps on, you have someone who can be a dominant figure for years to come.''

Goossen seems overjoyed to have Mayweather, and that's understandable. Mayweather, 29, is in his prime. He is 36-0 with 24 knockouts, 15-0 in world title fights and has won championships in four weight classes.

For Mayweather, coming to Goossen Tutor was all about Goossen being a stand-up guy.

``What I like about Dan is that he does everything first class,'' said Mayweather, who is guaranteed $8 million for fighting Baldomir; he will also get upside money from pay-per-view upside revenue.

Goossen had actually promoted Mayweather's fight with Sharmba Mitchell last November, when Mayweather was a free agent.

There was no promotional contract, as it was just a one-fight gig.

Mayweather then went back with his longtime promoter Bob Arum and fought Zab Judah last April under Arum's Top Rank Inc. banner.

When Goossen took the high road and didn't beef about Mayweather going back to Arum, that told Mayweather a lot about Goossen. So when he was ready to sign a multi-fight deal, Goossen was his man.

Time will tell if Goossen will be able to keep Mayweather through the rest of what so far has been a sparkling career. In this day and age, it's rare that a superstar in any sport stays with one promoter, or one team, for the better part of a career. But Goossen is certainly hopeful of that.

As things stand right now, Goossen has a solid relationship with Mayweather and several other top-flight fighters. His stable of 29 includes Mayweather, Toney, featherweight superstar Robert ``The Ghost'' Guerrero, top-ranked welterweight Paul ``The Punisher'' Williams and middleweight Andre Ward, the only American to win a gold medal in the 2004 Olympic Games.

State bragging rights on line in Vegas

Damian ``Bolo'' Wills sat on a bench at Joe Goossen's Gym on Thursday as reporters milled around, waiting to see Floyd Mayweather Jr. train. Mayweather next Saturday will challenge Carlos Baldomir for his World Boxing Council welterweight championship at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Wills is on the undercard. The California state heavyweight champion from Hollywood via Lancaster will take on Chris ``The Nightmare'' Arreola of Riverside in a 10-round feature fight. It may be taking place in Las Vegas, but in this case, what happens in Vegas won't stay there.

That's because the result will mean bragging rights in this state.

And judging by the look in Wills' eyes, he expects to be the one boasting a week from tonight.

``Every fight is very big for me,'' said Wills, who will be appearing on pay-per-view -- at the very least taped clips of his fight with Arreola will be shown -- for the first time. ``I know this kid, Chris Arreola, he's really coming to beat me. He's also undefeated and we're fighting to see who's No. 1 in California."

There appears to be some bad blood, too.

``I've been California state champion for over a year now, but I'm not getting that respect from him,'' said Wills, whose state title won't officially be on the line because the fight is taking place in Nevada. ``So, I gotta get it from him. I heard he's been saying things like he's going to knock me out and this and that.

``It just makes things very interesting."

Both of these fighters hit hard. Wills, who is 6-foot-4 and usually fights at around 250pounds, is 21-0-1 with 15 knockouts. Arreola, who is virtually the same size, is 17-0 with 15 knockouts.

On paper, it would seem a toss-up. But Wills, who has world championship aspirations, believes Arreola bit off more than he could chew by accepting this fight. Interestingly, both fighters are promoted by Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor Promotions in Sherman Oaks.

``He's a tough guy,'' Wills, 26, said of Arreola, 25. ``I think he is a good fighter. But I also think that if he or his people (Arreola is managed by Henry Mendez) wanted to keep him undefeated, they shouldn't have taken this fight with me because in his amateur career and professional career, he has never fought a heavyweight of my caliber.''

Dan Goossen played host to Thursday's workout. He said this fight reminded him of one that took place 40 years ago at the Olympic Auditorium.

``It is one of those types of fights, like with Jerry Quarry and Joey Orbillo, two young undefeated heavyweights who were both from Southern California,'' Goossen said.

He was almost right: Quarry was 19-1-3 and Orbillo was 10-1-1 when they squared off in December 1966. Quarry, of Bellflower, won a unanimous decision over Orbillo, who was from Wilmington.

``Usually, you don't see two undefeated guys get in with each other, especially heavyweights, especially without a world title on the line,'' Goossen said. ``I can envision the type of fight it is. It's going to be a back and forth, real heavyweight slugfest."

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Dan Goossen said in his 25 years as a boxing promoter, Floyd Mayweather Jr. could be the greatest fighter ever in his stable.

Courtesy of Goossen Tutor Promotions

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