PHILADELPHIA – Damon Feldman throws up his hands. Yup, he’s guilty.
Damon once billed a local chicken wing eating champion as a celebrity for one of his D-list boxing bouts.
“That might be a bit of a reach,” a laughing Feldman said.
Yes, the “celebrity” tag should be reserved for the true former TV and sports figures who bravely wear headgear and 18-ounce gloves for their three, one-minute rounds of, ahem, unco-ordinated flailing and flinching.
Names like Jose Canseco and Danny Bonaduce. Rodney King. Yes, even “Charles in Charge” actor Willie Aames.
They all stepped into a makeshift ring at ice rinks and gyms throughout suburban Philadelphia over the last two years as part of Feldman’s Celebrity Boxing Federation. His main events are straight out of central casting for reality shows, featuring celebrities well past their 15 minutes of fame.
“If it’s a regular actor, they’re not going to sell. You have to have controversy,” Feldman said.
Feldman’s hands are full these days with his own controversy.
He’s in the thick of a legal scandal — the kind that might land an entertainer with similar woes a contract with the CBF. Feldman and his promotion are on the ropes, and his dream of building the World Wrestling Entertainment of boxing could get KO’d.
State Attorney General Tom Corbett disagrees that Feldman’s bouts are all in fun. He recently charged Feldman with fixing fights and staging them without a license.
Feldman is free on US$50,000 unsecured bail, but he’s barred from staging any events in Pennsylvania as a condition of his release.
Even so, he’s going on with the show — in New Jersey. His next main event on Friday pits adult film star Gina Lynn versus tabloid sensation Michelle (Bombshell) McGee, who has been linked to Jesse James.
Look out Vince McMahon. The CBF is on hold — for now. Feldman’s billing Friday night’s card as the debut of the Celebrity Wrestling Federation.
“If anybody asked me, I would say do not bet on this,” Feldman said. “It’s entertainment.”
Feldman was in his element Thursday at a sports bar sandwiched between Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks (it’s amazing he didn’t try and sign Pat versus Geno for his next card). He played ringmaster to an oddball collection of pro wrestlers, muscle-head trainers, porn stars and tattoo artists.
Lynn arrived first wearing a tight “Team Sandra” T-shirt, referring to actress Sandra Bullock, who has filed for divorce from James. McGee was swarmed by photographers who wanted their shot at the accused mistress.
“I have more ‘Team Bombshell’ people on my side,” McGee said. “As long as she’s not ‘Team Jesse.”‘
Feldman, a former amateur boxer, promised “100 per cent excitement” between the porn star and the stripper. He’s hasn’t decided what style of match they’ll fight when it airs live on www.gofightlive.tv.
Has Feldman already picked a winner?
“I want to leave it up to you what to think,” he said.
The state believes Feldman always knew who was going to win his boxing matches and promoted them as legitimate fights. He was charged with six counts of staging competitions without holding a promoter’s license from the State Athletic Commission and six counts of rigging fights at those events during a 16-month period that ended in December.