Renowned promoter Gary Shaw, giant of boxing, dies at 79
Worked with numerous top stars, put on many big events
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Gary Shaw, who throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s was one of the most influential promoters in boxing and worked with a who’s who of top stars of the era, died on Thursday at his home in South Florida. He was 79.
Shaw died from complications stemming from a heart ailment.
At his peak, Shaw, who was born in New Mexico and lived for decades in New Jersey, promoted one big fight after another and had deep relationships across the sport. He put on numerous fight cards on HBO and Showtime, co-created Showtime’s prospect series “ShoBox: The Generation” along with promoter Frank Warren and the late Hall of Fame Showtime executive Jay Larkin, and eventually branched out to MMA.
Shaw, with his trademark company-branded tracksuits, could be gruff but also was endearing with a big personality. He had friends throughout the industry and was known as a “fighter’s promoter.” He treated the boxers he worked with like they were members of his family.
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He got his start in boxing in 1971 as an inspector for the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board and later spent nearly 30 years as a commissioner.
After Hall of Fame promoter Dan Duva of Main Events died, his widow, Kathy Duva, hired Shaw to run the company, one of the sport’s powerhouse promotional firms, in 1999.
He and Duva eventually parted ways and he founded Gary Shaw Productions in 2002 and went on to put on many more major fights. Thanks to his close, personal relationship with Larkin, Showtime became known throughout the business as “Shawtime” since he controlled so many of the dates on the main “Showtime Championship Boxing” series as well as on “ShoBox.”
He was still with Main Events when he served as the lead promoter for the 2002 heavyweight championship fight between then-champion Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, which set the record for richest fight in boxing history at the time.
Shaw was also a co-promoter for the legendary lightweight unification fight between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo in 2005 that many consider the greatest fight in the history of the sport.
Among the numerous top fighters Shaw promoted were Lewis, Tyson, Corrales, Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao, Winky Wright, Timothy Bradley Jr., Nonito Donaire, Arturo Gatti, Fernando Vargas, Vernon Forrest, Jeff Lacy, Vic Darchinyan and Chad Dawson.
In 2015, Shaw made a deal to sell his company to the Jay Z-led Roc Nation Sports, which was just entering the boxing business. Shaw would remain with the company as a key figure in its boxing department, but the marriage lasted less than a month.
When they were in the process of finalizing the assignment of many of his fighter contracts from Gary Shaw Productions to Roc Nation Sports, things did not go smoothly. There was infighting and a difference in philosophy and eventually the deal was canceled. Shaw resigned from Roc Nation Sports, retained the agreements of the handful of fighters he still promoted and continued doing business as Gary Shaw Productions, but not for long before he went into retirement.
The last event he promoted was when Miguel Cotto defended the middleweight title against Daniel Geale at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, in June 2015.
In 2021 Shaw exited retirement on a part time basis to serve as chief of staff to WBA president Gilberto Mendoza Jr., but he became less involved before his health issues arose.
In a statement, the WBA called Shaw “a visionary mind within the boxing world and an extremely important character for the sport as a great planner and creator of multiple projects that revolutionized the industry.”
“Boxing has lost a very dear person today,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said. “Our condolences go to (wife) Judy and the kids. I will always remember Gary with his unique smile, fun character and passion for boxing. Rest in peace my dear Gary.”
Shaw had good relationships with many rival promoters in the business.
“Saddened to hear about Gary Shaw,” promoter Lou DiBella posted to social media. “Spent a lot of time together before he exited boxing and we shared a lot of laughs and meals. Love to the Shaw family.”
Star Boxing promoter Joe DeGuardia called Shaw “a titan in the sport” and added, “We've lost one of the last of the Mohicans of boxing, a true pioneer and a respected figure in the community. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Gary Shaw.”
Shaw, who has been inducted into state boxing halls of fame in Nevada, New Jersey and California, also was a well-known figure in MMA.
From 2007 to 2008, Shaw ran EliteXC, a UFC competitor co-founded by Showtime. In 2008, he promoted the first MMA bouts on network primetime television when EliteXC had cards on CBS. During the company’s brief history Shaw, with the help from his son, Jared, helped launch the career of the late Kimbo Slice (Kevin Ferguson) and Gina Carano to stardom before it went bankrupt after 20 events and was sold to Strikeforce.
“He was the first MMA promoter to give me my opportunity to fight in the USA with EliteXC. RIP Gary Shaw,” women’s MMA star Cris Cyborg posted on social media.
But it was boxing where Shaw made his mark.
“I was sad to learn today about the passing of Gary Shaw. Gary’s contributions to the world of boxing were immense, and his passion for the sport was truly inspiring,” said promoter Don King, who did a lot of business with Shaw. “He will be remembered not only for his expertise as a promoter but also for his dedication to the athletes he represented.
“Gary was always a stand-up guy who kept his word, and his spirit will live on. I loved him and we are going to miss him. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family.”
Shaw’s funeral will be held on Monday at 1 pm. ET at King Solomon Memorial Park in Clifton, New Jersey.
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I think of Calzaghe destroying Shaw's fighter Jeff Lacey.
For whatever reason I think of Vic Darchinyan when I think of Shaw.