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International Fight LeagueThe International Fight League issued a press release today announcing that co-founder Gareb Shamus has resigned as CEO and that current President Jay Larkin has been named active CEO.

Shamus has stepped down from both his chairman and CEO positions and will remain available as a consultant for the near future.

Considering the IFL’s financial status and their current SEC 10Q filing, it really comes as no surprise that they are changing leadership.

NEW YORK, November 20, 2007 – The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s number one team-based professional mixed martial arts league, today announced a change in its senior leadership, naming Jay Larkin acting Chief Executive Officer. Larkin, who had joined the IFL as President and Chief Operating Officer on September 21, 2007, replaces IFL co-founder Gareb Shamus, who resigned his positions as chairman and chief executive officer, effective immediately. Shamus will remain available to the IFL as a consultant.

“Taking a sports and entertainment entity from an idea to an established brand in 14 months is nothing short of amazing. Gareb should be commended for his vision and leadership during that period,” Larkin said. “From first class events with rising athletes to quality broadcast television and landmark licensing and sponsorship deals, the IFL brand that has been built is very strong, and I look forward to the challenge of taking that growing brand and working with our television partners, business partners, staff, coaches and athletes to make it the best organization possible for a very long time to come.”

Larkin joined the IFL after having spent over 20 years at media giant Showtime, rising from a junior publicist to one of the most powerful and respected dealmakers in the sport of boxing, during his storied career. An accomplished television and theatrical producer, his educational background has included time at the Boston Conservatory of Music; the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television; and a degree in theater and directing from C.W. Post. He began at Showtime in 1984, and helped create some of the channel’s greatest entertainment specials involving legends ranging from Frank Sinatra and Paul McCartney to The Rolling Stones, Britney Spears, and The Spice Girls among others.

During that time, the Brooklyn native also oversaw the channel’s growth in boxing, beginning in 1986 with Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s middleweight title defense against John Mugabi. He negotiated the deals and helped create some of boxing’s most legendary matchups of the last quarter century, including numerous Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Julio Cesar Chavez fights. He also was one of the key negotiators and co-executive producer of what was then the biggest money fight in history, the 2002 heavyweight championship bout between Lennox Lewis and Tyson that happened because of a landmark deal between Showtime (Tyson’s network) and rival HBO (Lewis’ network).

The final IFL event of 2007, the IFL “World Grand Prix,” will take place on Saturday, December 29, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event will mark the first time in North America that five MMA title belts will be on the line in the same night. The 2008 IFL schedule is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

28 Comments
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  1. PATRICK says:

    ALL I CAN REALLY SAY IS WHO GIVES A ****

  2. Drehog says:

    [quote comment="11681"]ALL I CAN REALLY SAY IS WHO GIVES A ****[/quote]
    Somehow, I’m not surprised.

  3. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11681"]ALL I CAN REALLY SAY IS WHO GIVES A ****[/quote]

    Hey Patrick… tell us what you really think man… lol

  4. PATRICK says:

    [quote comment="11686"][quote comment="11681"]ALL I CAN REALLY SAY IS WHO GIVES A ****[/quote]

    Hey Patrick… tell us what you really think man… lol[/quote]

    YEA DUDE… IFL IS JUST PLAIN SUCKS IN MY OPINION….I LIKE TO TUNE INTO SEE HERON.. OR MATUSHENKO…SO ON SO ON.. TEAM COMBAT… I MEAN COME ON HERE..

  5. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11689"][quote comment="11686"][quote comment="11681"]ALL I CAN REALLY SAY IS WHO GIVES A ****[/quote]

    Hey Patrick… tell us what you really think man… lol[/quote]

    YEA DUDE… IFL IS JUST PLAIN SUCKS IN MY OPINION….I LIKE TO TUNE INTO SEE HERON.. OR MATUSHENKO…SO ON SO ON.. TEAM COMBAT… I MEAN COME ON HERE..[/quote]

    I wont argue with you man…. can you say “feeder org” can you say “stable of coaches who are former UFC fighters” .. lol but hey it serves its purpose and is occasionally entertaining..

  6. MoreThanUFC says:

    The human language needs to figure out a new word for leaving ones job ie resigns. At first I thought he had re-signed as CEO.

  7. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11692"]The human language needs to figure out a new word for leaving ones job ie resigns.

    At first I thought he had re-signed as CEO.[/quote]

    Re-signs a new contract.
    Resigns from his job.

    The English language is fine.

  8. bvrasp says:

    well, i updated my flash and all that.. still cant get the dam thing to work.. ill keep trying tho, i like the feature..

  9. bvrasp says:

    In Boxing news, seen a pretty good fight, Guzman vs Soto.. if you have the means, check that out.

    Also, i heard Roy Jones jr. is coming out of retirement to fight Felix Trinidad whos also coming out of retirement. I guess theyre trying to spark some interest back in boxing, and really, it should be a good fight. Only a one time thing tho in my opinion.. not that ill be buying it or anything lol. But its worth checking out.. its happening sometime in december..

  10. richard says:

    [quote comment="11695"]In Boxing news, seen a pretty good fight, Guzman vs Soto.. if you have the means, check that out.

    Also, i heard Roy Jones jr. is coming out of retirement to fight Felix Trinidad whos also coming out of retirement. I guess theyre trying to spark some interest back in boxing, and really, it should be a good fight. Only a one time thing tho in my opinion.. not that ill be buying it or anything lol. But its worth checking out.. its happening sometime in december..[/quote]
    BOXING?WTF

  11. bvrasp says:

    what can i say.. theres not much happening in mma right this minute..

  12. bvrasp says:

    boxing is a part of mma too man, in that fight i saw, they showed this super slomo replay. Soto was throwing a hook and Guzman landed 3 shots and backed away before the hook even came around LOL. That guys got some serious handspeed.

  13. richard says:

    im just messing with u i actually caught the cotto fight a couple days ago ,i just like seeing ground work ,theres nothing like some good bjj

  14. richard says:

    [quote comment="11693"][quote comment="11692"]The human language needs to figure out a new word for leaving ones job ie resigns.

    At first I thought he had re-signed as CEO.[/quote]

    Re-signs a new contract.
    Resigns from his job.

    The English language is fine.[/quote]
    u guys know the english language has the most words out of any known language

  15. richard says:

    [quote comment="11681"]ALL I CAN REALLY SAY IS WHO GIVES A ****[/quote]
    great comment

  16. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11697"]what can i say.. theres not much happening in mma right this minute..[/quote]

    Well yeah…. but there is one particular MMA event on DECEMBER 29TH that should prove to be good conversation and pretty darn exciting…

  17. PATRICK says:

    [quote comment="11691"][quote comment="11689"][quote comment="11686"][quote comment="11681"]ALL I CAN REALLY SAY IS WHO GIVES A ****[/quote]

    Hey Patrick… tell us what you really think man… lol[/quote]

    YEA DUDE… IFL IS JUST PLAIN SUCKS IN MY OPINION….I LIKE TO TUNE INTO SEE HERON.. OR MATUSHENKO…SO ON SO ON.. TEAM COMBAT… I MEAN COME ON HERE..[/quote]

    I wont argue with you man…. can you say “feeder org” can you say “stable of coaches who are former UFC fighters” .. lol but hey it serves its purpose and is occasionally entertaining..[/quote]

    WELL KANSAS YOU DONT HAVE TO AGREE..BUT THERES ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT WOULD… YEA THE FIGHTS ARE COOL BUT WHO GIVES A FUKKK… BEST TEAM OF THE YEAR… YEA THAT SAYS ALOT ABOUT YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL… ME PERSONALLY I WOULD WANT TO WALK AROUND AS THE INDIVIDUAL CHAMP WITH THE BELT AROUND MY WAIST ONLY… TEAMS.. PESHHHH GIMMIE A BREAK…

  18. PATRICK says:

    [quote comment="11702"][quote comment="11681"]ALL I CAN REALLY SAY IS WHO GIVES A ****[/quote]
    great comment[/quote]

    THANKS RICHARD…

  19. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11706"][quote comment="11691"][quote comment="11689"][quote comment="11686"][quote comment="11681"]ALL I CAN REALLY SAY IS WHO GIVES A ****[/quote]

    Hey Patrick… tell us what you really think man… lol[/quote]

    YEA DUDE… IFL IS JUST PLAIN SUCKS IN MY OPINION….I LIKE TO TUNE INTO SEE HERON.. OR MATUSHENKO…SO ON SO ON.. TEAM COMBAT… I MEAN COME ON HERE..[/quote]

    I wont argue with you man…. can you say “feeder org” can you say “stable of coaches who are former UFC fighters” .. lol but hey it serves its purpose and is occasionally entertaining..[/quote]

    WELL KANSAS YOU DONT HAVE TO AGREE..BUT THERES ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT WOULD… YEA THE FIGHTS ARE COOL BUT WHO GIVES A FUKKK… BEST TEAM OF THE YEAR… YEA THAT SAYS ALOT ABOUT YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL… ME PERSONALLY I WOULD WANT TO WALK AROUND AS THE INDIVIDUAL CHAMP WITH THE BELT AROUND MY WAIST ONLY… TEAMS.. PESHHHH GIMMIE A BREAK…[/quote]

    Dude… I basically AGREED with you… moot point man…

  20. y says:

    serra’s out in UFC 79

    Put in GSP…hughes vs GSP2 would be awesome
    or just put anybody, its been a while since hughes fought in the cage

  21. y says:

    I correct myself it would be GSPvsHughes3

    I would love to see hughes fight anyone….put in fitch, koscheck, sanchez, chonan even karo…hughes has got to fight

  22. R.J. St.Croix says:

    [quote comment="11735"]serra’s out in UFC 79

    Put in GSP…hughes vs GSP2 would be awesome
    or just put anybody, its been a while since hughes fought in the cage[/quote]
    where are you getting this info?

  23. R.J. St.Croix says:

    [quote comment="11737"][quote comment="11735"]serra’s out in UFC 79

    Put in GSP…hughes vs GSP2 would be awesome
    or just put anybody, its been a while since hughes fought in the cage[/quote]
    where are you getting this info?[/quote]
    ok never mind i found it…… SH*T!!!

  24. PATRICK says:

    WHAT… THATS ********.. IM SO SICK OF INJURIES… NOW WHOS GSP GONNNA FIGHT?

  25. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11738"][quote comment="11737"][quote comment="11735"]serra’s out in UFC 79

    Put in GSP…hughes vs GSP2 would be awesome
    or just put anybody, its been a while since hughes fought in the cage[/quote]
    where are you getting this info?[/quote]
    ok never mind i found it…… SH*T!!![/quote]

    Well at least we have something to talk about now… this does suck though, it kills the finale of the Ultimate Fighter, the welterweight champ doesn’t fight for almost a year or perhaps more than a year, and nobody gets a crack at Serra, while GSP and Hughes are just collecting dust and getting older, this sucks bad, we need another “interim title” lol kidding, but seriously if Serra cannot fight and that extends into a year, he will have to give up the title then its GSP vs Hughes 3 … I don’t think Dana is going to blow his wad on this though, I think he knows that the Chuck vs Wand fight is a big enough draw for UFC 79 and he is just gonna capitalize on that and put a can in the octagon with Hughes, just my thoughts.. I could be wrong..

  26. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11739"]WHAT… THATS ********.. IM SO SICK OF INJURIES… NOW WHOS GSP GONNNA FIGHT?[/quote]

    That’s what your here for Patrick, tell us who he is gonna fight or how you think Joe Silva is gonna play this one out man…

  27. PATRICK says:

    LOL TO BE HONEST… INTERIM TITLE MATCH LOL.. BUT SERIUOSLY THATS SUCKS CUZ NOW SERRA WILL PROBABLY BE OUT TILL FEB OR MARCH OF 08 OR EVEN LONGER.. THATS A SERIOUS INJURY

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