walter22

Emin - Gracie - Archivio Lettere Part. 1

From: das...@earthlink.net (Michael Dash)
Subject: Boztepe/Gracie challenge - Entire chain of letters (long)
Date: 1996/08/20
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For all of you that are intersted, I am providing in this post all
the letters that exist (to the best of my knowledge) regarding
Emin Boztepe's challenge to the Gracie Family.  If you have no
interest in this subject, then exercise your right of choice and
skip this post/thread.  Don't bitch or complain to me because you
can't seem to stop yourself from reading my posts.

The follwoing is a summary of the letters provided:

1.  Boztepe's original challenge letter, dated 10/26/94.

2.  Art Davie's (W.O.W.) orignal response, dated 12/01/94, to the
letter in which he points out that Boztepe libeled the UFC by
calling it fake.  Boztepe is also formally offered a guaranteed
slot in the UFC.

3.  Rorion Gracie's response to the challenge letter, faxed 1/19/95
in which he suggests Boztepe accept the invitation to the UFC, or
he can fight Royce at the Torrance Academy.

4.  Second letter from Art Davie to Boztepe, dated 1/25/95, in which
he asks Boztepe to retract his statement calling the UFC fake.  He
also repeats a verbal offer made to Boztepe guaranteeing him a special
single match with Royce (which would have been the first superfight
that Shamrock received).

5.  First letter from Alexander Wallenwein, Boztepe's attorney,
dated 3/3/95, in which he first offers the gym of the Martial Arts
Gazette, as an alternative to the Police Academy. 

6.  Rorion's response to the lawyer, dated 3/6/95, which he proposes
a firm date for the fight at the Police Academy.  In this letter
Rorion refers to the fight as a "demonstration".

7.  Wallenwein's response to the Police Acadmey offer, dated
3/6/95, in which he indicates, for the first time, that the fight
Boztepe challenged the Gracies to is in fact illegal and that they
didn't want to fight in front of the Police unless Rorion obtained
a letter from the Mayor or the Chief of Police stating that such
fights are "(a) legal in California, (b) that no law enforcement
personnel will intervene in the fight in any way until it is over,
and (c) that after the fight none of the participants or their
promoters/representatives will be charged with violating any laws". 
By the way, it was this letter that convinced Rorion that Boztepe
wasn't serious about fighting them and that the fight was never
going to occur.

8.  Rorion's repsonse to the request for a letter from the Mayor or
Chief of Police, dated 3/6/95, in which he states the fight would
be just as illegal if held at the gym of the Martial Arts Gazette,
but Royce would fight there if Boztepe could provide the same letter
they requested earlier from the Mayor or the Chief of Police.  This
letter, to the best of my knowledge, was the last letter exchanged
between them.

9.  Letter published in Black Belt Magazine in which Royce compares
Boztepe to a circus clown.

10.  Letter from Boztepe, dated 4/3/95, that Mike Adams posted to
rec.martial-arts.  Supposedly this letter was going to be published
in magazines, but I don't know if it has.

The following letters are reproduced verbatim from the original,
as best as I can (i.e. I can't reproduce changes in font or underlines).
I have copies of the originals for letters 1, and 3-8 above.  I
only have electronic versions of 2, 9, and 10.

Michael Dash
das...@earthlink.net
********************************************************************
*The above statements represent my personal opinion and are not    *
*necessarily the opinion of any other individual or organization.  *
********************************************************************
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AWTO
American WingTsun Organization

  Los Angeles, 26th October 1994

A WORLD-WIDE OPEN CHALLENGE TO THE GRACIE-FAMILY

After having watched your "Ultimate Fighting Championships" held
by the Gracie-Family, I cannot find them very "ultimate" but only
amusing. These so-called "ultimate fights" may impress layman or
beginners, but in fact they are no more real than the professional
Wrestling shows on TV.

What depresses me is that I have heard of some rumors that I would
not dare to accept your challenge. In fact I have never received
any such challenge!  Do you want me to appear like a coward? When I
talked to Benny Urquidez in Germany, he told me that you people had
played him the same dirty old trick for propaganda. Not long ago you
even challenged the great man of American wrestling Gene LaBell. A
very brave act indeed, since Mr. LaBell is over 60 years old.

Now in the second "Ultimate Fighting Championships"-Show you
people even (ab-)used two stupid wing chun men to perform some funny
movements so as to represent "Kung-Fu". And at the same time you
claimed to have defeated two "wing chun"-fighters in the first bout.

Although I am a WingTsun-Fighter of the Leung Ting WingTsun-System,
which is very different from the generic wing chun style in theory
and practice and is highly compatible in ground-fighting, I feel
bad that you brothers use these kinds of dirty tricks to put down
the late Great Grandmaster Yip Man's other students, their schools
as well as other respectable martial arts styles or stylists!

I keep the record of over 300 bare-hand fights and have never been
defeated.  However, I have never talked bad about my losers and all
the other styles.  But so as to educate you Gracies to respect the
others, my students and I hereby turn the tables on you by challenging
all you people of the Gracy-Family.

I can send 5 or more fighters from the AWTO to fight the Gracies.
If you have more fighters in the Gracie-Family, just inform me and
I shall report this to the International Headquarters and we will
satisfy you with as many fighters as necessary.

We like the so-called "No rules at all" Game as advertised in your
propaganda.  No gloves, no time-limit, the person who knocks out
his opponent is the winner. This is exactly the way we WingTsun-people
fought in China in the olden times. We do not mind fighting you people
in the ring set up by your own organization. The only thing that
we want is to fight openly, so all the audience, reporters, TV-people
and martial artists can see if you can really fight against us.
We only want two conditions:

1) We only fight you Gracies. For we do not want to give you the
chance to use any helpful idiots to protect you as "shields".
So we will only fight you directly and no others!

2) The winner takes all the money. We only want our expenses paid.
The rest of the money will all be used for charity.

If you Gracie-brothers dare not to accept our challenge, I do not
mind. But remember: Never put down any other martial art styles
from now on.

  [signature]

Emin Boztepe
5th level Practician EWTO/IWTMAA
Headman of the AWTO (American WingTsun Organization)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
faxed to Emin Boztepe at (213)666-1635

DATE:     12/01/94

TO:       EMIN BOZTEPE

FROM:     ART DAVIE, PROMOTER OF THE UFC

SUBJECT:  UFC V

I have a copy of your letter to the Gracies being published in
Cinturon Negro in Europe.  You expressed an interest in entering
the UFC, but I have some concerns with your letter:

1.   The UFC, which is owned by my company in partnership with
     Semaphore Entertainment Group in New York, is not a staged
     exhibition like professional wrestling.  Your letter's
     assertion "...in fact they (UFC) are no more real than
     professional wrestling shows on TV" is not only false but is,
     in the opinion of our attorneys, clearly libelous.  Be advised
     that we have made a substantial investment in the UFC as a
     business, and will do everything, within our legal means to
     protect it.

2.   The UFC is not controlled by the Gracies; they do not select
     the competitors nor arrange the bout order.  The opening round
     bouts are done by a random draw.  A fighter may be matched
     against a Gracie in the opening round or be matched against a
     Gracie in the second or final round.  This is the way the
     tournament is structured.

You may remember that I spoke to you on the phone a year ago asking
you to fight the first UFC.  You declined, saying you were retired
from such competitions.  I am, however,aware of and respect your
reputation as a Wing Tsun stylist; I would suggest to you that a
simple resolution to this issue would be for you to enter UFC V,
scheduled for April 7, 1995.  I am sure that a Gracie brother will
be a competitor and your stature is such that I will guarantee you
a selection as one of the eight UFC competitors.  I have attached
a UFC application for you to return to me, indicating your
decision.

Please call me with any questions.  We will, of course, take care
of your travel and accommodations as we do for the other fighters.
Over 1 million people watched the UFC live on TV.  Millions more
saw it on delayed broadcast or video.  I am sure that you will
appreciate the opportunity to display your art before the millions
who will view the UFC V.  Please advise me as soon as possible.

Respectfully,

Arthur Davie
Promoter
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jan 95
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu(R)
Dear Mr. Boztepe:
In response to your open challenge to the Gracie Family, the
promoters of the UFC, W.O.W. Promotions and Semaphore
Entertainment Group (SEG), are pleased to extend to you a formal
invitation to the UFC V to represent your art.  You are perhaps
the most respected fighter in the Wing Tsun world and we are
pleased you are willing to enter.

I must, however, address several points you raised in your letter. 
First, whatever you may think about "THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING
CHAMPIONSHIPS(TM)", they are very real bare-knuckle, no-holds barred
matches.  This is not "professional wrestling".  You will find out
soon enough.

Second, my brother challenged Benny Urquidez after Benny declared
that the Gracie's reputation was a scam developed through a publicity
stunt.  When invited to be in the UFC, he declined and used his
retirement as his reason.  If inviting a renowned fighter to enter
the Western world's only legal bare-knuckle, no holds-barred tournament
is a "dirty trick" - then I don't know "dirty tricks".

Thirdly, regarding the two Wing Chun fighters that participated in
the UFC II, I want to see the record straight at this point - they
were defeated by fighters other than my brother.

Regarding fighting the Gracies:

The promoters of the UFC have invested a lot of money in the single
elimination concept.  This includes a random drawing for the first
round match ups.  It would not be fair to the other martial arts
organizations worldwide to change the format of this tournament to
satisfy your request.

Also by entering the UFC V, you will have the opportunity to draw
Royce Gracie in the 1st round, or given your claim of fighting
superiority to face him in the championship match.

Last but not least, let me remind you that while you preached respect
for other martial arts, your reference to the UFC competitors as
"helpful idiots" is not only an obvious contradiction, but is grossly
disrespectful to Champions such as Gerard Gordeau, Orlando Weit,
Minoki Ichihara and Ken Shamrock - who unlike yourself, have already
competed for the title of "The Ultimate Fighter". 

For your information, the promoters are more than willing to pick
up all travel and accommodation expenses for you, a trainer and a
manager, so there is no excuse for your absence from the next
tournament.

If you do not want to compete in the UFC, I will be glad to set up
a date for you to come here, to the Gracie Academy in Torrance, and
have a match with Royce Gracie for the press to view.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

  [signature]

Rorion Gracie
Head of the Gracie Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------
01/25/95

Emin Boztepe
American Wing Tsun Organization
505 S. Beverly Drive
Suite 1400
Beverly Hills, CA  90212

Dear Mr. Boztepe:

I am writing to ask you to respond to the request I made in our
last phone conversation on 01/06/95:  That you issue a retraction
to the statement you made about the UFC (our tournament), in your
OPEN LETTER TO THE GRACIES, comparing it to staged professional
wrestling.

I have never, nor has anyone in my employ, written or caused to
be published anything negative about you personally or professionally. 
You have admitted to me in phone conversations that you were only 
angered by gossip on martial arts bulletin boards.  This has
nothing to do with me or my company.  Fans of your martial art style
and fans of my tournament are unfettered by the First Amendment in
this country in expressing their *opinions* on such bulletin board
systems.

You have, however, written and caused to be published in the U.S.
and Europe a letter challenging another martial artist in which
you stated "..."ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP" (TM)...may impress
laymen or beginners, but in fact they are no more real than
professional wrestling shows on TV."  As I advised you by FAX on
12/01/94 this statement is not only false but, in the opinion of
counsel, clearly libelous.  W.O.W. and its partners, Semaphore
Entertainment Group, have invested million of dollars in the UFC
and will do everyhting in our power to protect this investment.

I have extended in our last two phone conversations an invitation
to you to compete in the UFC.  I even offered you a special single
match against Royce Gracie.  You have not said yes to either offer. 
You, however, continue to give interviews to the martial arts press
proclaiming your challenge.  Solely based upon your actions in this
matter, I am left to conclude that you are attempting to use this
all for publicity purposes to further your career and have no desire
to act on your challenge.

Please call me with any questions.  We will, of course, take care of
your travel and accomodations as we do for the other fighters.  Over
1 million people watched the UFC III Live on TV.  Millions more saw
it on delayed broadcast  or video.  I am sure that you will appreciate
the opportunity to display your art before millions who will view the
UFC V.  Please advise me as soon as possible.

Respectfully,

Arthur Davie
Promoter
-----------------------------------------------------------------
March 3, 1995

Alexander R. Wallenwein
Attorney At Law

Dear Mr. Rorion Gracie:

I am writing this letter on behalf of my client, Mr. Emin Boztepe,
Chief Instructor of the American Wing Tsun Organization (AWTO), 5th
Level Master of Wing Tsun (WT).

You allowed your promoter to openly challenge and humiliate old and
retired masters of different styles and did nothing to stop him.
You also watched while your people kept on calling Mr. Boztepe
"chicken" on the Internet computer network.

When my client unexpectedly answered that challenge with a counter
challenge to you to fight you and/or your brother Royce outside
your TV tournament, you never accepted the terms, dates, or the
locations given.

Then, on February 17th you called Mr. Boztepe and told him that
your brother Royce will accept his counter-challenge to your family
and fight Mr. Boztepe on "neutral ground" but initially suggested
your own school.  This was of course unacceptable.  Thereupon you
said you would call him back that same night in order to give the
exact date and final location of the fight.  However, Mr. Boztepe
waited in vain that day, and the next day....

You in fact did not call him back until Tuesday, February 21st.
On that occasion you informed my client that you wanted to hold
the fight at the Los Angeles Police Academy - of which you happen
to be a member - on Thursday February 23rd, only two days later. 
You also requested that there should be no public TV coverage, only
video recordings of the fight.  Of course Mr. Boztepe told you that he
considered two days advance notice too short.  He suggested to hold
the match one week later so that he could make sure that the
newspaper and camera men could be there to record the fight.  You
responded that you would "try to arrange it" but then called back
to cancel the fight with the weak excuse that the gym was not
available for the next two weeks and you would call Mr. Boztepe
back.

So as to make it impossible for you to back out of the fight
again, my client suggests once and for all the following date
and location:  March 14th in the gym of the "Martial Arts Gazette",
one of the leading martial arts newspapers.  If you prefer "Inside
Kung Fu" or "Black Belt", I am sure it can be arranged on the
same date.

THE AGREEMENT IS THAT THE FIGHT IS A "NO RULES" FIGHT WITH NO
REFEREES.  NO PARTY TO THE FIGHT OR THEIR RESPECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS
OR REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY DAMAGES,
WHETHER FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR OTHERWISE, AND EACH PARTY AGREES
NOT TO PRESS CHARGES FOR ANY ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.  THE
FIGHT WILL BE INDEPENDENTLY RECORDED BY VIDEO BY EACH PARTY.  THE
RECORDING AND PHOTO RIGHTS WILL BELONG TO THE RESPECTIVE FIGHTERS
ONLY.  NO FIGHTER HAS THE RIGHT TO PREVENT, DELAY, OR HINDER
PUBLICATION OF THE RESULT, NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME.

After this date Mr. Boztepe has to leave for Europe.  If you do
not accept again, Mr. Boztepe and the public must assume that you
or Royce never intended to fight him, and you and your family must
live with that disgrace.

Mr. Boztepe expects you to confirm this date in writing by
March 8th.  Please no more phone conversations which lead to
nothing.

Irrespective of this, you and your promoter still have the
opportunity to apologize to the old masters and retired fighters
you have insulted through your media efforts.  That would make a
fight unnecessary.

It is especially this last solution which would please Mr. Boztepe
the most.  That way, it would be a victory for the common cause
of all martial arts and their honor and reputation in the public
mind.

Very truly yours,

Alexander R. Wallenwein
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Part. 1