Dale, You have just got back from Zurich and you don’t look very happy. Can you tell me why?

Indeed I am not happy. We went over to an event on trust. When we got there no one was there to pick us up. So we made our own way to our hotel where we were met by some fighters who advised us that there were some serious problems with the event.

And what were those serious problems?

The event had been having serious problems and the rumour circulating among the fighters was although every single fighter had paid for their own travel expenses to get to Switzerland to fight at this event, the promoter of the event would not be repaying those expenses and that the event may in fact even be cancelled completely.

So when did you find all of this out?

It was literally when we arrived there was no one there to meet us at the airport so we took it upon ourselves to get a taxi to our hotel. It wasn’t until we got in to the lift in the hotel that Brian Talarek and Richard Trammel came up to us and advised us that there may be some problems. We found out about some of the things that had been happening the previous evening before we arrived. We found out that the German team had left that morning because they were disgusted with what was going on. We really didn’t know what to do so we decided off our own backs to go down to the venue see if the event is still on.

So the promoter knew that you had travelled all the way from England, had arrived in Switzerland and then event didn’t try to contact you to tell you what was going on?

That is correct. I had an e-mail from the promoter himself on the Wednesday before the event confirming that it was OK and that we should book our flights up and we would be reimbursed as soon as we arrived in Switzerland. I subsequently I telephoned him at 8:00 UK time and spoke to the promoters there. They said yes, everything is fine, we will see you tomorrow. We left thinking that everything was fine and it wasn’t until we arrived and spoke to the fighters that we found out that they had been experiencing problems all week.

So you made your own way to the venue to get some answers, what happened when you got there?

We did not know whether the event was on or if it had been cancelled. The fighters thought it would be best to get down to the venue and at least show our faces. Whether the show was on or off we had to be there. When we were travelling there we did not know what to expect. We did not know if the event was going ahead or if it would just be an empty hall. We just went there to see who we could find and what would happen.

I take it you did eventually track him down. Did he give you a reason why he had not picked you up from the airport or why these rumours were flying around?

We arrived at the venue and he was being very cagey, saying that he had a press conference to attend. There were seven of us in the group so we just stuck to him and when he tried to get away said  “No, this problem needs to be sorted out now” We made sure we didn’t let him out of our site. He tried to walk away from us but eventually we managed to get him on his own outside the venue, which was very brave of him to be surrounded by seven rather large individuals. And he was making all the excuses under the Sun. First of all he said it was all Peter Angerer’s fault and the Shidokan organisation, then he said it was the fault of his financial backers and thirdly he said it was the fault of the fighters. He said that the fighters had to be there at a certain time and they had let him down. I faced up to him and said Patrick, What you are saying is not true. We are here we are ready, we have done our side of the deal, all you need to do is pay us.

What gave you the impression he was trying to deceive you?

You could just tell. He kept trying to shift the blame. He was a very underhand and sneaky individual. If he had put his hand on his heart and said  “I’m sorry it is my fault or it is my problem I cant pay you because this is the situation.” I would of probably said OK, what can we do about it. But he didn’t, he kept passing the blame saying “I have no money, I have no money, do you want the shirt off my back?” And all this time he was intending for the show to go ahead.

Did he actually say to you that you would not get paid full stop?

He didn’t say that in advance but yes, actually at the show he said. Look you are not going to get paid this is the way it is I have lost X amount of money. I said to him, Patrick, this event is your responsibility, I am a promoter myself, I promote the Ultimate Combat event in England and I know that sometimes you lose money, unfortunately it was just part of the business. He did not accept this and under no circumstances would he repay the money. Towards the end of our conversation he asked me how out of pocket I was. I explained to him that I was probably out of pocket by over one thousand five hundred Euros. He laughed in my face and said is that all you have lost? That was the moment I decided to walk away from the situation.

What made you pay up front for your travel in the first place?

The show was a Fists of Fury show. We have worked with Fist of Fury, Shidokan last year. We took over three fighters to their event, it was a good show we had a good time. Peter (Angerer) contacted me and asked if Dave McLaughlin was available to fight for the World Title at their next show which was coming up in Switzerland. I said of course, no problems at all. It wasn’t until literally a few days before the event that we found out that the event was not in fact promoted by Peter Angerer but by an individual from Zurich, called Patrick Gûntensperger.

I contacted this promoter. The communication lines were very slow but because I had given my word to Peter and the Shidokan organisation that I would take Dave McLaughlin over to fight I felt obliged to do so. Normally under those circumstances of having a promoter from another country that I did not know personally. There would be no way I would pay up front only on their word that they would repay us. But because of the name of Peter Angerer and the Shidokan organisation my trust was there and that was good enough for me. Without Peter Angerer’s name attached to it there would be no way I would have paid up front.

It all sounds like an awful weekend. What was the worst part for you?

I think the worst part was the uncertainty. When we arrived no one really knew if the event was cancelled. When we got down there and actually spoke to him it was incredible to have this guy stand there and lie repeatedly to our face for ten to fifteen minutes. It was just unbelievable. It got to the stage when we said enough is enough, its time to leave and just walked away. Even after it just seemed like it could not have happened.

How did that make you feel?

It was very disappointing. Obviously we had Dave McLaughlin, who had a big shot at the Title which he had earned at the previous Fists of Fury event. It was very disappointing from that side but also very annoying to lose a considerable sum money on a guy who I can only consider to be a fool.

What is you next step going to be?

Hopefully there will be some way of recouping the money. It is clear that the money will not be repaid by Patrick Gûntensperger or Albert Salemi or their organisation. I know that the Shidokan Organisation were outraged by the actions of these two individuals representing the Shidokan organisation. If it were me personally and I were in the shoes of the Shidokan organisation and it was my reputation at stake.  I would pay all of the outstanding debts to all the International fighters to ensure that their reputation was kept intact. That is my personal opinion. I have already come to the conclusion that we will never see the money again and as has Dave’s immediate chances of fighting for the World Title.

That about wraps it up. Is there anything that you would like to add?

All I’d like to say is. I think that Patrick and Albert have made a huge mistake in what they have done. Obviously they have annoyed various different groups who are all very well respected and very well connected. The mistake that they have made will come back to haunt them in the future again and again and again. They have made a huge mistake and I am sure that they will get their comeuppance one way or another.