Photog Charges Fight Promoter With Bias

MANHATTAN (CN) – A “well qualified black photographer” claims a public relations official doing business at Madison Square Garden revoked his press credentials because he showed up at a boxing match with a white woman.     In his complaint in New York County Court, Peter Pharaoh says he has “photographed boxing events at various venues around the country for several years.”      But Pharaoh says publicist Ed Keenan, of co-defendant Events Market Media, “stopped issuing plaintiff press credentials after plaintiff was accompanied by a white woman to a boxing match, which upon information and belief upset defendant Keenan.”     Pharaoh also sued the Garden and Top Rank Promotions.     “Upon information and belief, defendant Keenan, acting on behalf of the other defendants, has discriminated against plaintiff and other black photographers because they were black and has refused to issue them press credentials in violation of the provisions of the New York City Human Rights Law,” the complaint states.     Pharaoh seeks $5 million in damages and an injunction reinstating his press credentials.     He is represented by William J. Unroch.