amanamagus
07-02-2007, 04:12 PM
Calzaghe-Kessler fight in limbo
posted: Friday, June 29, 2007
www.espn.com
by Dan Rafael
The super middleweight fight everyone wants to see most -- a unification match between undefeated champions Joe Calzaghe of Wales and Denmark's Mikkel Kessler -- is hanging by a thread.
According to the Calzaghe camp, promoters Frank Warren and Mogens Palle have agreed to terms for the fight to happen Sept. 22 at London's O2 Arena.
However, HBO does not have that date available, nor have the promoters and HBO agreed on the money for the fight.
The promoters are seeking around $5 million. HBO wants the fight, but not at that steep price. Without an infusion of millions from an American TV network, the fight is doomed.
HBO originally suggested that the fight take place in November. A member of the Calzaghe camp says HBO later suggested Sept. 22 when November wouldn't work for the promoters, but that date was no longer available after Warren and Palle struck their deal. The promoters, however, are willing to move the fight to a new date as long as they can agree on the money.
"The fight is made but not signed until we know what the U.S. money is," a Calzaghe camp insider said. "All points are agreed to. [They] have been for three weeks. The fight is made and the ball is with HBO."
HBO's exclusive 10-day negotiating window to lock down the fight expired Thursday, but after a conference call between Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, Warren and Jay Larkin, Warren's American adviser, they agreed to continue talking.
However, Warren is free to shop the fight to Showtime, where Calzaghe has fought many times, including his defining win against Jeff Lacy, or any other network.
Showtime, however, is a long shot given the prohibitive cost of the fight and the fact that the network has no plans for boxing on Sept. 22. It is working on another card for Sept. 29 and has the Oleg Maskaev-Samuel Peter heavyweight title bout scheduled for Oct. 6.
HBO still hopes to come to an agreement for the one meaningful fight in the 168-pound division.
"It's a fight that we really like," HBO's Kery Davis told ESPN.com. "It's a terrific fight for the sport and we're hoping something can be worked out."
posted: Friday, June 29, 2007
www.espn.com
by Dan Rafael
The super middleweight fight everyone wants to see most -- a unification match between undefeated champions Joe Calzaghe of Wales and Denmark's Mikkel Kessler -- is hanging by a thread.
According to the Calzaghe camp, promoters Frank Warren and Mogens Palle have agreed to terms for the fight to happen Sept. 22 at London's O2 Arena.
However, HBO does not have that date available, nor have the promoters and HBO agreed on the money for the fight.
The promoters are seeking around $5 million. HBO wants the fight, but not at that steep price. Without an infusion of millions from an American TV network, the fight is doomed.
HBO originally suggested that the fight take place in November. A member of the Calzaghe camp says HBO later suggested Sept. 22 when November wouldn't work for the promoters, but that date was no longer available after Warren and Palle struck their deal. The promoters, however, are willing to move the fight to a new date as long as they can agree on the money.
"The fight is made but not signed until we know what the U.S. money is," a Calzaghe camp insider said. "All points are agreed to. [They] have been for three weeks. The fight is made and the ball is with HBO."
HBO's exclusive 10-day negotiating window to lock down the fight expired Thursday, but after a conference call between Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, Warren and Jay Larkin, Warren's American adviser, they agreed to continue talking.
However, Warren is free to shop the fight to Showtime, where Calzaghe has fought many times, including his defining win against Jeff Lacy, or any other network.
Showtime, however, is a long shot given the prohibitive cost of the fight and the fact that the network has no plans for boxing on Sept. 22. It is working on another card for Sept. 29 and has the Oleg Maskaev-Samuel Peter heavyweight title bout scheduled for Oct. 6.
HBO still hopes to come to an agreement for the one meaningful fight in the 168-pound division.
"It's a fight that we really like," HBO's Kery Davis told ESPN.com. "It's a terrific fight for the sport and we're hoping something can be worked out."