By Ruslan Chikov

As reported several days ago on BoxingScene.com, the promotional team of WBO middleweight champion Dmitry Pirog have extended a very lucrative offer to Sergio Martinez, the WBC's Diamond champion, for a showdown in Russia in early 2012. According to Team Pirog, the offer was more than Martinez had ever earned in any of previous bouts.

Despite the high offer, the fight is no closer to being a reality. Members of Pirog's team are stating that Martinez's promoter, Lou DiBella, made a counter-demand, with a request for no less than $5 million dollars. Pirog's team members are calling DiBella's demand "unrealistic."