By Rick Reeno

BoxingScene.com spoke with Steve Nelson, manager of two time heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, about the circumstances surrounding his fighter being dropped from the David Tua-Shane Cameron undercard, scheduled to take place on October 3 in New Zealand.

Nelson disputes the recent headlines going around in the New Zealand media. David Higgins of Duco Events is the "money man" putting the big event together. Higgins told the New Zealand Herald that he tried to match Rahman against Kali Meehan and both fighters wanted too much money. Rahman stopped Meehan in four rounds in 2004. Higgins claimed both boxers were asking for $500,000 to do the fight.

"From a promoter's point of view, there is not much point having a fight like that on an undercard - it is really a main event all its own," said Higgins. "The alternative was to match Rahman against a no-name, a bum, and we decided we really wanted a contest where either fighter could win."

Nelson says the number of $500,000 is beyond an exaggeration. While Nelson would not confirm Rahman's demand, a third party with knowledge of the negotiations told BoxingScene.com that Rahman was asking for less than $100,000 to fight Meehan. Rahman was already training when the Nelson received an email last week from Cedric Kushner [Tua's promoter], advising him that Higgins was unable to come up with the necessary money to keep Rahman on the show.

"That is 100% a lie. I can't speak for Meehan but on our end it's 100% a lie. We had an agreement, they were unable to come up with the financing. We had a 100% agreement on terms. That is so far beyond an exaggeration that he shouldn't speak with a forked tongue," Nelson said. "The deal was negotiated by Cedric, Carl Morretti [Rahman's promoter Top Rank] and myself. I received an email last week from Cedric, and he said they couldn't come up with the financing."

Because Rahman destroyed Meehan in 2004, and Meehan is ranked as the number three contender to WBA champion Nikolai Valuev - Rahman was very willing to accept the fight for short money. A win could have put Rahman in position for a title shot against the winner of Valuev vs. David Haye, set for November 7.

"This was a very good opportunity. Rahman destroyed the guy the first time and he was confident that he could do it a second time. That's why we were willing to accept the fight for less money than what should be paid for a fight like this," Nelson said.

Rahman's appearance on the show was part of a two-fight deal. Rahman was scheduled to fight on the undercard of Tua-Cameron against a mid-level opponent, and then face the winner of Tua-Cameron in December. That entire scenario has crumbled.

Nelson is working on a few things for Rahman and expects them to come together very soon.