By Mark Vester
Joe Calzaghe has finally spoken out about the lawsuit brought upon him by former promoter Frank Warren. Calzaghe recently broke his ties with Warren in order to promote his own fights. The two men were together for over a decade. Warren responded by filing a $2 million dollar lawsuit against Calzaghe for a breach of contract when Calzaghe announced that he was going to promote his own fight Roy Jones Jr., now scheduled for November 8 at New York's Madison Square Garden.
As we reported on BoxingScene.com a while ago, there was talk that Warren was holding out on Calzaghe's money from the April bout with Bernard Hopkins, holding the money over Joe's head in order to resign him. Calzaghe has now confirmed those details to the South Wales Argus. He says Warren owes him $4 million dollars from that fight and he plans to counter-sue.
"As I said in the press recently I am now a free agent with no contractual obligations with Sports Network or Frank Warren," Calzaghe said. "Frank has sued me in order to try and hold onto me for my upcoming fight with Roy Jones Jr. This claim is without merit and I will fight it vigorously. But that is only half the story. Sports Network has withheld over $4million due to me for my fight in April with Bernard Hopkins. I am counter-suing for this and am confident of success."
Calzaghe, who was very close with Warren, is upset at how ugly the relationship has become since their split.
"I am saddened and disgusted by what Frank Warren and his company have done," Calzaghe said. "I have shown great loyalty to Frank Warren for many years and it seems he had a problem knowing when to let go."
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