By Mark Vester
There appears to be a dispute over who really wants to unify the heavyweight division. On Monday, the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, claimed that promoters Don King and Wilfried Sauerland of Sauerland Event were preventing a potential unification bout with Nikolai Valuev.
"Around the world, fans and experts want to see this fight, but these promoters are doing everything to make sure that this fight doesn't go ahead," said Vitai.
Sauerland has responded and says Valuev is ready to fight either brother. He denies that an offer was presented for a fight with either Klitschko.
"If we get a serious offer, we are ready to go against one of the Klitschkos at any time. We have not heard anything from the Klitschkos in 12 months," Sauerland told the AP.
Bernd Boente, the international manager for the Klitschkos, claims to have spoken to Don King three weeks ago for a potential clash with either Klitschko. He says King told him that either Klitschko would knock Valuev out. King told Boente that he would only put Valuev in the ring with them if he was given options on their future fights.
"We spoke to Don King three weeks ago to ask him for a fight against Valuev. He said either of the Klitschkos would knock out Valuev and that he would accept a fight only if he was allowed a cut in future fights involving the Klitschkos," Boente told German news agency DPA.
All three fighters have upcoming obligations. Valuev has to defend his WBA title against Ruslan Chagaev. Vitali defends against WBC mandatory Juan Carlos Gomez in March. Wladimir will likely defend his WBO/IBF titles against David Haye in June, and also has an obligation to WBO mandatory Alexander Povetkin.
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com
