By Mark Vester
According to a recent report by ESPN's boxing scribe Dan Rafael, a proposed bout between IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev, is still a possibility. The question is when the bout would actually take place. Physically, Maskaev is still recovering from his title winning effort against Hasim Rahman, which took place less than two weeks ago. Negotiations are still ongoing, and Shelly Finkel, advisor for Team Klitschko, is pressing for an answer.
Maskaev has been offered $5 million dollars for the bout, plus a sizable split of the television rights. He only made $1.5 million for his rematch with Rahman.
"It's up to them. But we need to move forward very soon. We would like this fight. The Maskaev camp knows that, and they should understand that they are not going to get a better deal anywhere else," Finkel said.
Dennis Rappaport, promoter for Oleg Maskaev, would like the fight to happen, but does not think the fight could come off on November 11, as Maskaev needs time to recover from his last bout.
"It's clear Shelly very much wants to make the fight and that HBO would like to make the fight. Shelly would like an answer yesterday because they have (Shannon) Briggs in limbo. I would like to see the fight made but I don't know if it is possible to do this fight on Nov. 11," Rappaport said.
Maskaev was pretty vocal with respect to the fight he wants, and that fight is against Wladimir Klitschko. At the same time, his body has sustained various minor injuries from the Rahman bout, and there is not enough time to physically recover and train for a November 11 date.
"I would like to have that fight, but it's a matter of time because I need some time to recover," Maskaev said. "That's about it. I have no problem with [the fight]."
