By Mark Vester
A legal tug of war is going to erupt over the American promotional rights to the seven-foot giant, WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev (44-0).
Don Steinberg of the Inquirer reports that back in 2001, Valuev signed a contract with Joe O'Donnell, a New Jersey cable contractor and first-time promoter who met the heavyweight through a Russian acquaintance. Valuev signed the contract when he fought in Atlantic City back in 2001.
O'Donnell and his lawyer, Greg Saputelli, have said that the contract with Valuev is in effect until 2008.
"I have tried to inform promoters of his fights that there is an agreement in place and they should be dealing with us," O'Donnell told the paper.
The battle is now headed to court.
It was said that after the Atlantic City fight, Valuev returned to Russia and stopped working with O'Donnell. He signed with Sauerland in Germany in 2003, and after recently defeating John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight title in Germany, Don King cut a deal with Sauerland to become the American promoter for the giant champion.
O'Donnell has already filed court papers seeking a piece of Valuev's earnings since 2001. He also seeks to to freeze Valuev's revenue from the Oct. 7 fight, against Monte "Two Gunz" Barrett on HBO, until a judge rules on the validity and status of the contract.
In addition, O'Donnell wants compensation for lost revenue that was never made because Valuev bailed on him. Since 2001, O'Donnell claims to have received numerous offers from pay-per-view distributors, one that included a potential $1 million fight against Mike Tyson in 2004.
Don King did not comment on the lawsuit, while overseas promotionial firm Sauerland considers O'Donnell's contract with Valuev expired.
