By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com spoke with Ahmet Öner, CEO of Arena Box, about the the big $25 million dollar offer that he made to WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm. Sturm is currently in a contract dispute with Universum. He claims the contract with Universum expires in November and then he is free to sign with anyone. Öner put a six-fight deal on the table with a reported signing bonus of $3.5 million [USD]. Universum does agree with Sturm's claim of being a free agent in November. They claim to have him under a valid contract for two more years.
Öner told BoxingScene that numerous attorneys have reviewed Sturm's contract with Universum and from what he was told, Sturm will be a free agent in the near future.
"Many lawyers [reviewed the contract], not only my lawyers but the Klitschkos' lawyers, and Sturm's lawyers," Öner said. Felix swore to me, he said 'Ahmet, don't worry it's done.' He said to me 'November 16 I am contract free.'
Öner has a very good working relationship with Top Rank. They co-promote several fighters like WBA featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa. If a deal with Sturm is made, he would like to have Top Rank represent Sturm in America.
"Yes, of course [I want to bring him tyo America]. I have a partner in Top Rank. I am working with them with Gamboa and Solis. I think [we could] have many movements for Felix in the U.S. Felix will not fight this year. I think March could be his next fight. I think it would be out there in Europe, and then we could think about the U.S," Öner said.