By Rick Reeno
Timothy Bradley's promoter Gary Shaw has erupted over the negotiations for a possible fight with Edwin Valero. Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com on Sunday that Shaw never got back to him with a number as to how much Valero would earn for the fight, so they moved on to another opponent, who is likely to be Lamont Peterson.
"We couldn't wait forever. I asked Gary how much Valero would get and I never heard back on a number, so we thought they was playing around. My kid can't sit around and wait. He wants to go out there and fight and he wants to know how much he's getting paid," Arum told BoxingScene.com.
Shaw doesn't deny Arum's statement about a number never being discussed but he points to something Arum said a few days after the Valero-DeMarco fight was over, when BoxingScene asked him about whether a Bradley-Valero fight would actually happen - "We are still interested in the fight. The date for the fight isn't till June. There is no rush."
The situation has Shaw in a fury. Shaw broke down his version of how the negotiations played out for the fight.
"Arum is a Liar. He lied before, he lied yesterday, and he is lying today. Arum never spoke one word to me ever. We should take a lie detector exam, $1 million to the one who is telling the truth. Time to put up or shut up. Here is the true story in correct order, not in Arum time or Arum fantasy," Shaw said to BoxingScene.
"After the DeMarco fight, [Fernando] Beltran spoke with me in front of Valero, and said they wanted Bradley. I told them I had no problem, but I had to check with Tim and Cameron [Dunkin]. On Monday, I spoke with Cameron, and Showtime, they both said it was a go for the first Saturday in June."
"On Saturday night, after the fight I received calls from three websites, saying Arum wanted the Valero fight with Tim. I told them all the same thing, I would get an answer on Monday. On Monday the answer was yes. I offered the fight to Carl Morretti officially after Showtime gave the approval. I also gave the same offer to Sean Gibbons who works with Zanfer."
"After that date, Arum went on a web site, and made this statement, that he forgot about. I don't need to talk or negotiate with Bradley, 'June is a long way off.' On Wednesday of the following week, both Carl and Sean informed me we should be looking for backups for Tim to fight."
"The next week Valero was quoted that he wants to fight the best at 140, and called out [Juan] Diaz and [Juan Manuel] Marquez. What a joke, just not funny. There was no discussion ever about money with Bob Arum, because he never intended to do anything with Valero vs. Tim, [but] only to get Valero's name out there, or maybe try to steal Tim from me. Who knows, it's Arum."
Shaw is standing by his version of what happened. He says Bradley is still interested in fighting Valero and the fight can be made without any potential problems. And Shaw is still backing Peterson to beat Valero, if the comes off.
"That is the entire story and the true story, nothing more, nothing less. I want to end with two things. [Manager] Barry Hunter should get Arum and Beltran to sign the contract this week, and [Lamont] Peterson will kick Valero's ass. Number two, Bob stop lying, if you want the Bradley vs. Valero fight, we have the date, place, and money. Come and get it, as you don't even need a visa. Tim Bradley awaits giving Valero an ass whooping, and I await us being honest with each other. I missed you at the Valero fight," Shaw said.
