With regard to the latest public remarks made by Mr A. Öner in connection with the
planned WBC Heavyweight Eliminator on March 8 between Vladimir Virchis and Juan Carlos Gomez, we would like to make the following statement:
On January 14, 2008 Universum Box-Promotion received the right to present the boxing event by making the highest bid and thereby gained the right to organise the fight according to the WBC’s rules and regulations. These state that the might must take place within 90 days of the Purse Offer (Rule 2.16 of the WBC Rules and Regulations). Therefore, Universum Box-Promotion planned the fight for 8 March 2008 in accordance with the regulations, 55 days after the bid. This scheduling is within the accepted timeframe, is legally permissible and should be accepted by all involved. The assertion that Mr Gomez does not have enough time to prepare for the fight is incomprehensible as he has known since October 2007 that he would participate in the next WBC’s Heavyweight Qualifying Fight. In addition, Mr Gomez and his management have known since November 2007 that the fight would be put up for auction at the beginning of January 2008 by the WBC.
In response to Mr Öner from Arena-Box Promotion insubstantial accusation of the “doubtful method” used by Universum Box-Promotion, it has to be stated that the methods followed were in strict adherence to and with the knowledge of the WBC regulations, which contraryto Mr Öner’s announcement definitely do not represent any form of insult against the WBC.
The un-enlightening and defamatory allegation made by Mr Öner against Mr Klaus-Peter Kohl speak for themselves and deserve no further comment from us.
