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*Note: This is more potential signing news, still no contract has been officially signed yet.
Taylor camp working on Wright fight
BY CHRIS GIVENS
Posted on Saturday, February 4, 2006
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It appears the fight that much of the boxing world is clamoring for may take place after all.
Promoters for world middleweight champion Jermain Taylor of Little Rock and Ronald “Winky” Wright said Friday negotiations are moving toward a Taylor-Wright middleweight championship fight this summer, although no contract has been signed.
This came three weeks after both sides declared the deal, which would pit the fighters considered to be the world’s two best middleweights against each other, dead and buried.
Sources have said Lou DiBella, Taylor’s promoter, and Gary Shaw, Wright’s promoter, are close to signing a deal for a fight June 17, likely in Las Vegas.
On Jan. 5, DiBella offered Shaw a $ 3 million flat payment, which Shaw turned down, asking for a 50-50 split of the purse. That caused DiBella to call off negotiations, and it looked like the fight was going to a purse bid.
The promoters requested more time this week to negotiate before the purse bid, and now sources indicate DiBella and Shaw are working on a deal that will give Wright more than 40 percent but less than 50 percent.
While it appears the deal is close to being completed, DiBella said something will be done by Feb. 9, the date of the purse bid.
“I’ve said all along that Jermain fears nobody,” DiBella said. “Believe me, if we get it done it will be on [terms favorable to Taylor ].”
If this deal happens, it won’t be the first time DiBella and Taylor have resurrected a fight that was seemingly dead.
At one point during the negotiations for the first Taylor-Bernard Hopkins title fight, the Taylor and Hopkins camps said the fight wouldn’t happen. Three weeks later, there was a signed contract.
Sources said HBO is holding June 17 for a possible title fight, which would be live on HBO, not pay-per-view.
Shaw said Friday he is still in negotiations with DiBella and confirmed that June 17 is the working date and the fight would likely be in Las Vegas.
Taylor just wants to get back in the ring.
“It’s about time,” Taylor said Friday. “Everybody, including myself, is impatient and ready to fight. It don’t make a difference who I fight. I love the sport of boxing. I just look forward to fighting.”
When it appeared the Taylor-Wright fight was off, team Taylor looked into other options. There was reportedly a deal in the works to fight Sam Soliman on April 15 in Memphis or Arkansas.
Taylor said he would fight Soliman, even though Soliman “can’t fight worth a lick.” But Taylor said he wants a chance to again prove he is the top middleweight in the world.
“It just seems like everybody I beat, every time I beat them, there’s something [negative ] said,” Taylor said. “I’m the best out there. I’m ready to fight whoever, whenever. If Winky wants to fight, I’ll put all my belts on the line against him.”
One of Taylor’s belts, the WBC, is one reason why the fight against Wright is likely back on after appearing hopeless.
The WBC has mandated Taylor fight Wright next or give up that belt. Taylor, who had to give up the IBF belt after he took the rematch with Hopkins, said he doesn’t want to lose any more belts.
“All of my belts are important to me,” Taylor said. “I got the belts as a package deal, and then I had to give one up. I’ll have to go back and get that one.”
If DiBella and Shaw can work out a deal, Taylor likely would not fight April 15. But DiBella said until something is signed, they are keeping their options open.
“If we don’t sign a contract [with Shaw ], we have alternatives,” DiBella said. “It won’t be done if the deal [with Wright ] is not right for team Taylor.”
Taylor said he knows fans want to see him fight Wright, and if something can be worked out soon he’ll be ready.
“If that’s what the fans want to see, I’ll give it to them,” Taylor said. “I ain’t backed down from anyone, and I won’t against Winky.”
Taylor camp working on Wright fight
BY CHRIS GIVENS
Posted on Saturday, February 4, 2006
Email this story | Printer-friendly version
It appears the fight that much of the boxing world is clamoring for may take place after all.
Promoters for world middleweight champion Jermain Taylor of Little Rock and Ronald “Winky” Wright said Friday negotiations are moving toward a Taylor-Wright middleweight championship fight this summer, although no contract has been signed.
This came three weeks after both sides declared the deal, which would pit the fighters considered to be the world’s two best middleweights against each other, dead and buried.
Sources have said Lou DiBella, Taylor’s promoter, and Gary Shaw, Wright’s promoter, are close to signing a deal for a fight June 17, likely in Las Vegas.
On Jan. 5, DiBella offered Shaw a $ 3 million flat payment, which Shaw turned down, asking for a 50-50 split of the purse. That caused DiBella to call off negotiations, and it looked like the fight was going to a purse bid.
The promoters requested more time this week to negotiate before the purse bid, and now sources indicate DiBella and Shaw are working on a deal that will give Wright more than 40 percent but less than 50 percent.
While it appears the deal is close to being completed, DiBella said something will be done by Feb. 9, the date of the purse bid.
“I’ve said all along that Jermain fears nobody,” DiBella said. “Believe me, if we get it done it will be on [terms favorable to Taylor ].”
If this deal happens, it won’t be the first time DiBella and Taylor have resurrected a fight that was seemingly dead.
At one point during the negotiations for the first Taylor-Bernard Hopkins title fight, the Taylor and Hopkins camps said the fight wouldn’t happen. Three weeks later, there was a signed contract.
Sources said HBO is holding June 17 for a possible title fight, which would be live on HBO, not pay-per-view.
Shaw said Friday he is still in negotiations with DiBella and confirmed that June 17 is the working date and the fight would likely be in Las Vegas.
Taylor just wants to get back in the ring.
“It’s about time,” Taylor said Friday. “Everybody, including myself, is impatient and ready to fight. It don’t make a difference who I fight. I love the sport of boxing. I just look forward to fighting.”
When it appeared the Taylor-Wright fight was off, team Taylor looked into other options. There was reportedly a deal in the works to fight Sam Soliman on April 15 in Memphis or Arkansas.
Taylor said he would fight Soliman, even though Soliman “can’t fight worth a lick.” But Taylor said he wants a chance to again prove he is the top middleweight in the world.
“It just seems like everybody I beat, every time I beat them, there’s something [negative ] said,” Taylor said. “I’m the best out there. I’m ready to fight whoever, whenever. If Winky wants to fight, I’ll put all my belts on the line against him.”
One of Taylor’s belts, the WBC, is one reason why the fight against Wright is likely back on after appearing hopeless.
The WBC has mandated Taylor fight Wright next or give up that belt. Taylor, who had to give up the IBF belt after he took the rematch with Hopkins, said he doesn’t want to lose any more belts.
“All of my belts are important to me,” Taylor said. “I got the belts as a package deal, and then I had to give one up. I’ll have to go back and get that one.”
If DiBella and Shaw can work out a deal, Taylor likely would not fight April 15. But DiBella said until something is signed, they are keeping their options open.
“If we don’t sign a contract [with Shaw ], we have alternatives,” DiBella said. “It won’t be done if the deal [with Wright ] is not right for team Taylor.”
Taylor said he knows fans want to see him fight Wright, and if something can be worked out soon he’ll be ready.
“If that’s what the fans want to see, I’ll give it to them,” Taylor said. “I ain’t backed down from anyone, and I won’t against Winky.”