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David Tua's comeback has hit a snag after undefeated Cuban boxer Luis Ortiz demanded his purse should be doubled to $200,000.
The Sunday Star-Times can reveal Ortiz (19-0 with 16 KOs) had accepted in principle and was close to agreeing terms to fight Tua (52-4) in August in New Zealand.
For the past week, Ortiz's Miami-based trainer, Osmiri Fernandez, has been trying to convince his fighter to accept the original $100,000 offer from Tua's promoters, Duco Events, but a third-party intervention is proving problematic.
"The fight was for $100,000 and now he's [Ortiz] asking for double the amount," Fernandez told the Star-Times from Miami.
Ortiz, the 1.93m southpaw, is ranked 11th in the WBC, 2nd in the WBA and 6th in the WBO.
"Luis had agreed to fight David but someone got hold of him and told him he is No 2 in the world and that he should be requesting more money," a frustrated Fernandez said.
"When it came to signing the contract he said he would fight but for double the amount. His promoter and manager weren't in agreement with what he was requesting. That's put the fight on hold.
"The promoter is very upset and they are trying to figure things out. If he doesn't accept the fight with Tua for what was originally spoken about they are not going to let him fight this year.
"I really want it to happen. I'm very upset with his decision."
The Sunday Star-Times can reveal Ortiz (19-0 with 16 KOs) had accepted in principle and was close to agreeing terms to fight Tua (52-4) in August in New Zealand.
For the past week, Ortiz's Miami-based trainer, Osmiri Fernandez, has been trying to convince his fighter to accept the original $100,000 offer from Tua's promoters, Duco Events, but a third-party intervention is proving problematic.
"The fight was for $100,000 and now he's [Ortiz] asking for double the amount," Fernandez told the Star-Times from Miami.
Ortiz, the 1.93m southpaw, is ranked 11th in the WBC, 2nd in the WBA and 6th in the WBO.
"Luis had agreed to fight David but someone got hold of him and told him he is No 2 in the world and that he should be requesting more money," a frustrated Fernandez said.
"When it came to signing the contract he said he would fight but for double the amount. His promoter and manager weren't in agreement with what he was requesting. That's put the fight on hold.
"The promoter is very upset and they are trying to figure things out. If he doesn't accept the fight with Tua for what was originally spoken about they are not going to let him fight this year.
"I really want it to happen. I'm very upset with his decision."