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It's been a frustrating few weeks for promoter Russell Peltz and his fighter, Kassim Ouma, who almost daily seemed to be in - and then out - as Jermain Taylor's next opponent in late 2006.
But now, they believe they have a concrete deal to face the undisputed middleweight champion on December 9th at the Alltel Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas.
“I believe it's finally done," Peltz would tell Maxboxing on Wednesday afternoon. "It could take a month for the contracts to be signed, but the fight’s done."
As of just a few days ago, with rumors circulating of a rematch between Taylor and Winky Wright, Ouma was left twisting in the wind with no fight scheduled.
"I told him, let's see, today’s Wednesday; I believe I told him Monday that the fight was out, that it did not look good," said Peltz. "And I haven't spoken to him since because it wasn't until a couple of hours ago that I actually believed myself that we were 100 percent in. And I believe that now and I want to thank Winky Wright."
The scuttlebutt is that Wright turned down a $5 million payday to rematch Taylor. Ironically, Ike Quartey, who was mentioned as a possible opponent for Ouma should the Taylor fight not come to fruition, is now reportedly in negotiations to face Wright on December 2nd.
“I wish somebody would give me a chance to turn down $5 million - or even three," Peltz would say about Wright's decision, with a chuckle.
It was a long and winding road for Ouma, but he eventually got to his stated destination. And it was bumpier than any other traveled by the veteran promoter.
“I don't think at this level,” said Peltz. “This is a very, very, very, big fight for all of us and I'm more confident now than I was three weeks ago when I first thought the fight was in. But now I know it's in. So it's been rough. It's been the highs and lows and now we're high again."
But now, they believe they have a concrete deal to face the undisputed middleweight champion on December 9th at the Alltel Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas.
“I believe it's finally done," Peltz would tell Maxboxing on Wednesday afternoon. "It could take a month for the contracts to be signed, but the fight’s done."
As of just a few days ago, with rumors circulating of a rematch between Taylor and Winky Wright, Ouma was left twisting in the wind with no fight scheduled.
"I told him, let's see, today’s Wednesday; I believe I told him Monday that the fight was out, that it did not look good," said Peltz. "And I haven't spoken to him since because it wasn't until a couple of hours ago that I actually believed myself that we were 100 percent in. And I believe that now and I want to thank Winky Wright."
The scuttlebutt is that Wright turned down a $5 million payday to rematch Taylor. Ironically, Ike Quartey, who was mentioned as a possible opponent for Ouma should the Taylor fight not come to fruition, is now reportedly in negotiations to face Wright on December 2nd.
“I wish somebody would give me a chance to turn down $5 million - or even three," Peltz would say about Wright's decision, with a chuckle.
It was a long and winding road for Ouma, but he eventually got to his stated destination. And it was bumpier than any other traveled by the veteran promoter.
“I don't think at this level,” said Peltz. “This is a very, very, very, big fight for all of us and I'm more confident now than I was three weeks ago when I first thought the fight was in. But now I know it's in. So it's been rough. It's been the highs and lows and now we're high again."
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