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HBO: Taylor-Wright Bigger Than Calzaghe-Taylor
According to promoter Lou DiBella, HBO feels that a clash between undefeated middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and undefeated super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe is not as big as last June's clash between Taylor and Ronald "Winky" Wright.
DiBella, currently in talks with Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren for a September clash between their two unbeaten champions, is unable to secure the same license fee from HBO, as he received for Taylor-Wright.
DiBella told the BBC that unless the numbers make sense, as September clash between Taylor and Calzaghe will not happen.
"HBO does not believe that Jermain Taylor and Joe Calzaghe is as big a fight as Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright was, so we're not able to get the same licence fee from HBO," DiBella said. "Based on the numbers we have right now we can't make a fight, we're about $1m apart. Our preference is to fight Calzaghe, we've indicated we're even willing to go to Cardiff or London to make the fight happen, but we're not willing to take on unfair economic terms."
DiBella is more than willing to bring Taylor to Calzaghe's backyard, if his fighter receives the same amount of money he received for fighting Wright - $6 million dollars.
Originally, Warren made an offer of $3 million and upped the offer to $4 million, but Taylor shot back with a $10 million dollar demand. Taylor and his promoter are willing to settle for $6 million.
"A $4m offer was ridiculous and frankly Frank asked for more money guaranteed on Joe's side," DiBella said. "If HBO pays the same money they paid for the Winky Wright fight, I will take US television (revenue) and let Frank keep the gate, the sponsorship, and the British and other international TV. But HBO needs to pay that $6m, that's what we're looking at. Right now Frank says there's no money in the pot from all those other revenue sources and I'm saying that I'm certainly not cutting in on the US revenue if that's the case.
"You're moving a fighter up in weight against the very best man at that weight and you're going into the lion's den to do it. It's difficult but Jermain's beaten Hopkins twice, drew with Winky Wright and defended his title five times, four at middleweight. It would be tough in Joe's backyard but we're not (previous Calzaghe victims) Peter Manfredo Jr or Jeff Lacy. Joe's a great, great fighter, but he's never left his home turf and he's never beaten a great, great fighter."
A sourse close to Frank Warren advised BoxingScene.com that Calzaghe is willing to fight in the United States with DiBella as the promoter, if he receives the same amount of money - $6 million dollars.
Additionally, Team Calzaghe asked Taylor to take a 10% reduction in his purse demand in exchange for 50% of the gate. Warren feels that a Calzaghe-Taylor clash would set attendance records in Europe.
BoxingScene was told.
"If the fight sells 50,000 seats (Calzaghe-Manfredo sold 35,000), the gross would be $7 million, that's $3.5 million to Taylor."
The negotiations will only heat up after Taylor's defense against Cory Spinks on Saturday.
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To be honest, no matter what hbo says, it seems that if taylor wins, he will most likely fight calzaghe in one of his next two fights. Things are looking good and negotiations seem to be being met. I just dont understand why calzaghe said he would come over here and now he wants no part of it.
According to promoter Lou DiBella, HBO feels that a clash between undefeated middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and undefeated super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe is not as big as last June's clash between Taylor and Ronald "Winky" Wright.
DiBella, currently in talks with Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren for a September clash between their two unbeaten champions, is unable to secure the same license fee from HBO, as he received for Taylor-Wright.
DiBella told the BBC that unless the numbers make sense, as September clash between Taylor and Calzaghe will not happen.
"HBO does not believe that Jermain Taylor and Joe Calzaghe is as big a fight as Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright was, so we're not able to get the same licence fee from HBO," DiBella said. "Based on the numbers we have right now we can't make a fight, we're about $1m apart. Our preference is to fight Calzaghe, we've indicated we're even willing to go to Cardiff or London to make the fight happen, but we're not willing to take on unfair economic terms."
DiBella is more than willing to bring Taylor to Calzaghe's backyard, if his fighter receives the same amount of money he received for fighting Wright - $6 million dollars.
Originally, Warren made an offer of $3 million and upped the offer to $4 million, but Taylor shot back with a $10 million dollar demand. Taylor and his promoter are willing to settle for $6 million.
"A $4m offer was ridiculous and frankly Frank asked for more money guaranteed on Joe's side," DiBella said. "If HBO pays the same money they paid for the Winky Wright fight, I will take US television (revenue) and let Frank keep the gate, the sponsorship, and the British and other international TV. But HBO needs to pay that $6m, that's what we're looking at. Right now Frank says there's no money in the pot from all those other revenue sources and I'm saying that I'm certainly not cutting in on the US revenue if that's the case.
"You're moving a fighter up in weight against the very best man at that weight and you're going into the lion's den to do it. It's difficult but Jermain's beaten Hopkins twice, drew with Winky Wright and defended his title five times, four at middleweight. It would be tough in Joe's backyard but we're not (previous Calzaghe victims) Peter Manfredo Jr or Jeff Lacy. Joe's a great, great fighter, but he's never left his home turf and he's never beaten a great, great fighter."
A sourse close to Frank Warren advised BoxingScene.com that Calzaghe is willing to fight in the United States with DiBella as the promoter, if he receives the same amount of money - $6 million dollars.
Additionally, Team Calzaghe asked Taylor to take a 10% reduction in his purse demand in exchange for 50% of the gate. Warren feels that a Calzaghe-Taylor clash would set attendance records in Europe.
BoxingScene was told.
"If the fight sells 50,000 seats (Calzaghe-Manfredo sold 35,000), the gross would be $7 million, that's $3.5 million to Taylor."
The negotiations will only heat up after Taylor's defense against Cory Spinks on Saturday.
Send News Tips
To be honest, no matter what hbo says, it seems that if taylor wins, he will most likely fight calzaghe in one of his next two fights. Things are looking good and negotiations seem to be being met. I just dont understand why calzaghe said he would come over here and now he wants no part of it.
