Sauerland hints that Haye didn’t get the right financial offer from Klitschko during negotiations

By Boxing News - 07/04/2010 - Comments

By Eric Thomas: Kalle Sauerland, one of the promoters for World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye (24-1, 22 KO’s), seems to indicate that there wasn’t the fight financial offer made to Haye during the recent negotiations with IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. The two fighters’ management teams attempted to negotiate a fight between them. However, neither party were able to iron ut an agreement and Wladimir subsequently went his own way, and will be now defending his titles against unbeaten Alexander Povetkin on September 18th in Germany.

In an article at Sportal.de, Sauerland had this to say about the Klitschko-Haye negotiations: “David [Haye] is keen on fighting one of the Klitschko brothers. But the devil is in the financial details. There are multiple parties with a financial interest/stake in Haye’s fights. We’re just one of those parties. Haye has become a national super star in the UK, and thus the conditions have changed. Haye earns as much money in the UK as the Klitschkos earn in Germany. Therefore, that makes reaching a deal much more difficult. We have to insist on a sensible financial agreement.

Klitschko’s manager Bernd Bonte recently said that Wladimir had offered Haye a 50-50 deal of the finances, along with no future options on his fights. However, this doesn’t appear to be the case from what Sauerland is saying. It’s hard to know who to believe. Does Haye’s team want 50-50 or do they want more? Is Wladimir asking for a much bigger cut of the finances? It would make sense in part because he is considered to be the best heavyweight in the division, and has been the top heavyweight for years. Haye is a relative newcomer to the division and has only beaten a handful of mostly older 38-year-old heavyweights.

Sauerland says “Haye wanted to box for the title immediately. He wants the big fights immediately. He knows about his talent and potential. He was the undisputed cruiserweight champion. So far there has been a disagreement regarding the financial issues. Haye is ready to fight any time.” This sounds like Wladimir’s team wasn’t offering a 50-50 deal to Haye. That could be the sticking point right there.



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