DaVarryl Williamson is not yet a champion, but he showed the character of one on Thursday by offering to put his chance at every boxer's dream, a world title fight, on hold in order to fight a rematch against Wladimir Klitschko, a man who previously defeated him. Williamson made the offer as a means of resolving Klitschko's lawsuit against the IBF, or at least the issue of who should be Byrd's mandatory. Klitschko has thus far refused the offer because he wants an immediate shot at IBF heavweight champion Chris Byrd, whereas the proposed settlement would allow Byrd to defend, and possibly lose, the title to someone else while Klitschko and Williamson conducted the box-off. In the absence of a settlement, the presiding judge, William Martini will decide Klitschko's request that the Court prevent the IBF from sanctioning a mandatory between Williamson and Byrd. The judge promised to render a verdict in the next two weeks.

After attending the hearing, Wlliamson told Boxingtalk he was willing to settle the lawsuit by putting his chance to challenge Byrd on hold in order to have a box-off against Klitschko. "The judge said in no uncertain terms, why don't you just have a box-off," said Williamson. "Well, DaVarryl Williamson is ready to fight either Chris Byrd or Wladimir Klitschko in a box-off if it would please the court. And the legal team that represents me echoed that to the judge. He wants us to settle this in the ring, and we couldn't be happier to do so." Judge Martini has not ordered the box-off, apparently because he believes he lacks the legal authority to do so. Instead, the judge asked the parties to voluntarily agree to the box-off.

The three-party dispute between Klitschko, Williamson and the IBF was complicated further when a fourth party entered the case. Byrd sent attorney Patrick English to intervene, and English argued that any proposed settlement should not harm Byrd by forcing him to remain inactive. In order to sign off on the settlement, Byrd wants the right to go down the list of contenders to conduct an intervening mandatory defense against another boxer while the Klitschko-Williamson box-off is arranged. Next in line would be Sam Peter and, after that, Nicolay Valuev.

Williamson was represented by attorney Jay Labe, who added, "we don't want DaVarryl's career wasted in litigation. We want to get in the ring and settle this in there." When asked about Klitschko's response to the invitation for a box-off, Labe, somewhat surprisingly said, "We don't think its appropriate to discuss settlement negotiations." A comment made by the judge indicates that Klitschko has not agreed to the box-off and instead will roll the dice on the judge's decision. "I thought that [a box-off] might be the appropriate and best way to resolve it," said Judge Martini, according to the official transcript. "It doesn't appear that at this point that's an option; at least at this point."

According to Klitschko's attorney Ron DiNicola, Byrd's request for an intervening bout was the sticking point. "We originally proposed a box-off between Klitschko and Williamson back in May [so that the matter could be resolved before Byrd's mandatory came due]. At the time, we didn't have to propose that, and the IBF rejected it. Then we get flipped in the ratings [Williamson was moved ahead of Klitschko], so we had no recourse but to file this lawsuit. Now its too late for a box-off because it would allow someone else [like Peter or Valuev] to come in and take the opportunity that belongs to Wladimir."