BoxingScene.com spoke with Shelly Finkel, adviser to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, to get his thoughts on the recent monetary demand from promoter Don King, who is negotiating on behalf of Nikolai Valuev. Team Klitschko offered Valuev $1 million dollars for a potential May fight. King countered with a $4 million dollar demand. Klitschko’s side came back to the table with a $2 million dollar guarantee, which might be more money than Valuev has made in any of his previous fights. The offer of $2 million was not good enough, as King, who co-promotes Valuev with Sauerland Event, countered with a 60-40 demand on the revenue.

“He’s coming off a loss and the fight before that I believe he lost, even though he got the decision against Evander Holyfield. If $2 million dollars is not enough, I don’t think we’re going to do it,” Finkel told BoxingScene.com

Finkel said there is no way that Valuev and King will receive 40% of the revenue. The offer of $2 million is “final.” If Valuev’s side wants more, Team Klitschko will look for another opponent.

“They will not get 40%. I think $2 million is more than he made when he fought as champion. If $2 million is not enough, we’ll look another way – even though we’d like to make the fight,” Finkel said. “Don King should look at this as an opportunity for his fighter to become champion again, and that opportunity should weigh over everything else.”


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