2009/09/08
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is expected to call for purse bids later this week for the lightweight title fight between American Joan Guzman and local fighter Ali Funeka.
This after a breakdown in negotiations between the fighters’ respective promoters.
The pair are scheduled to fight for the title vacated by Nate Campbell earlier this year, but their promoters Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) and Gary Shaw Productions/Eyethu Promotions had failed to reach agreement on purses when the deadline lapsed on Friday.
Campbell failed to make the weight limit ahead of his title fight against Funeka in February this year.
Funeka’s camp rejected Oscar de la Hoya owned GBP’s proposal to promote the fight in Canada on November 28, saying the money offered was “too paltry” and the parties have not held further discussions.
Although the deadline has lapsed, the promoter, Mnguni, said they had given up and want the fight contested through purse bids.
He also did not rule out putting in his own bid – with the assistance of financial backers.
“That is the only issue standing in the way. “Their offer was not satisfactory to Ali’s camp and we told them to go and discuss it and come back with a better offer,” said Mnguni yesterday.
“They have not come back to us and the deadline has also elapsed so we assume no agreement can be reached,” Mnguni said yesterday.
Although the decision (to reject the bid) was taken by both Funeka’s local and overseas management as a collective, only the American chapter of Funeka’s management took part in negotiations with Golden Boy Promotions.
Therefore it would be up to them to notify the IBF of the breakdown in negotiations.
“Together with Gary Shaw and Cedric Kushner later tonight (Monday night SA time), we will take the decision to notify the IBF.
“The onus is on the promoters involved to inform them that we have not reached agreement and they will do so during their regular office hours,” he also said. – By SABELO SKITI
Ali Funeka
Joan Guzman
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