BoxRec

According to his NOTW column allegedly could have got Skelton the fight against Maskaev in russia.
He turned it down because of the derisory offer.

Totally spineless!!
If he's confident about winning, take crap money and then if you win you become WORLD CHAMPION.

what an idiot.

Who says Warren is a good businessman because that decision is poor.

'What's this WBC trinket title then?'

Great move Frankie!

ffs. What a shambles. In many ways, Maskaev is the weakest of the 4 champs, and I'd say Skelton's best chance.

Really sad. Money isn't everything, and even if it is, becoming world champion=money. To become world champion you must fight a world champion.

allegedly is a joke, Skelton is 39 he is finished. If that chance came up he should of JUMPED at the chance. That is fvucking pathetic Frank sort your ideas out

i like the allegedly bit it automatically it puts in very nice lol

Razor - agree. "derisory offer." Compared to what? A WBU "challenge" against some tubby Brazilian? Or sitting on your hands doing nothing but watch your 40th birthday come closer perhaps?

This has really made me furious. I say it's 95% Skelton will not get another chance. He won't get a Valuev fight in the US, and in any case Valuev will have a mandatory coming up. Lyakovich has Briggs. Both US based, and Skelton may be regarded as an easy voluntary but would have little appeal to a US market. Klitchko has Brock, then I'd assume a mandatory at some point next year. On top of that, there is some pressure on the champions to unify. If even a partial unification happens, then the number of opportunities will come down.

But Skelton (or rather Warren) has been offerred a fight with Maskaev, who is the eldest and, imo weakest champion, and has (i think) little in the way of promotional ties that could otherwise get in the way of fights being organised. I can't believe it.

The only possible reason I can see for Warren passing on this offer is that he still has been promised a Valuev-Skelton fight at some point, and doesn't want to do anything to damage that. I am sure Skelton would have relished the Maskaev fight

Wonder what Skelton thinks about all of this, this is the problem with a fragmented title picture because it leads to it not mattering which one you get and Warren has his cash cows and wants to milk them with the least possible risk.

Come on lads, do you think Warren is stupid, there\'ll be some reason for this decision. Either he's in talks to get a shot against one of the other champs, or summat

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Come on lads, do you think Warren is stupid, there\'ll be some reason for this decision. Either he's in talks to get a shot against one of the other champs, or summat

Do you believe in Santa Clause and the benevilance of the Glaza family... Warren wants to make money out of fighters for the minimum risck not to make fights for the fans not to win things for the country.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Come on lads, do you think Warren is stupid, there\'ll be some reason for this decision. Either he's in talks to get a shot against one of the other champs, or summat

Maybe the deal was like the ones that Warren gives to possible Calzaghe opponents?

Indeed, and if you ask most of Warren's fighters why they joined him in the first place, then they will tell you it's because they wanted to make money.

Frank W a r r e n isn't daft.

He's trying to protect his investment.

Can anyone close to the Skelton camp let us know what he thinks... he strikes me as the type that would want the fight.

Well Frank whats Skelton next fight then?

Surely this is certainly is worth a 39 year old taking a gamble on the short end of the purse against a weak champion to reap the benefit of of winning a WBC heavyweight title and future lucrative defences!?

But If this show is promoted in Russia by Maskaev's promoters then Sports Network will earn 0% of any of any gate or television proceeds.

Also I am sure that if Skelton was to get the oppurtunity they would want rematch clauses and own the rights to his next 3 fights etc. How would this tie in with his Sports Network contract?

Massive shame as I can see Maskaev as the only way Skelton could fight for or win for that matter a legitimate version of the Heavyweight championship.

Frank Warrem has no argument over this the fvucking guy is 39 years of age, unless hes got another shot lined up, as got turning Maskaev down Skelton is probably would stand the highest chance of beating him out of all the other champs.

If I were Skelton I'd be absolutely fuming, and I guess he must be. A real chance at the big time, late in his career, goes up in smoke, cause his promoter wanted more money.

Yeah, but Maskaev would bash Skelton up, esp in Russia - Matt's only chance is a flukey KO.

Why would FW take the fight for poor money when it will ruin Skelton's earning power.

Relived everyone is in line with my way of thinking.

Who is Skelton to turn down ANY purse offer? The guy is nearly 40, not a big draw in his own backyard, and turned down an opportunity to fight one of the most vulnerable heavyweight champs of all time!?!

Take your shot, hopefully win the title, THEN start calling the shots.

Whether or not you think Skelton could actually of won (I'd give him a 50/50 shot of throwing a spanner in the works), can you believe this guy turned down the chance of a lifetime? One that might never come again?

Reminds me of Alex Garcia turning down a big money world title fight with Bowe then getting iced by journeyman Mike Dixon for chump change.

overhand_right wrote:Relived everyone is in line with my way of thinking.

Who is Skelton to turn down ANY purse offer? The guy is nearly 40, not a big draw in his own backyard, and turned down an opportunity to fight one of the most vulnerable heavyweight champs of all time!?!

Take your shot, hopefully win the title, THEN start calling the shots.

Whether or not you think Skelton could actually of won (I'd give him a 50/50 shot of throwing a spanner in the works), can you believe this guy turned down the chance of a lifetime? One that might never come again?

Reminds me of Alex Garcia turning down a big money world title fight with Bowe then getting iced by journeyman Mike Dixon for chump change.

I believe Garcia also turned down $500,000 to fight George Foreman...

Yes it was Foreman he turned down, one hell of a bad decision.

And I don't see Skelton having too much earning power left at 40+.

Danny Williams 3 anyone?

Would be interesting to know what the offer was.
Maybe if Skelton did win then Warren wouldn't have options on Skelton.

Does seem a surprising move by Warren in anycase, as Skelton is pretty much his only option for a title shot at the Heavyweight title.

E wrote:
Why would FW take the fight for poor money when it will ruin Skelton's earning power.

That is total dog shit, Skelton is 39 years of age, what earning power has he got in the next few years being 40+

Skelton is only ever going to get one title shot, which he will lose. Might as well try make it a well paid title shot don't you think?

Razor wrote:

E wrote:
Why would FW take the fight for poor money when it will ruin Skelton's earning power.

That is total dog shit, Skelton is 39 years of age, what earning power has he got in the next few years being 40+

well maybe yes... I may be changing my mind on this....