BoxRec

ITV wanting options? I should cocoa...

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_2009- ... nelli.html

Get the fight made.

Did you speak to Sharman Ian?

Well, as we suspected, it's a load of old tosh about them wanting options.

I didnt think it sounded right when you guys quoted Booth saying ITV wanted options - I'm starting to think that Booth and co got cold feet when it came to the crunch, which wasnt helped in particular by a restrictive contract being produced by SN.

Both parties to blame in my opinion.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Did you speak to Sharman Ian?

Well, as we suspected, it's a load of old tosh about them wanting options.

Yes and yes.

Twinkle Toes wrote:I didnt think it sounded right when you guys quoted Booth saying ITV wanted options - I'm starting to think that Booth and co got cold feet when it came to the crunch, which wasnt helped in particular by a restrictive contract being produced by SN.

Both parties to blame in my opinion.

Booth said SN told him ITV wanted options. There is a bit of a difference there mate.

As I said before, it sounds very much like Sports Network got ITV to act as the intermediary, getting them to ask for the options on behalf of Sports Network. Now that ITV have come out of it looking like twats, they want no part of it, and are stating they don't get involved in negotiations.

Of course, we've not heard the end of the claims and counter claims by a long chalk.

Good work Ian, was thinking of trying to get hold of Sharman myself, but you actually got around to doing it.

Wow it seems like all the emails from boxing fans across the different forums may have made a difference. Good work guys.

Get the fight made. We don't want to hear any more excuses.

Well done Ian.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:As I said before, it sounds very much like Sports Network got ITV to act as the intermediary, getting them to ask for the options on behalf of Sports Network. Now that ITV have come out of it looking like twats, they want no part of it, and are stating they don't get involved in negotiations.

Jimbo - not sure if I'm misreading your post or you've got the wrong end. Basically according to Sharman, at no time did ITV ever ask for any options and they don't do that sort of thing - it's down to the promoter. I tend to believe him.

Oh yes, hang on, I have got hold of the wrong end of the stick.

If it was SN who said ITV wanted options, then yes, that's true, but is that what the original piece said?

Also, Bennie was on here claiming that Haye was being foolish for not wanting to have a multi-fight deal on ITV. I know Bennie is not Mark Sharman, but he is still involved with ITV boxing isn't he? Why say that, in that case?

It would make sense though, as ITV have a sole contract with Warren and Sports Network, then there is no way they would be making deals with fighters, as all the fighters they dealt with would have to be promoted by Warren.

ITV don't even have enough slots to start throwing around multi fight contracts at any rate.

ITV want the fight
The fans want the fight
Haye and Enzo want the fight..

...and the negotiations didn't seem to be too far off what the fighters wanted (financally). Just thrash out the negotiations and get this sorted for fcuks sake

Why can't this be done as a 1 fight deal????
Why is FW insisting on options on Haye???
Why is the original offer of a 1 fight deal that Haye accepted not on the table anymore, when no other contract has been agreed????

There's only one person to blame for this fight not happening and it's allegedly

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:
Booth said SN told him ITV wanted options. There is a bit of a difference there mate.

Ahh I do apologise, just re-read the article - Even so, Booth did say they had in principal agreed to a Enzo fight + a further four fight package with SN.

But supposedly the finer points of the contract where not acceptable - I ask why even agree to a further four fight deal in the first place

Seems odd to me to agree to that, then kick up a fuss when SN produce a restrictive contract, surely it was naive to expect anything different?

It's even more strange to agree in principal to a four fight package when Haye and co are supposed to have future dates pretty much in place with SKY.

It doesn't paint a pretty picture for anyone really.

They cant have a one fight deal because its too risky to lose Enzo's WBO title.

I'm glad that ITV have responded to this (nice scoop). It does happen often in the states, so I hope it isn't going to go that way.

I spoke to Kurt Emhoff about this situation (he might come a post here some day now boxingranks has ceased) - he states that ESPN now ask for the first refusal on the next fight for any fighter who features in their main event (winner or loser). Great if your a prospect, with a small time promoter, who needs the exposure. Not so great if your a comebacking big name (i.e. David Tua) who is potentially one fight away from a big one and may have a promoter who can deliver the big ones (like a Cedric Kushner).

Well what's the holdup then? Great fgiht, let's get 'er made.

Hayes ppl put the ad in BN offering enzo 150k, 'no strings attached, no belts required' to fight haye. it had that quote from FW at the top 'ill pack the game in' etc etc

obv FW wants a piece of Haye, i think the man is poison for the uk fight game, not just for this but the continuing bollox over the HW's

m1kee50 wrote:Hayes ppl put the ad in BN offering enzo 150k, 'no strings attached, no belts required' to fight haye. it had that quote from FW at the top 'ill pack the game in' etc etc

obv FW wants a piece of Haye, i think the man is poison for the uk fight game, not just for this but the continuing bollox over the HW's

Yes agreed...allegedly has been awful for British boxing...OK there is an argument to be made that he kept boxing alive etsc in the UK...but if he wasn't around and didn't have such a stanglehold then other promoters could've prospered - HEarn or others...

I can't think of a better British fight at the mo.

if FW wasnt so slimy he would have accepted that deal - no belts, just a fight, wheres the harm, specially if you are ready to pack it in if your man loses.....

Allegedly always wants options. When was the last time he did a one-shot deal?

ITV, demand the best from Warren, say you won't accept substandard fare, don't make do with Cantatore whom we've all seen CLOWNED by Nelson, don't just get seduced by Khan and Audley, Warren will get away with it if he can SO DON'T EFFING LET HIM!

I a proper (not automated) reply back from ITV today. I asked if they could confirm or deny Booth's claim (or claim that Warren claimed, as the case may be) that "ITV were not willing to do a one fight deal and that they wanted various options on David Haye."

The main point of the reply, as Ian has already found out - We do not get involved in the negotiations over opponents and have not on this occasion

Is there any direct quotes from Warren regarding this?

Here's Warren's side of things. Totally at odds to Booth (if I'm keeping track of this right)

"The first meeting was arranged for 12noon on Wednesday 3rd January at the Sports Network offices in Hertford between myself, Dean Powell and Adam Booth. Enzo Maccarinelli also attended but was separate to this meeting. At the meeting it was agreed that Haye would challenge Maccarinelli for his WBO World title plus four defences should he win. It was also agreed that there would be an option for a heavyweight bout including a WBO World title challenge. Also, as a fallback position if he lost to Maccarinelli, Haye would have four fights including a European title defence or a move to heavyweight against Matt Skelton, Audley Harrison Danny Williams or Michael Sprott. In addition, Booth asked if he could also get two of his boxers on the show at the Millennium Stadium and for future shows because he could not get them on Sky TV. The above terms were agreed so matters had gone way beyond the "one fight deal offer" recently raised by Booth."
http://www.allegedly.tv/drill/News/Ar ... laims.html

If Warren's story here is true, then how would Sky feel about this? They may have agreed to a one-off, but the picture being painted here makes it sounds like Booth was going behind Sky's backs.

I thought Haye liking popularity would of taken the four fight deal just so he can be on ITV which more people watch than Sky Sports.

You'd think this would be simple, wouldn't you? As far as I can make out, the following people want the fight:

David Haye
Enzo Maccarinelli (These two are particularly important, seeing as they're the ones who are going to be knocking the shit out of each other)
ITV, who will pay for, and broadcast the event
Every fornicating boxing fan that receives ITV.

A fornicating child could work out that the fight should be put on.

But no, it all gets bollocksed up. I fornicating despair, I really do.

The allegedly is in the detail.