| HOLLYWOOD, FL,
April 4 – In another case of shady dealings sullying
the great sport of boxing, Seminole Warriors Boxing, promoters of
super middleweight contender Edison Miranda, have discovered that
former world champion Mikkel Kessler negotiated in bad faith with
Team Miranda and Showtime, agreeing to a May bout while at the same
time trying to put together a WBA title fight against a fighter he
already defeated, Anthony Mundine. And Team Miranda is not taking
this lightly.
“Given the information we’ve discovered regarding this
disgraceful lack of integrity from Kessler and his team, we are
seriously considering legal action against them,” said Leon Margules,
Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing. “Edison is losing
out on a significant payday and national television exposure because
of Kessler’s withdrawal from this fight, and we are going to
investigate all our options in the coming days.”
After a lengthy negotiation process, Denmark’s Kessler agreed
late last month to face Miranda in a May 24th bout to be televised
on Showtime. It was a matchup fans deemed to be one of the best
super middleweight fights in recent years, but shortly after
agreeing to the bout, Kessler withdrew, giving no reason for his
withdrawal. As Seminole Warriors Boxing discovered, the reason for
Kessler’s sudden case of cold feet was that at the same time he was
negotiating with Team Miranda and Showtime, he and his team were
petitioning the WBA for a title shot against Mundine.
In a letter from WBA Vice President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza to
Kessler, dated March 28, 2008, it was stated:
Dear Mr. Kessler,
The World Boxing Association would like to inform you that after
considering your request and that made by Mr. Mogens Palle, Mrs.
Bettina Palle and Mr. Michael Marley on your behalf, this
Championships Committee has voted to appoint you as the Official
Challenger of the WBA Super Middleweight World Champion, Anthony
Mundine, based on your qualifications to such distinction.
In a next letter we would clarify the negotiations dates on the
division.
Yours truly,
Gilberto Jesus Mendoza
WBA Vice President
CC: World Championships Committee Members
Directory Members |
