Vitali Klitschko vs. Oleg Maskaev Almost Set For June 2nd

Beyond this, Vitali Klitschko, now 35-years-old, would have to make it through training without being injured, something he had tremendous difficulties with while training for his last bout with Hasim Rahman, originally set for April 30, 2005. After injuring himself on at least two separate occasions, causing the postpoing of the fight twice, Vitali retired from boxing on November 9, 2005, rather than having his title stripped from him. With Klitschko’s history of injuries, and with still two months of training ahead of him, this fight is far from a certainty even with contracts signed.

Duva Responds to Maskaev/Klitschko Camps

Dino Duva, promoter of WBC #1 heavyweight contender Samuel Peter, wishes to issue the following response to recent public comments made by representatives of WBC Champion Oleg Maskaev and former champion Vitali Klitschko. Currently in informal talks over who will face Maskaev in his next defense, Duva says he’s troubled by the insinuations being made by the other two fighters’ teams.

“I feel I needed to respond to their insulting comments. I’ve been reading these reports in the media that the Maskaev and Klitschko people have been putting out, where they’re saying that the money they’re offering is ‘life-changing’ money for Samuel and how it’s insane to turn this much money down. I resent them talking like Sam Peter is some sort of flash-in-the-pan peasant. It’s an insult. The two and half million dollar step-aside fee that they have offered is a fraction of what Samuel Peter will earn in his career, so don’t insult us with these comments. The fact is that Dennis Rappaport, Maskaev’s promoter is the one who is trying to grab as much money as he can for one fight because he doesn’t have enough confidence in his own fighter to think long-term. I believe Oleg Maskaev is more of a champion than that and that Rappaport is the one trying to convince Maskaev not to fight Sam Peter.”

Duva also expresses a sincere wish that Team Maskaev and Team Klitschko can keep the rest of their “propaganda” out of the public forum. “I prefer to stay out of this petty talk in the media, but I needed to respond on behalf of Samuel. We have made proposals back and forth and the fact is that we’ve offered very lucrative deals to them as well. And above all, what we have offered them sets things the way they should rightfully be. We are making the good-faith effort to work this out, but it’s still our firm position that Samuel has the right to the Maskaev fight immediately. And if a deal doesn’t get made very soon, both the Maskaev and Klitschko camps better stop dreaming about the money they can make fighting each other and prepare to dish out a lot of legal fees. We are prepared for that 100%, are they?”

Vitali Klitschko: I’m Back!

24 January 2007- By Vitali Klitschko: “I’ve been back in the gym for a couple of weeks and I feel great. My injuries have healed and after much hard work and with the approval of the doctors, I am cleared to continue my boxing career.

“I am returning to the ring to get my WBC Heavyweight Championship back. In November 2005, due to a serious knee injury, I retired without having lost the WBC belt in the ring. At the WBC gala event on December 20, 2005 in Cancun, Mexico, the WBC designated me as “WBC Champion Emeritus” and assured me that whenever I was ready to return, I would become the immediate mandatory challenger for the title..

“I’m back, and I have requested that the WBC sanction a bout between me and Oleg Maskaev. I look forward to reclaiming my title, and want to thank everyone who has been so supportive during my short retirement from the ring.

“I look forward to seeing us all together soon and I am also excited about having the opportunity to fulfill the dreams of the Klitschko brothers being Heavyweight Champions at the same time!

Vitali Klitschko vs. Oleg Maskaev In The Works?

By Scoop Malinowski: Late in 2005 the World Boxing Council designated Vitali Klitschko as "WBC World Champion Emeritus", which grants Vitali the right to become the immediate WBC mandatory official challenger if someday he would wish to come back to professional boxing. So it is true, If Vitali were to decide his body and mind are ready to endure two months of training, he could challenge current WBC champ Oleg Maskaev this spring.

The unfortunate loser in this possible but seemingly improbable scenario would be current official mandatory Samuel Peter. Peter's manager Ivalyo Gotzev suggested in an indirect way that Vitali Klitschko vs. Oleg Maskaev could be in the works.

"(Maskaev's) out there trying to sell the belt to the highest bidder, and that's something that should be beneath the dignity of a WBC champion. We've earned our position not once but twice, so they should do the honorable thing and face us instead of trying to cash out against one of the Klitschkos."

Wow. Did you catch that? "...ONE of the Klitschkos." This should set off alarm bells.

You can almost sense the hint of frustrated concern in the words of Gotzev who surely knows that his man Samuel Peter would have to get in line behind Vitali Klitschko.

And if this scenaro does indeed play out, it would be a wonderful boon to the heavyweight division and the imminent unification tournament. Vitali Klitschko vs. Lennox Lewis II is still by far the biggest, most attractive heavyweight event that can be made in 2007. I don't have to remind you how much Vitali wants this rematch, do I? And in the last 12 months Lewis has publicly hinted of having an interest in the rematch but seemed resigned to the fact it could never happen because of Vitali's unreliable body constantly breaking down.

If Maskaev does sign to fight the older "one" of the two Ukrainian brothers as Gotzev seemed to imply, would this spark some kind of competitive reaction in the fighting spirit of Lennox who looks in superb fighting condition at each of his HBO commentating appearances?

Would the return of Vitali Klitschko be the stimulus which could spark massive excitement back into the heavyweight division, which is the most prestigious, exciting and fascinating realm in all of sports?

Let us wait to find out which one of the Klitschko brothers, as Gotzev says, Oleg Maskaev is considering signing to fight next.

Scoop Malinowski has completed his first book "Lewis vs. Tyson Heavyweight Armageddon! The Inside Story About The Biggest Money Fight In Boxing History", which will be published in 2008.