08.01.07 – Promoter Frank Warren has dismissed claims made by David Haye’s trainer and manager Adam Booth about an ‘orginal deal’ that could salvage the fight with WBO World Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Maccarinelli on April 7 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Booth refers to a faxed offer for a one-fight deal but the subsequent acceptance of a counter offer by Team Haye from Mr. Warren made the original offer invalid..
Mr. Warren said, “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.”
A new deal was agreed with Mr. Maccarinelli for this fight; whilst Mr. Booth received a draft contract which Mr. Powell was informed would be presented to his lawyers. In fact, such was the extent of the understanding the parties had reached that it was also agreed that Mr. Haye would postpone his travel plans until Tuesday 9th so that a press conference could take place with Mr. Maccarinelli on the 8th January 2007 officially announcing the fight.
On Friday 5th January during the course of a telephone conversation between both and Mr. Powell it was agreed for the agreement to be concluded. The meeting was set to take place on Saturday 6th at 2.30pm.
On the 5th January Sports Network received comments from Mr. Booth’s lawyers.
Sports Networks legal Counsel prepared a new document which included most of the comments raised in by Mr. Booth’s lawyer. Accordingly a short meeting was expected.
The meeting took place on Saturday afternoon in London between Mr. Powell and Mr. Booth with each accompanied by their respective lawyer.
After 5 hours of negotiations, which included several conference calls to Mr. Warren and Mr. Haye (who had already left for Miami) negotiations broke down after it became clear that Mr. Booth was no longer comfortable with the long term deal that he had agreed with Mr. Powell.