By James Slater – As fight fans may or may not have known, Frenchman Jean Marc Mormeck, the former WBA and WBC cruiserweight king who engaged in memorable battles with the likes of O’Neil Bell and David Haye, was in the running as a possible challenger for heavyweight ruler Wladimir Klitschko, who needs an opponent for his December 11th bout in Germany.
Mormeck, who came back as a heavyweight after a year-long layoff that followed his KO loss to Haye, and scored two wins (over Vinny Maddalone and Fres Oquendo, both wins coming on points), reportedly asked for too much money to take the December date. This is the word according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, who reports how Klitschko advisor Shelly Finkel told ESPN.com that “The Marksman” asked for “much more” than the amount of cash they had planned to spend on Waldimir’s next bout.
So, has Mormeck, 35-4(22) overall, missed the biggest chance of his life? Perhaps not. According to the news bit, there is a chance Mormeck could challenge “Dr. Steel Hammer” in his native France next spring (if Wladimir wins his December bout, of course – the search for a suitable challenger for which goes on). Mormeck is apparently of the thinking that he might be able to come up with and deliver a “lucrative” site in Paris, thereby enticing Klitschko, who is keen to box in France..
“If Mormeck brings a site, Wladimir would be very interested in defending the title in France,” Finkel said.
Mormeck is a huge star in France, he has had his last four fights there, and his popularity would likely fill a big arena with fans willing to believe he has a real chance against the peaking 34-year-old who holds the Ring magazine belt along with the IBF, WBO and IBO belts. It probably wouldn’t matter that the would-be challenger is 38-years-old now, that he barely scraped past Oquendo last time out, in May, and that he almost ran out of gas against Maddalone (who was informed beforehand that his 2009 fight Vs. Mormeck was set for ten-rounds, only to find out, too late, that it had been cut to eight).
The paying fans would, well, pay – and at least Wladimir is keeping himself busy. A fight in December, coming as it will be after a fight in September, followed by a fight in March or April? Who ever heard of such an active big man these days?
Mormeck, who says his ultimate goal is to land a revenge fight with Haye, now the WBA heavyweight boss, will be able to ask for and get practically anything he wants if he does get the spring date with Klistchko and actually beats him. The biggest upset in heavyweight history? No, a Morkmeck win wouldn’t be quite that big of a shock, but it wouldn’t be all that far off!
In the meantime, however, the hunt goes on for Wladimir’s December challenger. With Mormeck now out, and with top names Haye and Tomasz Adamek busy (Haye against Audley Harrison in November, Adamek against the aforementioned Maddalone in December), it seems we can hope for maybe a Tony Thompson (in a return), a David Tua (who looked faded against Monte Barrett last time out), or maybe a Odlanier Solis (too risky?)
Again, at least Wladimir, the best heavyweight on the planet, is keeping busy and wants to fight? By the way, I’m sure I’m not the only one who is wondering how much Mormeck was asking for, and what offer he turned down!