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The WBC, Klitschko, and Maskaev want Klitschko-Maskaev to take place sooner rather than later. According to several meeting participants, Finkel offered $2,500,000 in step-aside money to the Peter camp. In addition, if Peter steps aside, he would be the mandatory challenger for the winner of Maskaev-Klitschko and given a fifty-fifty purse split. If the winner of Klitschko-Maskaev failed to fight Peter within 120 days, he would be stripped of his title and the belt would be given to Peter.
The Peter camp is uncertain as to its next step. Its attorneys are confident that they would prevail if the matter were resolved in its entirety in state or federal court. Their problem is that Peter is believed to have signed a contract with the WBC prior to his two “mandatory eliminator” bouts against James Toney that provides for compulsory arbitration in lieu of court action should a dispute arise. Thus, if the WBC orders that the matter be arbitrated, the Peter camp would first have to go to court in an effort to void the arbitration clause.
Also, the issue of how any step-aside money would be split among Peter, Duva, and King has yet to be resolved. And there are rumors that Maskaev might not be ready to fight until June because of elbow surgery, as well as questions regarding whether Vitali is physically fit to fight twice within the span of 120 days.
If Peter steps aside, one big loser will be Don King. DK is fond of saying that he has been the lead dog in boxing for more than three decades and that, “Unless you’re the lead dog, the scenery never changes.” The WBC-Klitschko-Maskaev-Peter confrontation is a direct test of King’s influence and power. If his fighter is pushed aside, a lot of vultures will be circling.
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http://www.secondsout.com/USA/news.cfm?ccs=229&cs=21420
Peter rejects step-aside offer!Monday, February 12 2007
Handlers for WBC mandatory headyweight champion Samuel Peter have rejected a $2.5 million offer from the Vitali Klitschko camp for Peter to step aside and allow a Klitschko-Maskaev matchup to take place according to BILD. Maskaev's next opponent has been the topic of much confusion as both Peter and Klitschko have claims to the next challenge against WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev.
http://www.fightnews.com/fightnews_2/headlines//EEZEkAAlVyikcEbool.html