US TV throws spanner in Calzaghe-Kessler by Ian McNeilly Jun 30th 2007

Reports from America suggest that although promoters Frank Warren and Mogens Palle are close to an agreement on staging the much-anticipated super-middleweight unification match between Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler, US television is the latest stumbling block. Respected American scribe Dan Rafael reveals on ESPN.com that although the promoters might have agreed on a September 22nd date at London's 02 Arena, HBO don't have that date available and are also very hesitant about paying the reported asking price of $5 million. According to Rafael, HBO's exclusive ten-day negotiating period to secure the fight for their network expired on Thursday but after a call between president of HBO Sports Ross Greenburg, Warren and Jay Larkin, all parties agreed to continue discussions - a positive sign. The promoters are willing to move the date as money from a US network is vital for the financial success of the bill. Calzaghe has an established relationship with Showtime (who aired the defining victory of his career so far against Jeff Lacy), so this could be an alternative avenue.  However, they might be just as likely as HBO to find the asking price too rich for their blood and reportedly have no plans for boxing on that date as they are setting up a card the following week and also have the Oleg Maskaev-Samuel Peter card on October 6th. HBO's Kery Davis was hopeful of some kind of resolution as he said, "It's a fight that we really like.  It's a terrific fight for the sport and we're hoping something can be worked out." Surely a company that would shell out for the likes of Wlad Klitschko-Ray Austin in Germany wouldn't turn down a fight of the magnitude of Calzaghe-Kessler?

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