Promoter Frank Maloney has issued an official statement confirming that he offered Tyson Fury £650,000 to face fellow unbeaten heavyweight David Price. Official Frank Maloney Statement...

Frank: An offer was made to Tyson Fury guaranteeing him a £650,000 purse to challenge David Price for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.  

Tyson’s promoter Mick Hennessy turned down the offer, describing it as a “joke” and added that David would have to “step up to the plate on our terms”.  

Since then I have sent Mick an email asking if there is a way for myself and him to sit down to try and make the fight.  

Team Price can also then hear what Mick meant when he said “our terms”.  

We could meet in private and agree not to negotiate through the press and stop the name calling, which both sides have been guilty of.  

People told me that Lennox Lewis v Evander Holyfield would never be made, but we spent hours around a table and arranged a two fight deal.  

Price v Fury would be a massive attraction for next summer and both men could have an interim contest before meeting.

  Apart from David Haye fighting Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko it is the biggest contest in the heavyweight division.  

I understand Team Fury’s hesitancy because they believe they are close a fight against one of the Klitschko brothers.  

If that is the route Mick and Tyson are going, make that clear and both sides can go their own way.  

Yes, we did make Lennox v Evander twice. However, I truly hope this is not another Lennox-Riddick Bowe contest where there was plenty said and talks, but no action.

  Until both teams get around a negotiating table there is little more Team Price can do to make this domestic blockbuster happen in the immediate future.  

We have made offers and even tried to make the fight at purses bids when it was ordered by the British Boxing Board of Control, but it was Team Fury who pulled out of those at the last minute.  

For the good of British boxing I truly hope Price v Fury is one of sport’s great events of 2013.  

Ends
**********

  Fury’s promoter Mick Hennessy had earlier confirmed that he is happy for Fury to face Price in the ring as long as Maloney was not involved in the promotion.  

  Speaking to Sky Sports Hennessy said : "I have watched the Price fight on YouTube. It’s ridiculous.  

"Tyson has gone on record saying that he will do the Price fight as long as Maloney is not involved in it. He’s offended him, called him a coward and other things you shouldn’t be saying to a fighter of that calibre.  

"Tyson and his family were offended by that. We’ve made it clear that Tyson is in the driving seat as he’s had more fights, fought better quality opposition, is higher in the world rankings and is better-known all round the world.  

"If Price wants to step up to the table then financially we would make it worth his while. He’s got to realise that Tyson has worked harder for his position. Maloney has caused himself a big problem with what he’s said.

  "Right now, we’ve got bigger fish to fry. At the end of the day, we’re looking at the likes of Jonathan Banks and Tomasz Adamek, people who are regarded highly on the world scene. Right now, Price is a big fish in a small pond and hasn’t fought a live opponent yet."


SecondsOut.com to Doghouse Boxing.