K2 Promotions confirmed today that an agreement was not able to be reached between all of the parties involved in trying to secure an immediate world heavyweight championship fight between Vitali Klitschko and Oleg Maskaev.

“We exhausted every effort,” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions. “Klitschko vs. Maskaev would have been a truly historic event in Moscow. However, the deal was so complex and changed so many times and with issues still unresolved, we were not able to finalize it. In the end we ran up against deadlines from the television networks.”

Although Klitschko generated the most revenue for the promotion, he would have been paid the least. “Vitali was willing to accept about one third of the money that either Maskaev would have received for the fight, or Peter to step aside,” said Bernd Boente, Klitschko’s manager. “Vitali will now focus on fighting the winner of Maskaev-Peter fight to regain his title.”

Klitschko had retired in 2005 as the WBC Heavyweight Champion due to an injury, but announced his comeback earlier this year after his previous injuries had fully healed. Maskaev is the current WBC Heavyweight Champion and Peter is the WBC no. 1 contender following back to back victories over James Toney.

“My main objective was to regain my world title that I never lost in the ring,” said a disappointed Klitschko, “I want to thank the WBC for their support and especially Jose Sulaiman for keeping his promise that he made to me when I was given the great honor of WBC Champion Emeritus.”

Klitschko will now have the right to fight the winner of Maskaev vs no.1 ranked Samuel Peter before the year is over.

Click to read more boxing articles by Boxing Press

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Duva: Vitali Klitschko Can Wait in Line!

  Promoter Dino Duva is responding sharply to rumors that former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has been considering a return to the ring that would involve stepping over his fighter, mandatory >
  
  

• WBC Boxing News: Vitali Klitschko, Oleg Maskaev, Samuel Peter In Championship Tournament

  The World Boxing Council officially announces today that the proposed fight between the WBC heavyweight world champion Oleg Maskaev and former WBC world champion and current WBC Champion Emeritus Vitali >
  
  

• Maskaev Back; but Where to Now?

  Former fringe heavyweight contender Oleg Maskaev lit up Friday Night Fight's with a third round stoppage of previously unknown fighter Livin Castillo earlier this evening. Maskaev took care of business >
  
  

• Vitali Klitschko to make comeback fight against Maskaev in April

  Former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko will return to the ring in April, more than two years after injuries forced his retirement. Vasyl Samokhvalov, who described himself as an "information >
  
  

• Boxing Info: Peter Furious at WBC, Klitschko, Maskaev!

  Enraged would best describe normally easygoing WBC mandatory title challenger Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter at the reportedly imminent announcement of former champ Vitali Klitschko’s return to the ring. Peter’s foul >
  
  

• WBC Boxing: Maskaev vs. Peter For Heavyweight Title Set For February At MSG

  The fight for the undisputed WBC heavyweight world championship between world champion Oleg Maskaev and interim world champion Samuel Peter will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York >
  
  

• Boxing Perspective: Are We Really Supposed To Wait?

  Last Monday, the WBC board voted in Samuel Peter as its interim heavyweight champion after Oleg Maskaev pulled out of their October 6 championship bout. Maskaev, who injured his >
  
  

• Showtime Boxing: Peter vs. Klitschko Heats Up In Berlin

  In one of the most significant heavyweight championship fights in years, Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko will battle for the WBC Heavyweight title Saturday on Showtime. Both fighters stake claim >
  
  

• Boxing News: Duva, Peter Demand Interim Title Fight After Maskaev Pull-out

  President of Duva Boxing, Dino Duva, and WBC no. 1 contender Samuel Peter issued this statement on the injury to heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev, forcing Maskaev to pull out of >
  
  

• Boxing Preview Analysis: Samuel Peter vs. Vitali Klitschko

  After nearly four years out of the ring, Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko challenges "The Nigerian Nightmare", Samuel Peter, for his old WBC Heavyweight Championship at the 02 World Arena in Berlin >
  
  

---