© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing

Tonight at Madison Square Garden, Brooklyn favorite Dmitriy Salita, 28-0-1 (16), will face Derrick Campos, 17-5 (10), for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental Light Welterweight title on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones, Jr.

It is a night that Salita hoped he would be fighting for the WBA Light Welterweight title but unfortunately for him it’s something that he has only been “close to signing” on a couple of occasions, but has never come to fruition.

Salita is ranked number three by the WBA; looking back a little over a year ago he was hoping to line up a title match against then champion Gavin Rees. Rees lost the title to the WBA number one ranked Andriy Kotelnik in March of this year.

Kotelnik went on to win a voluntary defense of the title in September and was close to signing a contract to face Salita but withdrew due to an apparent rib injury. After hearing of the news, Salita issued an open letter to Kotelnik, “Last week it was your rib, and this week it's the money, make up your mind which excuse will be used not to take the fight. It is obvious to me that you don't want to fight me.”

Forced to find another opponent, Salita remains upbeat and is focused on the task at hand knowing that he needs to keep winning regardless of the opponent to get his title shot. More...

By Dmitriy Salita

"See a cardiologist and then call me if you have a change of heart!"

I was told that Andreas Kotelnik would not be defending his WBA Junior Welterweight Championship against me because he injured a rib in his fight on September 13th. I then read on another website that he didn't come to fight me in Madison Square Garden because he wasn't offered enough money. Last week it was his rib, and this week it's the money...

Andreas, make up your mind which excuse will be used not to take the fight. It is obvious to me that he doesn't want to fight me. Everything that he asked for was agreed to by my promoter. The deal had been practically done before he even fought in the Ukraine, so to say the money wasn't enough doesn't make sense after the negotiations.

I am now focused on Willie Limond, 29-2, who is a tough fighter. I have geared up my preparations towards facing him on November 8th. If down the road Andreas sees his cardiologist and has a change of heart, call Square Ring and make the fight happen.

© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing

What better stage to highlight a New York rivalry than a live HBO telecast from Madison Square Garden? Dmitriy Salita, 28-0-1 (16), hopes to take his first step towards the boxing elite by facing cross town rival Edgar Santana, 24-5 (15), on the undercard of DiBella Entertainment’s Boxing After Dark on June 21.

“I received a call a few days ago about fighting Santana,” Salita told SaddoBoxing. “The offer was good and I accepted the fight; I really hope this fight happens for New York City and for the fans.”

According to Salita, his fight is being considered as part of a potential triple-header telecast headlined by Andre Berto, who will face Miguel Angel Rodriguez, and a heavyweight co-feature of Chazz Witherspoon against Chris Arreola. More...