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Boxing

Maccarinelli-Haye clash hits buffers

09/01/2007

Any prospect of an intriguing all-British clash between cruiserweights Enzo Maccarinelli and David Haye seems to have disappeared after a weekend of wrangling ended with the fighters unable to agree terms.

WBO champion Maccarinelli claims it was his south London rival who ducked the proposed April 7th meeting at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe's contest with Peter Manfredo Jr.

"I signed to fight Haye last week but he didn't want to sign his contract," the Welshman told the BBC.

"Frank [Warren, Maccarinelli's promoter] offered me two easy options or the Haye fight, and I immediately jumped at the latter option."

But Haye's management deny allegations from Warren's Sports Network company that their excessive demands caused negotiations to collapse.

It is believed that the European title-holder's corner were unhappy at a condition in a revised offer that obligated Haye to hold his next four fights under the Sports Network banner.

"Team Haye are willing to accept the terms of the original offer that was faxed to them in December and fight Enzo Maccarinelli in a one-off fight on April 7th in Cardiff to keep the dream fight alive," a statement read.

Maccarinelli is now hoping to land a shot at Jamaican WBA and WBC champion O'Neil Bell to fill the vacancy.

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