Wladimir Klitschko Turns Down $6.4M Fight Deal From Sauerland

Boxing promotional firm Sauerland "has offered heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko a bout against cruiserweight world champion Marco Huck for €5M ($6.4M), according to the DPA. The Klitschko Management Group, however, "has rejected the offer." Sauerland revealed that German fashion company Gerry Weber would have helped to finance the bout. Klitschko and Huck were scheduled to fight at the Gerry-Weber-Stadium in Halle, Germany. Klitschko Manager Bernd Bönte said, "They could have offered €100M. We have an exclusive contract with RTL and will not fight somewhere else." Sauerland is contractually bound to ARD. Box Promoter Kalle Sauerland and Ralf Weber, son of Gerry Weber and junior CEO of the company, however, "will not give up." Sauerland said, "We are always open for personal talks to negotiate the conditions. The fight between Huck and Klitschko would be an absolute highlight. We will do everything imaginable to make this bout reality" (DPA, 11/1).