Martinez-Pirog

Article Link - http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=45047#ixzz1bEZO7mWp

Lou DiBella, the promoter for WBC Diamond champion Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27KOs), believes WBO middleweight champion Dmitry Pirog (19-0, 15KOs), and his co-promoter Kirill Pchelnikov, are doing nothing more than creating headlines for themselves with baseless claims. Pchelnikov, and his partners, offered Martinez $3 million dollars to face Pirog in Russia.

In an earlier report on BoxingScene.com, Pchelnikov attacked Martinez for not accepting the offer.

"They don't want to face Dmitry Pirog, at least in the near future. The question here is not even the millions of dollars involved. If we offer them $6 million, they would find other excuses. Why should he fight Piorg when he can face two boxers where his victory is guaranteed, for the same money [combined with both fights]. We are ready to fight with everyone, and even with Martinez if he gives us the nod. We are ready to fight him at any time and anywhere."

According to DiBella, there was no counter-offer because Pirog's team disclosed their inability to offer anything above $3 million dollars. And, neither HBO or Showtime have expressed any interest in traveling to Russia for a Martinez-Pirog fight.

"Pirog and his promoter are just desperate for attention. There was no counter-offer because they said the best they could do was $3 million. And we would never travel without U.S. TV to some town in Russia for any amount of money. If I ever agreed to a deal like that, everyone would think I was f**king crazy. The guy has no credentials and he means nothing over here. Instead of always talking about Martinez, maybe they should do something to get their fighter on U.S. TV, like fighting a Peter Quillin or someone else to get him noticed. Instead they want to waste their time by continuing to talk about something that's not going to happen. And the more they continue to talk, the less likely it's going to happen," DiBella told BoxingScene.com.