Vitali Klitschko Says Valuev Is a “Slave to Fear,” Wladimir Furious Over HBO Dropping Heavyweight Coverage

Vitali Klitschko may be moving on with plans to fight American Shannon Briggs, but that hasn’t stopped the WBC titlist from framing former champion Nikolai Valuev as a coward with an infantile mentality.

In a viral clip, Vitali addresses Valuev in his Russian language, and expresses smug disappointment that the 7 foot fighter refused to sign a fight contract that reportedly would earn him at least $1.5 million dollars. Klitschko speculates that Valuev’s decline is due to the fact he has the mentality of a child, not a man or a fighter.

“In the ring, you can easily see what a man really is, maybe this is why Valuev won’t fight me,” Klitschko explained while sitting in his personal book study. “Everyone wants to see us fight, they’re tired of seeing a grown man behave like a child. Nikolai, don’t be afraid. Being a slave to fear is the worst kind of slavery, remember this or pick another sport. I did everything a could to make our fight Happen, but Nikolai’s team is putting out new conditions. Where is this heard of, the Champion needs to talk his opponent into fighting him. Maybe if Valuev can defeat his fear, we can again return to this conversation.”

Of course Nikolai Valuev vehemently denies these allegations. The Russian giant claims he was willing to sign off on the financial stipulations, but the contract fell apart due to Klitschko’s team being unwilling to supply additional tickets for Valuev’s camp. According to Valuev, Vitali Klitschko is content to finish out his career fighting lower level heavyweights.

“It’s too ridiculous to be commented on. I have already agreed even on the financial details with Klitschko,” fumed Valuev, who hasn’t fought since losing his WBA title to David Haye last November. “I accepted the terms of contract and I’m ready to get it on for miserable one and a half million US dollars. Maybe Vitali begrudges 50 tickets for my team, as I asked 35 tickets ringside and 15 more around the place, does he? I cannot even understand these pathetic accusations. I’m ready to collide with the Ukrainian. If he isn’t then ok, Vitali will continue fighting guys like [Albert] Sosnowski.”

Valuev’s team has not announced any potential alternate opponents now that Klitschko is set to enter negotiations with Shannon Briggs.

Wladimir is claiming that HBO breached ethics by abruptly announcing last week they would no longer cover heavyweight fights due to “lack of interest.”

Wladimir’s manager Bernd Boente and adviser Shelly Finkel claim that HBO made a verbal agreement to air a tape delay version of Wladimir Klitschko’s September 11 bout with contender Alexander Povetkin for $250,000. The sudden change ensures that the fight will not be seen anywhere in the U.S., as Showtime has verified their earliest available date is a full week later on September 18.

“We are really frustrated. Shelly is furious. Wladimir, too,” Boente told ESPN. “We were counting on it. This cost us a quarter of a million dollars. If they had told us this at the beginning, we would have had the fight on Showtime. Now we have neither. Not only is HBO screwing us, they are screwing American boxing fans. I am not only surprised, I am shocked.”

The Klitschko camp is so turned off by HBO’s move they’ve vowed never to fight on the network again despite HBO stating they would be open to showing either Klitschko against David Haye or Tomasz Adamek. HBO has a larger budget to pay fighters, but Klitschko’s camp is adamant that this fallout goes far beyond the $250,000 lost or potential future days. For them, HBO has shown themselves to be unethical and untrustworthy.

“Whether Wladimir or Vitali fight Haye eventually, we will make sure the fight is not on HBO,” Boentesaid. “HBO will not cover anymore Klitschko fights. On the Haye fight, Wladimir said to me that HBO thinks that they will have it 100 percent because they always overpay if they want something. But for him it is not about the money, it’s about fair play.”