The management of world title hopeful Clive ‘The Punisher’ Atwell would neither confirm nor deny that he would be making less than GYD$3M for his scheduled fight in Mexico next month.
When contacted yesterday Ronald-Burch Smith who co-manages Atwell under Dog Pound Inc. said that it was a private matter and he would not be divulging any more information to this publication.
Atwell’s management team has come under heavy criticism following revelations in another section of the press that Atwell has signed to fight Mexican “hitman” and knockout specialist Jhonny Gonzales for a purse tantamount to a stipend.
“Boxing contracts aren’t necessarily for the public,” Burch-Smith said via telephone yesterday. “We did not discuss it with any media house and we will not be discussing it, it is a private matter.”
In an article appearing in another section of the media on Sunday, overseas based promoter and manager Seon Bristol called Atwell’s purse “ridiculously low” and questioned the intentions of his advisors.
Bristol also called on the unbeaten Atwell to reconsider taking the fight which he claimed has the lowest purse he has ever heard of for a world title.
One of Guyana’s top promoters yesterday told Stabroek Sports that “Atwell deserves a better purse.
“It appears that they are just throwing him out there as an opponent and not as local hero, it is pathetic.” Said the promoter.
“They should think as Atwell as a national hero and negotiate with respect for him, it is embarrassing to settle for such a small purse, the negotiations should have started from $US45, 000.
“Fighting the champion in his own back yard is a challenge, paying him $US14, 000 adds insult to injury, ” the promoter concluded.
On May 24 in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, the 25-year- old fighting pride of Guyana will face Gonzalez 55(47)-8-0 for the Mexican’s WBC world featherweight title.
Atwell, 12(7)-0-1 is the underdog as the 32-year-old Gonzalez’s record is vastly superior Atwell’s having knocked out almost seven times the amount of opponents Atwell has.
Notes: The winner of the annual Wray and Nephew Contender Series which is held in Jamaica nets $J2M, roughly ($GYD3.7M) Arash Usmanee who was a last minute replacement to oppose Raymundo Beltran on Saturday’s undercard which was headlined by Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley earned $US80, 000 in that NABO title fight.
Atwell who is fighting for a world title stands to make almost six times less. (Emmerson Campbell)
