For those wondering how the boxing contest between UFC President Dana White and “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz panned out, don’t bother: it didn’t happen. Apparently Tito Ortiz inexplicably didn’t show up for the event pissing off Dana White and the athletic commission that actually approved the awkward match-up. But Tito Ortiz has fired back! Via his MySpace, Tito said the fight eventually made little financial sense. Notable quote:
So, everyone is giving me shit for the Dana fight… No one knows what really went on. Let me tell my side of what real went on. Me and Dana had this argeement to box each other. I told Dana we should put it on video and sell it. He said `yes that a good idea.’ So Spike came to Big Bear before the Chuck fight for two days. Used my time from training to shoot for the Spike special. I said that was fine. I took two week off after the Chuck fight. Then started my boxing training. You all have to understand that Dana was almost a pro boxer. I was going to take this fight serious. Jenna was helping me with the deal because I seen this as a big money maker. She ask if there was a contract for the fight? She made call’s to Dana to get the deal done. Craig from Spike called Jenna back to discuss is deal. She asked for executive producer rights for me. Since it was my idea. Help to promote Punishment Athletics for the fight and other deal points. Craig said he would talk to Dana and get back to us. After that I cancel a few appearance’s that I had to do. Alot of money that was givin up. So I could train for the fight. I had to get all of my medicals done as a normal fight. I got my eye done then we got a call from Craig. He said that Dana say that they are not going to shoot the fight or cover it in anyway. So this was a real lose, lose situation for me. I lost out on money for appearances. Now I was losing out on promotion and big dollars for the PPV. He didn’t want to cut me in on the deal. So as a business man I couldn’t do the fight. I have a very big fight with Evans. Why would I risk my health and that fight for free? I wasn’t going to make anything for it? I was not going to get taken advantage of as a fighter or a business man. You tell me if I made the right decision? Hopefully this will get ironed out and will be done right the next time. Just trying to do business…..”
Yeah, but if you really wanted to box him – no substitute for physical abusing another will do – you’d do it for free, no? Something tells me Don Frye or maybe even Frank Shamrock would’ve shown up regardless. I sympathize with Tito’s stated position, but he also was the person who requested the contractual provision. If he’s this willing to walk away from the opportunity then perhaps he was mostly interested in getting Dana White to squirm or acquiesce rather than actually box.
Hat tip: UFCMania
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