GL: Earlier this week Boxingtalk.com broke the news of Makaev-Peter. Can you give us some thoughts on this situation? "I feel that we finally got what should have been done ninety days ago. We were the mandatory and the two fights with James Toney were for this reason, to get what we deserve. Now we're looking forward to a real exciting fight between two big punchers and it's a great thing. The negotiations were long drawn, but it's finally come to an end and now the only thing left is for Maskaev to get in there with Samuel so he can become the heavyweight champion of the world."

GL: As difficult as you guys feel Dennis Rappaport has been during these negotiations, do you expect this fight to go to a purse-bid?

Ivaylo Gotzev: "With our experience in going through the motions with him, I think that's where were going. I have not seen anything positive from Rappaport so I expect a purse-bid within fourteen days."

GL: Even though you're getting your shot are you guys pissed over having to wait an extra three months for this to happen?

IG: "They put ninety days of delays on Samuel's career. Hopefully things like this will get worked out in a must faster manner in the future. It also has to do with someone getting delusional. Now Rappaport realizes the only thing left to do is negotiate this fight. Everybody wants to do business with Klitschko down the road, and now that he wants to get himself in order the right way, we're welcoming a future fight with Vitali Klitschko. Now we're focusing on the positive and we're going to make this fight happen sometime in June hopefully and Samuel will be ready."

GL: Who will televise the fight?

IG: "whoever does will be investing their money right because it's going to be a tremendous fight between two big punchers. We saw what he did to Rahman and we know what he's capable of, but Samuel will be ready to fight the fight of his life."

GL: You and James Toney can't seem to get enough of each other. Boxingtalk also broke the news of the Toney-Liakhovich bout that is being discussed, can you give us some thoughts on that?

IG: "It all started back when James Toney signed a contract and backed away from the deal. I found a way to extend my relationship with James and I love doing business with him. He's given me nothing but pleasure during my last two fights against Sam and now Sergei wants a piece of him. I respect Toney's skills he's still one of the best heavyweights in the world and we need him around the division. He's good for outside of the ring action and inside the ring action. There are very few fighters in the heavyweight division and he's a super talented fighter, but so is Sergei so we would have a masterful display of boxing skill."

GL: So where does the Toney-Liakhovich fight stand?

IG: "If it was up me and Sergei and James and his manager the fight would have already been done. But we have promoters who need to get together to work out the details. I would say it should be a fairly easy fight to finalize."

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

IG: Boxingtalk always brings you the latest breaking news and here you have an example of that with Sam and Maskaev and Toney and Liakhovich. The two most exciting heavyweight bouts of the summer and hopefull both of them will happen on the same night."

M

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