[Previous entry: "Chicago Boxing Club News!"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Undefeated Jr. Middleweight James Moore Weighs Options"]
04/25/2008 Archived Entry: "Dmitriy Salita-Edgar Santana on HBO, 6/21?"
Dmitriy Salita-Edgar Santana on HBO, 6/21?
By Ryan Songalia
Courtesy of Jill Diamond
WBC Championship Committee
NABF Women's Division, Chair
World Boxing Cares, Chair
The heated cross-borough rivalry between Dmitriy Salita and Edgar Santana might be resolved on June 21. According to "Star of David" Salita, the two will likely be paired against each other on the under card of the Dibella Entertainment-promoted broadcast of Boxing After Dark.
"We were contacted about fighting Santana a few days ago on the June 21 card at the Theater in [Madison Square Garden]," Salita told BoxingScene.com. "What was relayed to me was a legitimate, solid offer."
Salita says that no contract had been signed at time of print. The competition for the co-feature is between the aforementioned matchup and Chazz Witherspoon-Chris Arreola. The main event is scheduled to be Andre Berto-Miguel Angel Rodriguez.
Salita, 28-0-1 (16 KO), fights out of Brooklyn while Santana, 24-5 (15 KO), is based out of Spanish Harlem. Both men have strong ethnic followings in New York City and are regarded as big ticket-sellers. Both also trained under Hector Rocha, a hard-edged trainer based out of New York.
Animosity between the two pugilists spilled over last year following the fallout of their proposed clash, which was also slated for HBO. Both camps claimed the other was stalling in negotiations and were not interested in making the fight.
"I always wanted this fight and I hope it happens," said Salita, shooting down the idea that he had been ducking Santana.
Santana's manager Ernesto Dallas did not return a request for comment. A press release issued by Dibella Entertainment, who had formerly represented Salita, contained quotes from Dallas claiming that it was Salita who had the cold feet.
"Salita was too scared to fight us on HBO last year." Dallas added, "Maybe after Santana's performance with [Grover] Wiley, Salita will grow a pair and step into the ring with Edgar and try to justify his ridiculous #3 ranking by the WBA!"
Salita won a sometimes-rocky decision over Wiley last March, whereas Santana blasted Wiley in three rounds last month.
The typically-composed Salita made no secret of his dislike of "El Chamaco." "I don't have much respect for Santana. I will destroy him in the ring for all the things his team has said. Be careful what you wish for 'cause you just might get it.
"Santana was cool when we were under Rocha. He came up to my camp and I never charged him any money. He ate my food and slept in the bed that I paid for. I dropped Santana one time in sparring and Hector told me to work with him there on after because he wanted him to get his confidence back. So I did, then I hear all of this nonsense on the net about me which really made me upset."
A victory over Santana could set up a potential WBA Light Welterweight title shot with champion Andreas Kotelnik. Kotelnik, who defeated Gavin Rees for the belt this past March, is a native of Ukraine. Salita was born in the Ukraine and resided there until age 9.
"I want the fight with Kotelnik badly. I called him out and we had some back and forth press coverage in the Ukraine. I want to fight him and get the WBA belt to show that I am one of the best."
Any questions or comments? Send them to me at mc_rson@yahoo.com
