FIJI middleweight champion Abhay Chand has dismissed claims that he had agreed to put his title on the line against former champion Zulfikar Joy Ali for a sum of $2000.
Naidiri Boxing Promotions made a complaint to the Boxing Commission of Fiji earlier this week claiming Chand had verbally agreed to face Joy Ali.
According to BCF's board member Malakai Veisamasama a letter from NBP stated that Chand had agreed to fight for a sum of $2000 which was later increased to $3000 but withdrew after claiming that another promoter had offered him $9000 for the same fight.
Chand said he was ready to take on any boxer in the middleweight category.
"The fact is that I declined the purse offered to me by NBP to fight Joy Ali," Chand said.
"I cannot agree to fight Joy Ali for an amount which is less than what I have got from fighting other boxers. My purse will remain confidential between my team management and the promoter.
"Right now I'm the draw card in the middleweight category. People come to see me fight. As for Joy Ali he has lost a bit of his glamour. Bring on any boxer in the middleweight division in the country and I'm ready to take them on provided the promoters can afford to pay me a reasonable purse."
Chand's trainer Farmaan Ali said things should be in black and white in boxing.
"The Abhay Chand versus Joy Ali will be a cracker," Farmaan said.
"It is a showdown that most of the boxing fans in the country want to witness. However it will involve a lot of money. Abhay will not fight Joy Ali for a mere $2000 or $3000. It is a big fight as they have not faced each other before. There needs to be a minimal prize purse in place for every title fight."
Meanwhile the BCF is investigating the issue. The NBP will hold a program in Nadi on March 16.