Report: Tito Ortiz Wanted More Money for Boxing Match with Dana White

[QuieTSToRM33]

Posted by UFC Junkie on March 25, 2007 at 7:36 pm ET

Tito OrtizTito Ortiz failed to make weigh-ins and caused the cancellation of his three-round boxing match with UFC president Dana White yesterday because he didn’t feel he was being compensated enough, according to an unnamed UFC official quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

Additionally, Nevada State Athletic Commission Keith Kizer told White and the UFC “not to waste his time asking the commission” for something like the boxing exhibition ever again.

I passed along the initial reports of the cancellation yesterday, which you can find in the archives.

What we didn’t know at the time was this report about the possibility Ortiz was unhappy with the financial arrangement. Considering Ortiz specifically asked for the boxing match as part of his contract negotiations last year — and considering White and Ortiz both publicly stated earlier this year that all proceeds from the bout would probably go to charity — the excuse seems rather thin.

From latimes.com:

Kizer was expecting White and Ortiz to attend a formal weigh-in Friday in Las Vegas. White appeared, and weighed in at 197 pounds. Kizer said when Ortiz failed to appear within the hour, he canceled the boxing exhibition that the commission had approved earlier in the week.

“Tito’s always been the consummate pro in his mixed-martial arts events,” Kizer said. “I’m surprised he didn’t show up. I’m surprised he didn’t tell us he wasn’t coming. I told Dana not to waste his time asking the commission again for something like this. We were very disappointed.”

There’s nothing like pissing off the single most important state commission for the UFC.

And don’t think the NSAC isn’t pissed or taking this personally.

State commissions — and especially their top officials — usually stay objective, right?

Not in this case.

“Dana told me he didn’t think Tito was afraid to fight him, but it would’ve been a lot harder to live down a defeat to Dana than it would have living down the loss to Chuck [Liddell],” Kizer said.

[sonar1234]

Smells like Vince Macmahon gimmick all the way.

[zimmy]

yep...sounds like it was just a publicity stunt like we all thought... i'm 99% sure ...it was dana's idea.

[wishmasterATM]

this suckss...