By Ruslan Chikov
Reports in Germany indicate that middleweight champion Felix Sturm and promoter Ahmet Oner of Arena Box Promotions are involved in a heated legal dispute over fees that Oner believes he deserves. Oner has filed a legal complaint against Sturm Promotions in Cologne's Regional Court. Oner said he also helped Sturm secure a multi-million dollar television deal with UFA Sports and Sat-1.
"I gave him the fights against Giovanni Lorenzo in 2010 and Ronald Hearns in February of this year. Also, my lawyers worked for Felix and his team in 2009 when he was involved in a lawsuit with Universum. For everything there was fixed fee. Today, he's in a better position because of this," Oner said. "I also paved the way for the TV deal."
Reps for Sturm Promotions have called Oner's claims "far-fetched" and said the promoter is "once again looking for public attention."