NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Muhammad Ali-Trevor Berbick fight card, which was riddled by reports of impending collapse, will apparently take place as scheduled Friday night, according to several key figures.
Lionel Schaen, president of Select TV, said a new investor had saved the financially troubled promotion and that Berbick, who early Thursday said he would not fight if he didn't receive his full pay, will have a check by Friday with payment in full.
'He's got most of his money and the rest will be in place tomorrow (Friday),' said Schaen. 'From what I understand, he has the biggest percentage of it already. We were told by the new investor brought in last week that all the fighters would be taken care of. The satellites are in place; everything's been tested and it's perfect.'
Former WBA welterweight champion Thomas Hearns was reportedly ready to pull out of his middleweight debut with Ernie Singletarye bout, Steward replied, 'Half a million.'
Berbick was not quite as pleased as Steward about his own financial situation. pickup2ndgraf: '
'I will not perform unless I get my money,' said Berbick after leaving the weigh-in. 'The longer they wait, the worse it's going to be. I'll fight as long as they come up with it. If they don't, everything is going to come down.'
Berbick said the promoters, Sport Internationale of the Bahamas, promised a letter of credit -- payable immediately after the fight - would be issued to him on Nov. 30 but that he has not received it yet. The letter of credit is for the balance of the promised purse money, which he refused to pinpoint. It is thought to be approximately $250,000.
Berbick, who is to take on the three-time heavyweight champion in a 10-rounder Friday night, said he received only part of the money. Ali, who is getting about $1 million, reportedly almost walked out on the fight a week ago before he was finally guaranteed his share.
'I haven't gotten much,' said Berbick, a 28-year-old native of Jamaica who now lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 'I requested a portion. There's a lot of banks in Nassau. I've got a legal contract. I don't have to make a lot of noise.'
Berbick's manager-trainer, Lee Black, said he was confident that James Cornelius, the head of Sport Internationale, would come up with the money.
'It'll come off,' said Black. 'I'm confident it will be settled. They'll pay it. But all I have is a promise right now.'
After weighing in at 218, Berbick shocked Cornelius and a crowd of onlookers when he said he hadn't received all his money.
'No problem, no problem at all,' said Cornelius, who was charged Wednesday by rival promoter Don King with assault. King issued a statement from New York saying Cornelius was one of five men who beat him up in a Freeport hotel room Sunday. Cornelius vehemently denied the accusation.
When Cornelius was pressed by newsmen about Berbick's money, one of his associates snapped, 'if you have any damn questions, you ask about the fight.'
Ali, who weighed a hefty 236 pounds, his heaviest fighting weight ever, was very subdued as he skipped his usual pre-fight hype.
'I'm 100 per cent serious for this fight,' said Ali, who will be 40 next month. 'It's time to be serious. This is no time for playing. There will be no rope-a-doping, no clowning, no making faces. It's 10 rounds and I'm just going out to win as many rounds as I can. I'm sure he's going to try and do the same.
'I wanted to be 235 pounds. I took the scales out of my room three weeks ago. I trained and whatever my body did was natural. If the fight goes the distance, I could lose seven pounds.'
Ali, whose career has spanned more than 20 years, said he was not nicknaming Berbick as he usually does with an opponent.
'Trever Berbick is a gentleman,' said Ali. 'He's not a loudmouth, doesn't talk a lot. I got no reason to get angry at him. What I like about Berbick is that he gave me a chance. I'm not fighting a bum. He gave (World Boxing Council champion) Larry Holmes holy hell. If I can beat this man, then I'm back.'
Berbick, 21-2 and ranked fourth by the WBC, went the distance with Holmes last April, losing a lopsided 15-pound decision. Ali's last fight also was with Holmes. Ali, however, was pummeled for 10 rounds before Ali's corner stopped the bout prior to the l1th round.