Shane Mosley file photo
SYDNEY — Backers for Shane Mosley say the American boxer has withdrawn from his scheduled bout with Anthony Mundine in Sydney on Wednesday due to a contract dispute.
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer issued a statement from Los Angeles saying “we have no choice but to protect our fighter” because terms of the contract had not been met.
The official weigh-in was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Sydney but local media reported that Mosley had already been spotted at the airport and Golden Boy Promotions says “boxing superstar Sugar Shane Mosley will instead be going home.”
In a statement, Mosley was quoted as saying: “I’m very disappointed with this turn of events because I was planning on making a big statement by beating Mundine, but I was left with no choice but to withdraw.
“The fans in Australia have welcomed me with open arms, and I hope to return to fight for them one day in better circumstances.”
The 42-year-old Mosley, who has held world titles at lightweight, welterweight and light-middleweight divisions, was due to fight Mundine in a WBA light-middleweight bout at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
Schaefer said Mosley had no option but to cancel the fight after a large percentage of his agreed purse was not paid by 5 p.m. Monday as his contract demanded.
Mundine expressed his disappointment on his Facebook page.
“I’ve just been told that they have cancelled the fight,” he wrote. “The promoter needs to tell us all what happened.
“I’m very disappointed for fans, teams, family and me.”
The Australian boxer said he would hold a news conference later Tuesday.