Local boxing promoter Stuart Satosky has been busy with his calculator the past few weeks, preparing an offer for Don King to stage a February title fight at the Baltimore Arena matching International Boxing Federation junior middleweight champion Vincent Pettway and former champion Simon Brown of Mount Airy.
Satosky says it will take a minimum of $250,000 to persuade King to allow Pettway to make his first title defense in his hometown.
Pettway won the 154-pound title in September by knocking out Italy's Gianfranco Rosi in the fourth round. Negotiations for a rematch in Italy this winter reached an impasse.
King has since pushed for a Pettway-Brown match because he owns promotional ties to both fighters.
IBF president Bob Lee said he would sanction the fight even though Brown, who lost his World Boxing Council crown to Terry Norris last December, is ranked 10th.
Last Saturday, Brown scored a first-round knockout over journeyman Frank Newton in Quito, Ecuador. Afterward, Brown issued a challenge to Pettway.
"If he thinks he's the best, he should fight me," Brown told the Washington Post. "It would make a great fight in our back yard."
"We'll fight Brown as long as the money is OK," said Pettway's manager-trainer, Mack Lewis.
Originally, King had planned to include the Pettway-Brown fight on the undercard of WBC heavyweight champion Oliver McCall's title defense against former champion Larry Holmes.
But King has had problems finding a site for the heavyweight match. None of the major casinos in Las Vegas has expressed interest. King is barred from promoting in Atlantic City, N.J., while facing a trial for mail fraud.
Council-Ivory at Martin's West
Junior middleweights Andrew Council (19-3-2) of Lanham and Anthony Ivory (15-17) of Chicago will meet in the main event on an eight-bout card promoted by Satosky on Jan. 11 at Martin's West.
Ivory is replacing former U.S. Boxing Association champion Kevin Pompey, who pulled out of the Council match to take a more lucrative cable TV bout against Derrick Rolon. Pompey lost a decision and also injured his shoulder.
In September, Council lost a 10-round decision to Washington's Keith Holmes at the Show Place in Waldorf.
Tougher competition has contributed to Ivory's losing record. He dropped 10-round decisions to former champion Simon Brown and lost twice to Mexico's Luis Campas, who has a 55-0 record.
Rockville middleweight Les Johnson (21-3) meets Glen Odum (12-7), of Erie, Pa., in an eight-rounder. Tickets are priced from $15 to $35 and can be reserved by calling (410) 528-1932.