Gordon Williams, Contributor

Boxer Oneil Bell. - Contributed

Promoters of former world champion O'Neil 'Supernova' Bell are concerned about the boxer's career after they claimed the Jamaican-born cruiserweight 'disappeared' prior to a scheduled bout earlier this month and had to be removed from a nationally televised fight card in the United States where he was set to receive top billing.

According to Leon Margules, head of Warriors Boxing, a Florida-based company which holds exclusive rights to promote Bell's fights, the Atlanta-based boxer could not be contacted in the weeks leading up to an August 8 bout against Louis Azille, which was scheduled to be shown on ESPN, a major sports television network in the United States.

"He disappeared," Margules explained yesterday. "He did not return my calls for three weeks before the fight, at which point I pulled him off the card. I had to."

Warriors claimed it had to rearrange the fight card, moving an undercard bout up to the feature spot on ESPN's Wednesday Night Fights, and matching Azille with another fighter.

Bell, Margules said, was not initially pleased with the estimated US$35,000 he would receive for what was seen as a 'keep busy' bout before he gets another crack at the world cruiserweight crown he lost to Frenchman Jean-Marc Mormeck in March.The promoter sai Bell had not signed a standard contract for the Azille bout, he had agreed to fight on August 8.

"Verbally, we had a deal," Margules said.

Unsuccessful efforts

Yet the promoter said that despite calling and emailing Bell several times, and contacting his trainer, he never heard from the boxer again until August 8.

"He contacted me the day of the fight saying 'we need to talk'," the promoter said.

By that time, Bell had already been pulled from the card. Repeated efforts to contact Bell were unsuccessful. Messages left on his telephone voice mail were not returned up to press time.

Yesterday, Margules said he had not spoken to Bell since August 8. He said "there is no fallout" between Warriors and the fighter Bell's failure to show up for the Azille fight could make it more difficult for him to secure future televised fights, which usually generates increased prize money for fighters.

"I have nothing lined up," Margules said, when asked about Bell's next ring assignment. "It's not going to be easy getting him back on ESPN after he pulled out."

Bell is a former undisputed world cruiserweight champion. He once held the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles at the same time. He lost the WBC and WBA crowns to Mormeck, who he had defeated to take those belts in January 2006. He was stripped of his IBF crown last year for failing to make a mandatory title defence.

No proper recognition

The 32-year-old Bell admitted he had not "executed" against the Frenchman and that it took him several weeks to get over the disappointment of the loss. But he said he was ready to bounce back and was looking forward to his next fight, which should have been against Azille.

Margules described Bell, who has an impressive professional record of 29 fights, 26 wins with 24 knockouts, two losses and a draw, as "one of the greats" in the ring.

However, Bell has voiced concern that he was not receiving proper recognition - and compensation - for his skills. The promoter speculated that is what could have upset Bell. Cruiserweight (200 pounds) is slotted between heavyweight and light heavyweight and is not considered among the most attractive boxing division, especially by television networks in the United States

"I think O'Neil doesn't really understand the business," Margules said. "He believes because he is the best fighter he should demand the biggest money. But the market determines the purse."

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.