Oleg Maskaev speaks!

In recent weeks the debate over who will get the next shot at WBC Heavyweight Champion Oleg Maskaev has intensified to enormous proportions. Number-one ranked Samuel Peter has claimed his right as the mandatory; pointing to consecutive elimination bouts he won against James Toney. Former champion Vitali Klitschko, meanwhile, has also asked for an immediate title shot against Maskaev, claiming his distinction as the "WBC Champion Emeritus" grants him the right to step over Peter. In addition to these claims, the representatives of Peter, Klitschko and Maskaev have all made impassioned arguments against one another and to the WBC as to who they think Maskaev, 34-5, 27 KO's, should have to box next. The lone voice missing from this triumvirate was that of the champion.

Until today.

In an exclusive interview with Fightnews, Maskaev claims that he'll fight whomever the WBC mandates though his preference is a clash against Klitschko. "I've been looking to fight Vitali Klitschko because we have to finish something that started when we were amateurs," Maskaev said of an early '90's amateur bout between the two future champions. "I stopped him in the first round. He's saying that he couldn't continue to fight because he had an injury. But the fact is that his trainer threw the towel in the middle of the ring and stopped the fight in the first round."

Despite Klitschko's inactivity (his last fight was in December 2004), Maskaev feels he is worthy of an immediate title shot. "I don't blame him. He has the right. He pulled out because of his injuries and he has the right to come back any time he wants as long as the WBC will approve that fight."

So would a Maskaev-Klitschko bout then give into Peter claims of Maskaev being afraid of him?

"All my career, all my opponents say bad things about me," Maskaev explained. "They didn't say any good things about me. I got used to it. Whatever he wants to talk about me, I'll let him talk. I know only one way to find out about this - get in the ring, let's get it on and then we'll find out who is who. He's supposed to say that. But he's still young; he can wait. That's the same thing that happened to me. When I was supposed to fight (Hasim) Rahman, when I had the first chance, they pushed me to the side and it didn't happen. But Samuel Peter can wait."

In the mean time, Maskaev says he has been trying to avoid the ongoing controversy surrounding his next opponent. "Right now I'm staying on the other side of this. I'm not part of it. I'm just trying to work on my shape, start my own training, I'm working on my physical conditioning. Recovery over the next couple of weeks with God's help," he said regarding recent orthoscopic surgery, "and then whatever they will decide, like I said before, I will do."

"Honestly, I'm trying to avoid that information. I'm trying to avoid all that bullsh*t information. I'm trying to stay away; this way I'm going to sleep well. I'm not going to worry about this and worry about that. All my career I wished to fight someone and I never did. So that's why I want to be quiet."

The WBC, meanwhile, issued a press release on Wednesday regarding the Maskaev-Klitschko-Peter dilemma. The organization has called for "compulsory mediation" to solve the issue and expedite the process of determining Maskaev's next challenger.

"Under WBC Rule 5.3, the next step is Compulsory Mediation," the statement reads. "A process in which a neutral mediator, selected by the parties, assists in conducting good faith negotiations to settle their dispute. If the parties cannot agree on a mediator, one will be selected from those of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, listed at www.tas-cas.org/en/mediat/frmmediat.htm. The Court of Arbitration for Sport is highly respected, and the world’s international legal tribunal for the resolution of all sports-related controversies."

"If the mediation is unsuccessful, the provisions of WBC Rule 5.4 will then apply," the statement continues. "The Court of Arbitration for Sport shall determine the rights of the boxers, through a process of mandatory arbitration as agreed to in writing by all parties in their WBC contracts and by accepting the privileges of boxing for the WBC title. As all the involved parties must, the WBC will accept the arbitrator’s decision as binding and final."

"That's the next procedure that we have to do," said Maskaev. "If we have to go somewhere (for mediation), I'll go."

"The situation that is going on right now is very simple," Maskaev reasons. "Whatever the WBC will decide, I will take that fight - (Vitali) Klitschko or Samuel Peter. It doesn't matter. What are you going to do? If they're going to decide who you're going to fight, what are you going to do? You have to fight. That's exactly what I'm going to do."