The British boxing promoter, Mr Barry Hearn, told the High Court yesterday that it was "ludicrous" to suggest that Sky television did not accept Steve Collins as a suitable opponent for a televised fight with Chris Eubank in early 1995.
Under cross-examination by Mr Colm Allen SC, for Mr Collins, Mr Hearn said that a Collins-Eubank contest was a big fight and the television company would welcome it with "open arms".
It was "crystal clear" to everybody in boxing and television that there was no problem in accepting Steve Collins as an opponent for Eubank, he said.
Yesterday was the fourth day of the action by Mr Hearn, of Romford, Essex, and his company, Matchroom Boxing Ltd, against Mr Collins, of Pine House, Navan Road, Dublin, for breach of contract.
Mr Collins is denying a claim by Mr Hearn that a one-year contract between them was extended for a further year from May 1995.
Questioned about a management agreement between the sides in January 1995, Mr Hearn said it was stipulated that Sky would televise a Collins-Eubank fight. When the agreement was signed, the intention was that the fight would take place on February 11th, 1995, but it did not take place until a later date, he said.
Sky agreed to televise the Collins-Eubank fight, and Mr Hearn said he had promoted February 11th at the King's Hall, Belfast, as the date and venue. He had already booked that venue for a fight between Eubank and another opponent which was not going ahead.
Referring to documents in proceedings between the sides in the British courts, Mr Hearn said he had been unaware before reading these of the suggestion that Mr Collins was not suitable to the TV company.
Approval had been given verbally by the TV company for the Collins-Eubank fight; but, to the best of his knowledge, not in writing, Mr Hearn said.
If there had been no verbal approval, the fight could not have been televised, which it was, he said. He would have been surprised to see a written contract. It was the sixth fight of Mr Eubank's tour and there had been no written contracts for the others, he said.
Earlier, Mr Hearn told the court that he had been "very happy" to sign a contract with Mr Collins in May 1994. It afforded an opportunity to change the career and life of the boxer, he said.
Describing Mr Collins as a very shrewd and experienced operator, Mr Hearn said that the Irish boxer was aware of the situation more than most boxers he had come across.
Mr Hearn acknowledged sending a letter to Mr Collins and his solicitor on September 13th, 1995, terminating his managerial agreement with the boxer. This was sent out four days after he failed in his UK court proceedings against Mr Collins.
Mr Hearn said he had done this because he was being kept from Mr Collins and because he was not being allowed speak to the boxer. In those circumstances, there was nothing he could do but relinquish his contract with Mr Collins.
At the time of the purse-fixing for the second Collins-Eubank fight, he knew he had problems with Mr Collins, because the boxer had agreed a deal with Mr Frank Warren behind his (Mr Hearn's) back, the promoter said.
The hearing continues today.