AN eagerly-awaited championship spat between York's Jamie Warters and Denzil Browne looks to have been KO'd by a cash clash.

Since the prospect of a set-to between the two cruiserweights was mooted in early summer a lot of interest has been generated in York.

Home-grown Warters boasts a considerable support in his home city and is eager to clinch title status to further his bid to become British champion.

Browne, meanwhile, is still well regarded by the city's boxing fraternity, especially the legion of followers of York's former undefeated British, Commonwealth and European super-middleweight champion Henry Wharton, in whose Hard 'N' Fast stable Browne fought.

However, the outbreak of verbal hostilities which has flared between the rivals since an all-Yorkshire battle royale was first suggested, has now escalated into an all-out war of words over the champion's purse.

Browne, whose Central Area cruiserweight title is coveted by Warters, countered claims from the Warters' camp that he had priced himself out of a defence because he was asking for 'Mike Tyson-type' money.

Ahead of his showdown this Friday night against Lincoln's Tony Dowling as part of the televised Steel City Storm bill, which is still going ahead despite top of the bill Clinton Woods pulling out of his fight with Glencoffe Johnson, Browne insisted that the challenge thrown down by him to put his title on the line against Warters had not been taken up by the Yorvik Warrior's handlers.

Said Browne: "We were looking at fighting in either October or November and then they contacted me over what I wanted.

"Now they say I'm asking for Mike Tyson money. Well, I'll tell you what I asked for.

"I said if the fight's in Leeds I want £2,500. If the fight was in either York or Hull (where Warters' trainer Steve Pollard is based) I want £3,000. That's not big money.

"When I won the title three years ago I got £2,000. And my first defence only cleared me £2,500. I'm the champion so why should I fight for less now."

Added Browne: "They are just talking a lot of phooey. I have thrown the gauntlet down. They have picked it up and thrown it back without accepting the challenge. It's obvious that they don't want the fight."

Browne said if no duel with Warters was forthcoming then he will next look to the winner of the Rob Norton/Mark Hobson encounter for the vacant British cruiserweight crown, which goes on at the same Sheffield Ponds Forge bill as Browne's Friday night date.

Pollard, who is guiding Warters along a path towards the British title, re-affirmed his claim that Browne's price was too rich.

"I've spoken to Browne's manager, Dennis Hobson, about a title fight, but he is wanting way too much money. He thinks he's Mike Tyson. He's priced himself out of it," said Warters' trainer.

"Browne's title is one we would like, but we can always go down another route for Jamie such as a British Masters title or an Inter-Continental belt. The aim now is to get Jamie into the top ten rankings, fight for a title early in the new year and then the British title itself later next year."

Pollard confirmed that Warters is presently preparing to top the bill at a contest at the Willerby Manor Hotel in Hull on September 26. As yet the opponent for Warters has not been confirmed.

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, September 04, 2003