Injury Forces Rescheduling Of Hill Fight

An injured right elbow forced WBA light heavyweight champion Virgil Hill to reschedule his fight against Germany’s Henry Maske on Saturday.

Hill was injured in sprarring and now plans to fight Maske, who holds the IBF version of the belt, on Nov. 23 in Munich, Germany instead of Oct. 12.

“I’ve had official confirmation from the doctors that have been treating him that Hill isn’t able to box for three weeks,” said Maske’s promoter, Wilfried Sauerland.

Sauerland added that if Hill’s injury lingered, then the fight could be postponed until 1997.

Hill would receive $1.8 million, his biggest payday ever, for fighting Maske, who is incredibly popular in Germany and whose bouts draw huge TV ratings there.

The American fighter said Thursday that he was devastated by the possibility of the bout being pushed back because of his injury.

“It’s a big opportunity for me,” Hill said. “I just want to fight, but they won’t let me make the decision.”

Hill’s camp said they are not willing to let their fighter climb into the ring with the injury.

Maske, a former Olympic gold medalist, plans to retire after the bout against Hill.