Barnett: "I never declined to take [the Arlovski fight on CBS]."

By: Chad Edward Posted On: September 24, 2008 at 8:56pm

Fighters.com’s third-ranked heavyweight “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5) said Wednesday, “I never declined to [fight Andrei Arlovski on CBS]. I was never told that I would have any part of my pay reduced since working with Affliction.”

Barnett photo courtesy of Affliction.

Barnett was responding to an apparently erroneous rumor reported elsewhere that he had turned down a fight versus fourth-ranked Arlovski (13-5) because he was asked to take a paycut.

Arlovski has signed to fight IFL Champion “Big Country” Roy Nelson (13-2) in Sunrise, north of Miami, 4 October to be aired in the States on CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights.

Barnett reiterated his denial of another widely reported rumor that Affliction had asked fighters to take 50% pay cuts when matched versus “easier” opponents.

“To my knowledge, no one has been asked to take a pay cut that fights for Affliction,” said Barnett.