DEARBORN — One of two local Arab American boxers initially scheduled to perform at an upcoming nationally televised event in Dearborn has pulled out of the show. Undefeated middleweight Brian “The Lion” Mihtar and promoters of the event said they could not agree on the amount of money Mihtar was to be paid and the opponent he was to face. Heavyweight Fadi Faraj is still scheduled for four rounds. Faraj will be returning to the ring after more than six years without a professional fight. He said his comeback bout is dedicated to his late uncle, Jawad Bazzi. Bazzi, the owner of a gas station on Detroit’s west side, was shot and killed two weeks ago during a dispute over gas prices with the owner of another station. “Anything I do from now on is for my uncle,” Faraj said, “to keep his name alive.”

The 4-0-1 Faraj said he’s been boxing since he was ten years old. “I always had the urge to come back,” he said about his expected return. The event, set for December 13 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, is scheduled to feature eight fights. Promoter Gino Cicarella said he expects over 1,000 to attend despite Mihtar’s withdrawal from the card. Mihtar said that a minor shoulder injury played a part in his decision to pull out, in addition to the disagreements with promoters. “It was a lot of things. I lost interest,” he said. He said he hopes to get another chance to fight for the hometown crowd soon, that a contract for a local January fight is in the works and that future scheduled bouts will be posted on his website www.brianmihtar.com. Detroit lightweight Vernon “Iceman” Paris, who is 17-0, is set to headline the December 13 show. Paris was also the victim of a shooting last year in Detroit.  He was shot once in the head and twice in the back, but recovered quickly. He’s won 12 fights since then.