A celebrity boxing promoter has labeled former major league slugger Jose Canseco a "stiff" after he tried unsuccessfully to send his twin brother to participate in a bout he booked in south Florida at the weekend.

In a statement on Tuesday, Canseco insisted that Damon Feldman knew that Ozzie Canseco would be showing up to fight instead because Jose was "dealing with severe depression regarding (their) father's death (in early March)" and "had thrown his back out on his way back from Miami, where he laid his father to rest."

Undeterred, a seething Feldman has lashed out at the Celebrity Apprentice star, claiming Canseco swindled an upfront $5000 fee.

"You tried to make a fool out of me and you look like the stiff that you are!" Feldman said in a statement, released to Breaking Celebrity News which was addressed to Canseco.

"Pay me the $5,000 that you fraudulently took from me in advance of your match -- or do it in the ring"

"Don't send your brother," Feldman added, "If I wanted to kick his a--, I would have done it in Florida!"

Feldman said he was particularly upset because he had helped Canseco meets the costs of his father's funeral.

"Look, I just want my $5,000 back and that's it," he said.

"I helped you when you needed it for your father's funeral, as you asked, that's all, just send me the $5000 back or do it in the ring.

"I am a guy who has to support my family."

At the event at at Hollywood, Florida's Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Feldman said he grew suspicious when Ozzie kept asking for the rest of his pay before the fight.