Boxing: Tua fends off King approach

By PETER JESSUP

The shadow of Don King hangs over the David Tua camp as the South Aucklander prepares for what may be his last shot for the top.

King is trying daily to entice Tua's management into a long-term fight contract, but they are holding out until after the King-promoted re-match with Hasim Rahman. There is still no venue for the March 8 clash with Rahman, whom Tua beat with a knockout in the 10th round in 1997, but Tua's management is betting on Caesar's Casino in Atlantic City, since King has an existing two-fight promotional deal there.

"It's his date, he bought it and he's making the rules ... and we have a number of contentious issues," trainer and manager Kevin Barry said.

"King is very keen to get representation of Dave - it's a piece of the jigsaw puzzle for control of the heavyweight division that he doesn't have."

One concern for Tua and his camp is that King has a fistful of world champs, former champs, contenders and up-and-comers signed to a variety of deals, the details of which Tua and company are not privy to.

King may have commitments to promote others ahead of Tua, so signing with him could lead to a lot of down-time.

"We've been talking to Don King every day, but the real focus is on beating Rahman," said Barry, who was to fly out to their Las Vegas base last night.

Tua, his bodyguards and personal chef are to follow tomorrow. The pressure from King will increase once they get to the United States, with the wire-haired one offering to fly all down to Florida to settle details.

Tua is signed with Cedric Kushner Promotions for three years, but King is already offering to buy out that contract. "For what he wants in return it's not a suitable offer," Tua's financial manager Martin Pugh said.

Tua will make around US$1 million ($1.88 million) on March 8. But if he scores a repeat win over Rahman, who was briefly world champ after beating Lennox Lewis, he's looking at much more.

Barry and Pugh have done a great job in returning Tua to the top ranks, with a second world title shot in the offing before the end of this year if he beats Rahman.

As a comparison, consider the lack of progress of Michael Grant, also beaten by Lewis in 2000: Grant has scored five knockouts since, has a 36-2 record, but remains on the small-pay cards. The bad blood between Tua and Rahman should ensure good coverage in the United States.

Rahman has called Tua a midget and vowed to knock him out early. He has also labelled Tua a cheat for landing a blow at the end of round nine in their previous contest.

Rahman says it came after the bell and blind-side, thus setting him up for the loss.

Tua hasn't responded with any vitriol or insults.

"He's very focused on winning, he has a real passion about it that's making it easy for me in training," Barry said. "He doesn't reply [to Rahman's taunts], but I know he feels it - no one likes being disrespected."