Boxing: Tua gets sniff of new title bid

By PETER JESSUP

David Tua has knocked out both world heavyweight boxing titleholders, with Hasim Rahman's defeat of Lennox Lewis yesterday opening new doors for the Aucklander.

Tua's management will go to Rahman's this week and to the International Boxing Federation, where Tua is listed as mandatory challenger, to push his claims.

They hope for a title fight before the end of this year.

Manager Kevin Barry said yesterday that Tua would sign to fight IBF and World Boxing Council belt-holder Rahman "in a heartbeat."

There is bad blood between the pair after Tua landed a punch late in round nine then knocked out Rahman a minute into the next when they met in December 1998. Rahman maintains the blow came after the bell, when he had let his defence down, and that he should have received a five-minute break. Rahman has since called Tua a fat flop. That gives promoters plenty to work with.

The Baltimore American was beaten by Russian Oleg Maskaev last year, Maskaev being another of Tua's victims.

But Tua predicted yesterday's upset, warning his management not to be surprised if they had to negotiate with Rahman's again.

A Lewis-Mike Tyson fight is less likely now. Tyson, ranked No 1 with the WBC, still looms as the largest shadow in the division, but is booked to fight Nigerian David Izon in Washington on June 2.

World Boxing Association belt-holder John Ruiz, knocked out by Tua in 19 seconds several years ago, looks likely to meet Evander Holyfield for a third time.

Barry and Tua return to Las Vegas in a fortnight to resume training.