Boxing: Tua in line for second world title shot

A world heavyweight boxing title is within reach again for New Zealand's David Tua - against arch rival Hasim Rahman.

The Tua camp were in celebratory mode today when a letter from the World Boxing Association (WBA) confirmed the Auckland fighter had been voted as the division's mandatory No 1 challenger which was left empty by Ukranian Vitali Klitschko in June.

Coach and manager Kevin Barry said champion Roy Jones Jr was set to abdicate the belt on Monday, exactly six months since he won the title from John Ruiz.

A defence was stipulated in that period but Jones has avoided any challenge and will be stripped of the title.

WBA championship committee chairman Renzo Bagnariol has ordered a purse bid on Friday next week for a title fight between Tua and No 2 contender Rahman. Boxing's biggest promoters will gather in Miami to bid for rights to the fight.

Barring any protest from Jones, which could ignite another round of boxing politics, the fight is set to go ahead in either November or December.

Tua and Rahman will square off for a third time, with two controversy-laced battles behind them.

Tua won a 10th-round knockout in 1998, helped by what the American's camp believe was a late, illegal blow the round before. They battled to a 12-round draw in in Philadelphia in March, the last time Tua has fought.

Barry was delighted that Tua would have a chance to continue his "trilogy" against Rahman but more importantly that he had earned a second shot at a world title.

The first ended in disappointment when Tua suffered a heavy points loss to then-WBC and IBF champion Lennox Lewis in Las Vegas.

"David really blew the fight against Lewis, there was a lot of pressures on him and the occasion got to him," Barry said.

"We've just wanted nothing more than for us to have the opportunity to challenge for that heavyweight championship of the world and win it.

"We've both made a lot of sacrifices over the years. So to get this opportunity again makes me bloody excited."

He had spoken to an elated Tua in Auckland this afternoon.

"David's very happy about it. What else could he hope for. We've had eleven years in the business and we've got him another world title fight."

The Tua camp are still waiting to see how Jones reacts to today's news but the multi-talented fighter has been negotiating recently to challenge IBF and WBC light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver.

"It is practically a done deal that Jones will go back down to 175 pounds and fight for Tarver's world title," Barry said.

"The WBA are giving him every opportunity for him to honour his mandatory and fight Tua.

"But Jones has already said he won't fight David because of his power. In the event that Jones gives up the belt, we are going to fight Hasim Rahman for the title."

Barry has spent the last six months lobbying the WBA for a shot at Jones. But the man who became the first middleweight champion in more than a century to win the heavyweight belt has ducked clear as cleanly as he does in the ring.

It left the New Zealanders unsuccessfully chasing fights for the vacant No 1 mandatory spot against Rahman and Ruiz.

Tua has a record of 42 wins, three losses and a draw.

He is ranked third in the IBF world rankings behind champion Chris Byrd and Fres Oquendo. He is the fifth contender in the WBC, where Lewis still reigns, and No 1 contender in the lesser-rated WBO division.

Barry baulked at suggestions the WBA was a secondary title below the WBC and IBF.

"The reason why the WBC belt is the preferred belt at the moment is because Lennox Lewis holds it. He's widely recognised as the best heavyweight in the world," Barry said.

"Let's not forget that Rahman knocked Lewis out to win that title, to become the undisputed heavyweight champ."

Tua's promoter Cedric Kushner was going to bid for the fight next Friday but Barry wasn't overly bothered who won the purse bid.

Whatever money is put up, would be split down the middle for both fighters.

"I know that (Rahman's promoter) Don King is very keen on the fight," Barry said.

"We worked with Don on the first Rahman fight and we have no problems working with him again. Being a vacant title, we don't have to sign any options with Don.

"This fight will put one of the fighters in a position to go on to some very lucrative paydays."

- NZPA