Boxing: Tua looks to enhance prospects with rematch

David Tua. Photo / Kenny Rodger

New Zealand is shaping as a possible venue for any boxing re-match between David Tua and Monte Barrett.

Although rumours surfaced recently that a re-match was on the way after Tua's disappointing and controversial draw with Barrett last month, neither side has yet had any meaningful dialogue about another fight while Tua is resting the shoulder he injured before that fight.

Boxing sources say both sides are keen on a re-match, possibly even staging it in this country. For that to happen and to stimulate a sizeable purse, Tua would need either to come to terms with Maori TV or to fulfil his obligations with the broadcaster by fighting one more time before taking on Barrett again.

A re-match makes sense for both. Tua's comeback star dimmed with the controversial draw with Barrett - who said he was retiring after the Tua bout but who turned up fit, cut and committed.

Now word is filtering out of the US that Barrett's talk of retirement was only talk - and that his showing against Tua has increased his standing. At a recent social gathering in the US, attended by many of boxing's elite, including Mike Tyson, Barrett was heard to say that he was ready to fight again.

Tua needs the fight to clear away any lingering doubts over his performance against Barrett after a fight many felt he could have lost - and which certainly cost his promoter Cedric Kushner about $100,000. In a low-yield fight designed to push Tua further up the ladder towards a title bout, the Tua camp came away with light wallets, as expected, but unexpectedly diluted prospects.

However, the Tua train has not yet been derailed. All the signs are that revelations about the shoulder injury Tua suffered before fighting Barrett has been accepted in boxing circles as genuine; not something advanced as a salve on the wounds Tua suffered from the draw and, for the first time in his career, being knocked down.

Suspicions remain that Tua's conditioning may have suffered by not having crack fitness trainer Lee Parore on board - a situation almost certainly dictated by funds, or the lack of them. Whatever else motivated Tua's fight against Barrett, it wasn't money.

Staging the fight back in New Zealand, with full pay-TV revenue, would help right that situation and offer a decent purse to both fighters - as occurred when Tua and Shane Cameron trousered $500,000 each in their bout last year.

If there is any residual cynicism over Tua's comeback, it should also take into account the fact that the heavyweight division is still in a moribund state, even with more activity taking place right now.

The Ukrainian brothers, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, are clearly the best in the world but will never fight each other in boxing's holy grail - a reunification fight with all of boxing's various titles up for grabs for an undisputed champ.

With another reunification contender, David Haye, also showing no signs of fighting the Klitschkos, those three are undertaking a series of bouts with mostly lacklustre opponents. Wladimir is fighting tough Nigerian Samuel Peter but Haye is fighting former UK prospect Audley Harrison in a bout of little interest outside Britain.

Vitali Klitschko is taking on former US contender Shannon Briggs next month. Now 38, Briggs is big and was much hyped in his day, with only a controversial majority decision over a 50-year-old George Foreman really remaining in the memory from his 51 fights. Lately, in his latest comeback, the blond-dreadlocked Briggs has beaten three nobodies - and gets a shot at Klitschko.

It shows Tua still has a chance. As does the fact that, like Tua and Briggs, many of Lennox Lewis's challengers are still out there - Lewis being the last undisputed heavyweight champion and global attraction.

He retired in 2003 but many of the men he beat are still out there, angling for a title or at least a title shot.

That includes Tua, Briggs, Evander Holyfield (now 47), Hasim Rahman (37), Oliver McCall (45) and Michael Grant (38).

There is little doubt that Tua still fits easily into such company as a contender. But he needs to fight again soon, to win well and, probably, to make some decent money.