Boxing: Tua now undisputed world No 1 contender

By PETER JESSUP

The World Boxing Council yesterday responded to Auckland heavyweight David Tua's latest knockout by elevating him to its No 1 contender, making him the undisputed stand-out challenger for the world title.

Tua is already the International Boxing Federation's No 1. Briton Lennox Lewis holds both titles and is now unable to duck Tua's challenge.

The third major belt, for the World Boxing Association, was taken from Lewis when he fought Michael Grant instead of its No 1 contender, John Ruiz.

Ruiz, knocked out by Tua in 19s of round one of their fight in 1997, was to have met Evander Holyfield this weekend to determine ownership, but Holyfield has stalled after suffering a rib injury. The fourth "major" in the alphabetical soup, the WBA, is held by the credit-less Chris Bird and is seriously discounted.

The WBC ranked Mike Tyson as No 2, clearly setting the agenda the fans want. Lewis is not as great a drawcard in the United States as Tyson - and Tua is becoming extremely popular with his repeat demolition jobs.

Already there is the suggestion that a Tua-Tyson fight for the title will be billed "TNT," in the belief that neither of the pair will take a backward step.

"Tua is the only man Lennox Lewis can fight now, we have him trapped," Tua's manager, Kevin Barry, said when told yesterday of the revamped ratings. The world title challenge is set for November 11.