'Just the first round' for Tua

David Tua

Heavyweight boxer David Tua has vowed to continue in his legal battle with his former managers.

Tua suffered a blow on Friday when a High Court judge rejected his claim that he owned 100 per cent of a $7.5 million coastal Northland property.

Former managers Kevin Barry and Martin Pugh are fighting for a right to half of the land via their 25 per cent shares in the company Tuaman, through which the property was bought.

Tua told One News last night that he wanted justice. "So given time the truth will come out and the truth will be told," he said.

He also promised the court proceedings would not impact on his next fight.

"I have to be completely professional about the whole situation and put these matters aside and move on with my career," Tua said. The next move in that career, a fight in the US in early June, should take the focus away from the courtroom and back to the ring.

Former rugby and league star and Tua supporter Va'aiga Tuigamala described Justice Hugh Williams' written decision as "a minor setback" at the start of what would be a long process. "This is just the first round," he said.

Tuigamala said Justice Williams' verdict did not represent a victory for Barry and Pugh.

"The judge said there isn't sufficient evidence for David's claim that the property is 100 per cent his," he said. "What is encouraging is the judge said, however, that David could claim 100 per cent in Pakiri in a second hearing."

Tua had told the court he put the property purchase through Tuaman, of which he owns half, on the advice of Pugh that this would be better for tax purposes.

Justice Williams noted that Tua had put nothing in writing to convey any intention for the land to be held in trust for him alone. But he did raise the possibility that Tua might yet, through another legal route, be found to be entitled to a share in the land - "conceivably even up to 100 per cent".

Justice Williams said Tua impressed him as a genuine and sincere witness who recognised his limitations in understanding the complexities of company and trustee law. Of Pugh, he said "he presented as a far from convincing witness". He noted that Pugh acknowledged having signed other people's names on documents and said there was little doubt his management of Tuaman's finances "fell well short of his statutory obligations".

- NZPA