Boxing: Double fight looming for Tua team

By PETER JESSUP

As David Tua prepares for the fight that could put him back into world title contention, his management is preparing to go to court to line up his next opponent.

Tua will face Hasim Rahman on Sunday.

The WBO has ordered its new heavyweight champion, Corrie Sanders, to fight the first available serious contender within 120 days, and will call a purse bid for a bout between Sanders and its No 2-ranked fighter, Lamon Brewster, in Hamburg on Friday.

Tua's management is threatening to take out an injunction to stop that, asking why the WBO can't wait for the outcome of the Tua-Rahman fight.

"It's crazy that they are not going to allow their own No 1 to take that title shot," Tua's financial manager Martin Pugh said.

He has asked WBO president Francisco Valcarel to apply what is "reasonable and fair" under the organisation's rules.

Otherwise, he says, he will protect Tua's position by going to court in the United States to seek an injunction against the purse bid and/or any fight arranged as a result.

In the background is Don King. Brewster is contracted to King, as are former champions and ranked heavyweights Rahman, Evander Holyfield, John Ruiz, Fres Oquendo, Larry Donald, David Izon, Oliver McCall and Henry Akinwande.

King likes to have both combatants for a world title signed, so he can't lose.

"I guess things would change if we signed with him," Pugh said.

But Tua has no intention of doing that.

"We're waiting until Rahman is out of the way - then Don will have to come to us."

Tua had a final "tune-up" from flexibility specialist Mike Leahy in Colorado Springs, and flew from there to Philadelphia yesterday for the pre-fight build-up.

The weigh-in is at the Spectrum First Union stadium on Friday. Tua is expected to come in at around 110.6kg (244lb), Rahman at 106.6kg (235lb).

The Aucklander declared himself to be in as good a condition as he ever had been, and more relaxed than before other major fights because of the benefit of experience.

"I'm quietly confident," he said of the re-match with Rahman. "All the work is done - it's just mental now."

Tua was well behind on points when he KO'd Rahman in round 10 of their last meeting in Miami in December 1998.

His instruction for Sunday is to get it over with much earlier.

All the work in a nine-week training camp has been aimed at getting him inside Rahman's jab early so he can deliver his famed knockout blow.

"I know what works for me. I don't want to get stuck outside," Tua said.

Tua has sparred with Nigerian Friday "The 13th" Ahunanaya, 1.829m and a record of 17-0, and local Charles Shufford, 1.84m and 19-3.

Shufford was brought in because he is fast on his feet and with his fists.

"Rahman would be silly to try to stand and trade blows with Dave," trainer Kevin Barry said.

"He has to try to keep Dave out with his jab and hit him with his right, and that's what we've been working to combat."

It's what had to be done against Chris Byrd and Lennox Lewis in his last two losses, fights that went to 12-round decisions as Tua's fans waited for him to get into gear.

He has to floor Rahman because once again it is unlikely he will win on points - at 1.841m, Rahman will enjoy around a 30cm reach advantage over the 1.752m Tua.

If Tua wins, the Sanders fight becomes likely.

The South African is rated by Rahman, who beat him on points in 1999, as the hardest puncher he has faced.

But at age 37 it's unlikely he could go the distance with either of the 30-year-olds fighting on Sunday in Philadelphia.

* Messages of support can be sent to Tua at fax 001-215-462-6974.