Boxing: Maori TV deals blow to Tua prospects

David Tua, who fights Shane Cameron in Hamilton next week, is committed to a three-fight deal with Maori TV. Photo / Dean Purcell

Win or lose against Shane Cameron, David Tua probably won't be fighting again in New Zealand any time soon.

A cut-price $50,000-a-fight three-fight deal with Maori TV agreed to clear the decks for next week's million-dollar showdown with Cameron in Hamilton has been described by Tua's worldwide promotor Cedric Kushner as a major impediment to finding meaningful opponents for future bouts.

And even Maori TV chief executive Jim Mather admits the deal will prevent Tua fighting another major opponent in this country.

"Obviously with a revenue stream of $50,000 it does limit whom you can fight," Kushner said.

"The reality is that at this very moment David should focus on Shane Cameron but, going forward, the limitations on who you can fight do present certain problems."

Kushner visited New Zealand recently to meet Mather but his attempts to renegotiate the deal were rebuffed.

"My view was let's sit down and see what we can work out," Kushner said.

But Mather does not believe there is anything to work out.

The deal with Tua is a hangover from an original three-fight deal signed when the 37-year-old was still in the boxing wilderness.

When the Cameron fight was confirmed, Tua still had one fight left on the deal.

Maori TV attempted to assert its rights as broadcaster for the Tua-Cameron bout but withdrew in exchange for a new three-fight arrangement after the bout.

"Maori Television stepped aside because we felt it was in the interests of both boxers," Mather said. "Our expectation is that once that fight is completed we will fulfil the obligations of that contract with David."

Mather conceded Maori TV's exclusive rights would be an impediment to future major Tua bouts on New Zealand soil which, like Tua-Cameron, would need to be funded by pay-per-view revenue.

But he was unabashed at suggestions that the broadcaster had got a great deal.

"Maori Television basically played the long game. Should David Tua win, our position will be protected or even enhanced."

But while Maori TV might be sitting pretty, the situation is not good news for Kiwi fight fans hoping to see Tua in the flesh.

"The reality is [Tua-Cameron] could be the last chance to see David Tua fight in New Zealand for a long time," promoter David Higgins of Duco Events said. "The fact is the Maori TV arrangement will cause all sorts of problems for David Tua's career to progress as it should."

Maori TV being forced to withdraw for Tua-Cameron to proceed showed it was not a suitable broadcaster for major boxing events, Higgins said.

A potential follow-up fight with former world champion Hasim Rahman has already become a casualty.

Rahman was to fight on the undercard in Hamilton but with Cameron's camp not playing ball and Tua stymied by the Maori TV deal, Duco baulked at shelling out big money to bring him to NZ.

Higgins questioned why "a partly taxpayer-funded broadcaster set up largely to promote Maori culture was using some of that money to seek to promote a Samoan boxer?"

Mather said Tua was popular with the channel's audience and was held in high regard throughout Maoridom for his respect of traditional culture.

US-based Kushner, who arrives in New Zealand on Monday, is keen to smoke the peace pipe with Maori TV.

But he is unlikely to get much of a hearing, with Mather saying requests from Tua for the broadcaster to stand aside again in the future would be rebuffed.

"It's highly unlikely we would consider that. The expectation from all parties was that should David be victorious he would continue his campaign for the heavyweight championship in the US."

Higgins, however, maintained Maori TV's stance could force Tua abroad against his wishes.

"It's all very well that Maori TV would have David Tua fight overseas, but what if he wants to fight in New Zealand and the New Zealand public want to watch him?"