Boxing: Rebuff pushes Tua towards Ruiz rematch

Boxer David Tua is headed for a rematch with John Ruiz after Hasim Rahman refused to fight him in a world title elimination bout.

Tua's manager, Kevin Barry, is looking down the list of world-rated heavyweight contenders for the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation bout.

Tua, whose record is 42 wins, three losses and a draw, is the top-rated contender in the WBA and No 3 in the IBF.

He was informed by Hasim Rahman's team that Rahman, rated No 3 by the WBA and No 4 by the IBF, wanted no part of a third fight with Tua for the vacant No 1 contender and mandatory challenger positions in the IBF and WBA.

"Unless we're fighting for a belt or an interim title, I'm not sure it makes a lot of sense to fight Tua again," Rahman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Tua must now go to the next-highest contender, former WBA champion Ruiz, who is rated No 4 and No 5 respectively in the WBA and IBF.

The two fought each other in 1996 for Ruiz's WBC International title. Tua knocked Ruiz out after 19s of round one.

Barry said WBA titleholder Roy Jones was supposed to defend his crown within 180 days of winning it, which was September 1.

- NZPA