Boxing: Result of Tua appeal over fight out today

By PETER JESSUP

David Tua's United States management will today hear the result of the boxer's appeal against heavyweight title fight scheduling.

A court date has been set for Monday if the International Boxing Federation rejects his claim.

IBF acting president Hiawatha Knight said yesterday that a report into Saturday's hearing in New Jersey would be released to both parties and the media today.

Tua has asked that the upcoming Lennox Lewis-Michael Grant bout be postponed in favour of a Tua-Lewis fight. To allow a compromise, his management has indicated that it will let Lewis fight Grant if both agree that the winner meets Tua within six months.

"The hearing went as well as it could," said Fred Sternberg, vice-president of Tua's backers, America Presents, "though there was no indication of which way they'll go."

Tua's Auckland manager, Kevin Barry, said he would be surprised if the IBF reversed its decision and he expected the court case to go ahead.

Tua, meanwhile, continues to strip down to fight weight as he prepares for a punch-up in May against an as-yet unnamed opponent, though there is still a chance it could be Lewis.