Boxing: Retirement of Lewis could open the door again for Tua

By PETER JESSUP

The heavyweight division is on hold as promoters, fighters and the television networks await Lennox Lewis' decision whether to continue after his demolition of Mike Tyson.

Aucklander David Tua is among those caught in limbo although it is likely he will sign this week to fight American Corey Sanders in the United States on August 17 for the Showtime channel.

If Lewis follows protocol, the IBF No 1 challenger is next up, that being Chris Byrd.

Byrd beat journeyman Jeff Pegues with a third-round TKO in Michigan at the weekend.

But a Lewis-Byrd fight is unlikely to bring the sort of money the big players are after, neither of them a major drawcard in the States.

Which means Evander Holyfield is probably in the best spot after his win over Hasim Rahman a fortnight ago and three 12-rounders with John Ruiz. His No 2 position for the WBC and IBF makes him the highest-earning probability.

Lewis must make his decision by August 8 otherwise the IBF will call a "purse bid", which would involve all genuine contenders, including Tua. If Lewis lets that title slip he could still defend his WBC belt against Holyfield, who is likely to be re-ranked above Tua.

And Tua could fight Byrd again for the vacant belt.

His manager Kevin Barry said they would jump at the chance.

"I don't believe Byrd can get any better than he was and I know David can," he said of their last encounter for a 12-round decision to Byrd.

He made much the same comment about Lewis against Tyson.

"Lewis was better a year and a half ago [when he beat Tua in a 12-round decision]. The Tyson performance showed just how tough and durable Dave is. He had a bad night [in November 2000] but Lewis never looked like knocking him out."

Barry reckoned the scars of mental and physical abuse showed clearly on Tyson in Memphis and that he was finished as a fighter. Nevada State Athletic Commissioner Marc Rattner, at the fight, felt that Tua would do Tyson serious harm should they ever match up.

Tua is in a good position because there are only a handful of heavyweights with television appeal. Don King, boxing's big deal-maker, flew Barry and Tua's financial manager, Martin Pugh, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last Friday to try and sign their fighter.

It is not the first interest from King. When Tua went to the States in 1995, King pushed for his signature but the Aucklander went with Main Events for US$50,000 ($102,575), around one-tenth of what Don King Promotions suggested. And before he signed with America Presents for US$1 million ($2.05 million) King came back with another better offer.

America Presents is now in receivership and Tua has filed court papers for money owed and for relief from his contract because of breaches by the promoter. It is likely that he will sign a one-fight deal to follow the one he has with Showtime, but he is otherwise a free agent.

Barry and Pugh have realigned King's offered contract to suit the Tua team terms and will send it back in coming days.

They are wary of boxing's biggest shark and are courting others. Cedric Kushner Promotions, under whom Tua fought last time, is also in with a deal.

"Even if we get everything we ask for from Don King there is no certainty we'll sign with him," Barry said. But they could well do a deal that would suit them strategically, Holyfield being in King's stable.

"If he could deliver Holyfield that would definitely be a contributing factor [in our decision]."

With an 11-year age advantage and giving away much less than he usually does in terms of height and reach, Holyfield would be a good target for Tua.