Boxing: Tua has to wait for shot at title

By PETER JESSUP

New Zealand boxer David Tua yesterday lost his court battle to force Lennox Lewis into the ring in mid-year, but the outcome has strengthened his claim to a world heavyweight title shot in November.

The United States District Court in Newark, New Jersey, dismissed Tua's appeal for an injunction to stop the Lewis-Michael Grant fight set for the end of next month, saying that at 27 he was not going to be seriously impaired by having to wait an extra five months for his turn.

But the court ordered Lewis to begin negotiations with Tua's camp in August and to settle a November date for the mandatory defence of the International Boxing Federation title.

"It's not the result we wanted but it's not a bad result either," said Tua's manager, Kevin Barry. "Our main goal was to secure a title fight this year - we've got one."

Tua said: "Oh well, it's on in November."

The court order holds for Grant, too, should he beat Lewis at Madison Square Garden on April 29.

"David now has a fixed date to focus on - at least we think he does," Barry said, the reference being a philosophical aside on the confused world of heavyweight boxing. Tua remains in Auckland in heavy training.

Lewis' manager, Panos Eliades, said the Briton would fight WBA No 1 contender Johnny Ruiz, whose manager, Don King, has set him for a bout with Evander Holyfield in June. Tua has already beaten Ruiz, a KO inside 19s of round one.

Barry is seeking two opponents for Tua in the meantime, with fights in May and July.