Boxing: Tua rejects $1.5m bout to get Lewis

By Peter Jessup

Auckland's world heavyweight boxing title contender David Tua has knocked down a $US1.5 million payday because he expects double that for a bout against champion Lennox Lewis next year.

Tua was offered $US1.5 million to fight Michael Grant on the HBO network in November. It is by far the biggest purse he has had in front of him.

"It's a fight we like the look of, one we really fancy our chances in, but Michael Grant will be there later next year after David has beaten Lewis," said his manager, Kevin Barry, yesterday.

First Lewis [WBC] must win the rematch with Evander Holyfield [WBA/IBF]. Holyfield has signalled he wants to fight at age 36, going on 37, to much surprise.

When that happens, Lewis widely expected to unite all the titles, which has not been the case since Riddick Bowe beat Holyfield in 1992. He lost the WBA and IBF belts to Holyfield in 1993 and relinquished the WBC belt when he refused to defend against No 1 contender Lewis the same year.

HBO's offer to Tua is conditional on his putting US Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation Intercontinental heavyweight belts, as well as his IBF No 1 contender status, on the line.

"When you're putting as much up as we are it's worth more," Barry said.

Tua should have no trouble with Grant whenever the two meet. Grant is 30-0 as a pro, 21 from knockout, but there are no big names among them.

His last fight was a 10-round points win over New York-based Italian journeyman Lou Savarese, who is not ranked by the three major boxing associations.
And to put the money in perspective, Savarese was paid $US1 million.

Grant's advantage would be his height, 2m, but Tua, at 1.78m, will be fighting uphill from now on whoever he faces.

There is no contract yet for a Lewis fight. What Barry has is an offer to promote such a bout for a guaranteed $US3 million should Lewis beat Holyfield.

There are only three other boxers in the picture with Tua -- WBA No 1 contender Henry Akinwande, WBC No 1 John Ruiz, and Canadian heavyweight titleholder Kirk Johnson.

"We've waited seven years. We're not going to take the first big offer we get," Barry said. "Our focus has always been to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world."

Tua returned to Auckland yesterday after a brief break in Canada following his last win. Barry was heartened by the fact that the first thing he did after a family reunion was over was to head straight to the gym.

His next fight, a keep-in-match-condition effort, is likely to be late in the year, with Barry hopeful of a Tua-Lewis clash before mid-2000.