Boxing: Tua, Sanders unite in bid to stop fight

By PETER JESSUP

David Tua has joined South African Corrie Sanders in legal action to force the WBO to back down on a planned title fight between Sanders and American Lamon Brewster.

Sanders wants to fight Tua because it is worth more money to him. Tua wants Sanders' world title.

Manoeuvring in the background are Brewster's manager, Don King, and the German-based management of Wladimir Klitschko, who lost the belt to Sanders.

They have a rematch clause which stipulates Sanders can have one other bout first. They don't want him to lose that fight and the title before their man gets a chance.

Tua's financial adviser, Martin Pugh, said injunction papers were to be filed before the United States Federal Court in California, with the complicity of Sanders' American lawyer, Judd Burstein.

The basis of the case is that Tua is the No 1-ranked fighter for the organisation and, as such, is the mandatory challenger.

Tua's representatives will ask the court to rule that the WBO's decision to call a purse bid for Sanders-Brewster two days before the Tua-Rahman clash effectively rules him out of contention and is against the rules of natural justice and fairness.

Broadcaster HBO wants to screen Tua-Sanders; it isn't interested in Sanders-Brewster, Pugh said.

Trainer Kevin Barry said he wanted Tua to fight again in August and December. After the draw with Rahman he remains in a guaranteed contender position for the IBF as well, with a pathway to a rematch with Chris Byrd.

Byrd has to defend the belt before December 12.

Pugh said they regarded it as a win-win position, but would push for the WBO fight first because it offered a quicker route to a world title.

Barry returns to the US next month to arrange fights for heavyweight Shane Cameron this month, next month and in July, and lightweight Daniel Codling this month.