Boxing: Tua stalemate leaves room for other fighters

By PETER JESSUP

David Tua's manager and trainer Kevin Barry was to return to the United States last night to organise bouts for other charges while the world-ranked heavyweight awaits the outcome of negotiations to force a title fight.

Heavyweight Shane Cameron and lightweight Daniel Codling will fight in Reno this month and next month.

Barry and Tua's financial manager, Martin Pugh, have also signed lightweight Almaz Bek of Kazakhstan, who moved to the US after representing his country at the Sydney Olympics.

Bek, 28, had more than 300 amateur fights and was eliminated in the quarter-finals at Sydney 2000.

He has a pro record of 11-0, with five knockouts.

Barry was reluctant to discuss Tua's court case against the WBO and negotiations with promoters or anything to do with who his next opponent might be, where and when.

"The ground just keeps shifting too much," he said.

South African WBO champ Corrie Sanders remains most likely.

Tua will return to the US once details are settled.