Boxing: Tua starts again on road to top

By PETER JESSUP

David Tua will fight an ageing journeyman in Los Angeles next month as he tries to rebuild his career.

The bout is on a card headed by former world welterweight champion Oscar de la Hoya, who is also trying to rebuild his career.

Tua will clash with 37-year-old Phil Jackson, of Miami, in a 10-round contest at the Olympic Auditorium on December 8.

De La Hoya will meet Roman Karmazin, of Russia, to defend his super-welterweight title.

Jackson is 43-10 with 38 KOs, no significant wins, and is not highly ranked with any of the major organisations. Tua is listed at No 14 by the WBC.

Tua's manager, Kevin Barry, said the only way for his fighter to get back to a significant rating was to stay busy.

A good result with Jackson would be followed by another fight in mid-January.