Boxing: Tua up for a 'downgrade'

By PETER JESSUP

David Tua looks likely to jump at the chance to fight former WBA world champ John Ruiz in Las Vegas next month on an undercard that features Fres Oquendo against Chris Byrd for the IBF title.

It's an irony that Tua beat Oquendo and drew with Byrd but has been told by the WBA that despite his position at the top of the organisation's rankings he is kept in the No 2 spot - the one and mandatory not rated - and told to fight "down" to next contender Ruiz at No 3 rather than "up" with the champion, Roy Jones jnr.

The speculation is that Jones is going to be allowed an extension of the mandatory defence period and permission to move back to light-heavy to fight WBA champ Medi Sahoune.

The fight goes to purse bid this month. Tua's backer Cedric Kushner is expected to be one bidder, Ruiz's manager Don King another.

King has the power and finance to pull the fight together overnight if he thinks it will benefit him. But one reason he will consider not doing so is the fact that he does not have Tua's signature - if Ruiz loses there goes his cash cow.

Tua's manager Martin Pugh has spent many hours negotiating with King but that ended only in threats of legal action.

Tua's management have made ongoing complaints against King to the WBA and other organisations. "He respects us for doing that," said manager/trainer Kevin Barry. "He was laughing yesterday as he told us how hard we were making it for him."

Barry said the prospect of a fight with WBO champ Corrie Sanders, Tua ranked No 1 with that organisation, was now "out of the picture". Presumably that's the TV picture, no one in the United States believing a Sanders fight will attract big pay-per-view.

Ruiz' management has told Tua's that their fighter is keen to go ahead with the proposed fight on the Oquendo-Byrd undercard on September 20.

He wants a rematch with Jones and has to beat Tua to get it. Money will be split 50/50.

Barry said Tua would fight "anyone, anywhere, anytime" for a title belt.