Boxing: Tua wins first round in court case against former managers

Boxer David Tua had a win in his battle with his estranged managers in the High Court today - the right to access $100,000.

Tua and his lawyers froze the bank accounts associated with the boxer's company after he fell out with his managers, Kevin Barry and Martin Pugh seven weeks ago.

This had left Tua short of spending money until today's order by Justice Robert Fisher.

Tua may be paid an additional $20,000 for past fight or personal expenses if a chartered accountant to be appointed by the court sees fit.

These payments are to be interim measures and don't affect the ultimate rights of the parties which the court is yet to determine.

In what the boxer described as "round one" of the battle, the parties agreed to release all information they hold relating to the running of the boxer's company, Tuaman Inc Limited.

Justice Fisher ordered "all documents, accounts, notes, invoices, bank statements, spreadsheets and disks" be given to the accountant by Friday.

The accountant is to prepare the financial accounts of Tuaman Inc since Pugh joined in 1999.

The judge ordered the parties to give the accountant every reasonable assistance and said the accountant could seek enforcement orders from the court if need be.

Among those accompanying Tua at court were his partner, Robina, and former All Black Va'aiga Tuigamala, as friend and advisor.

Tua said after the hearing he would one day answer questions about the break up with his managers but now was not the time. "Right now I need to focus on the matters at hand and to have them sorted."

Neither Barry nor Pugh were in court. They were represented by Buddle Finlay lawyers Justin Toebes and Ben Gerritsen.

Pugh and Barry bought the action seeking the return of documents relating to the Tua business taken by the boxer and given to accountant Tony Forlong and to Luke Kemp, a lawyer now acting for Tua.

Forlong, Kemp and Tua are listed as defendants.

Counter-claims have been filed which are understood to allege inappropriate handling of Tua company documents and money.

The court is being asked to sort out who the money in the Tua accounts belongs to, whether money has been properly distributed and the status of Tua's relationship with his managers. Tua says he's sacked them, Barry and Pugh say he cannot and there is about 18 months of their management contract to run.

A report by the independent accountant is a first step.

The case was adjourned for two weeks.